98 Accord LX 4 cyl.

I got out to the parking lot after work just like every other day. The car started normally. I sat there for a few minutes hooked up my phone and put my seat belt on. Then I felt a miss in the engine. Felt like a cylinder misfired. Then it ran ok for a few seconds. Then 2 or 3 misfires and then it ran ok for another few seconds. Next I put the car into drive and it misfired a lot and then stalled out. When I try to start the car the starts turns over fine, maybe a little bit faster then normal. I'm going to head back up to work tomorrow and check for fuel, spark and to make sure the distributor is turning. I was hoping maybe some one could give me some other things to test.

I also have to admit that the car has an intermittent P0420 check engine light. I reset fuse 13 when it came on and that fixed it. I was able to get the car in for emissions and pass. I just haven't had the cash to have the cat back done. I'm hoping that didn't cause more problems.

Thanks for the help.
-Craig

 

So this morning I did a few tests. I tried to old starter fluid in the air intake trick. Not even a pop. I tried my spark tester. Little device that looks like a spark plug with an alligator clip. I attached the plug wire and hooked the little alligator clamp up to ground. No spark. I pulled the spark plugs and inspected them, they looked good. No oil in the spark plug holes. The gap was good.

Next I pulled the distributor cap. The cap looked bran new. No oil or carbon streaks. The contacts looked bran new, no corrosion. Since I didn't have a way to test the coil I decided to replace the coil. Unfortunately I had no luck there. I should also note that the gasket looked as if someone put it on wrong. It didn't quite fit. I had to push the gasket back between the cap and the distributor to get it on. There was also a little bit of oil at the lowest point on the distributor where the gasket looked flattened.

I checked the green key light on the dash after reading some articles here. I put the key in the ignition. I turn it to the first position, no light on the dash. Turn it to the second position and the green key light turns on for a few seconds, then goes off. Try to turn the car over and there's no green key light. Turn the key back to position one and the green key light flashes 2 or 3 times then goes out.

Thanks again for taking a look at my post.

-Craig

 

The ignitor could have pooped out.

You can use this site as a test manual for it.

http://techauto.awardspace.com/

 

I went out this morning to do some more diagnosing, thanks to holmesmanny for the awesome link. I pulled the cap back off and rechecked spark from the coil. I got spark. Turns out when I replaced the old Hitachi cap after replacing the coil, the contact was bent so it wasn't making contact with the coil. Installed a new cap and rotor and the car started right up.

Thanks again
-Craig