Just got my first Honda 2 weeks ago and now it has an electrical problem that is driving me nuts.

First it started cutting out on me while driving so I put in a Honda ignition switch. This is the part that plugs into the back of the key cylinder.

It started doing the same thing again so I put in an aftermarket coil, new cap and new rotor. The car ran fine for a few days.

Tonight it wouldn't start. With the key in the ON position and the motor off the tach started going nuts. It would sweep all the way around or bounce back and forth. I reached under the dash and started tugging on the wires going to the ignition switch and I'm not sure if it made a difference or not in the tach movement. Finally after many attempts it started.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Paul

 

Oh it is a 1997 automatic with 170K

 

Did some searching and went out and checked the grounds. I replaced the engine to radiator support ground and sanded the ground on the thermostat housing. Engine cranks fine but there is no spark!

Paul

 

Checked again for spark last night in the dark. While cranking there is no spark. When I turn the key from the run position to the off position there is a single strong spark!

Paul

 

Hello,

Suggest you check for live feed at distributor, when sombody is cranking the engine for you.

Kev

 

Kev there are about 6 wires in the plug that goes to the distributor. Found a website that has step by step instructions for checking for spark. When we went through all the steps we had spark and the car ran for a day and a half.

This is the web site. It was pretty well laid out. Part 1 -How to Test the Igniter, Ignition Coil Accord, Civic, CRV, and Odyssey

Paul

 

Hello,
Do you have a workshop manual?
You need to conduct your diagnosis while you have the no start fault – You said that you have no spark, thus if you have power all the way from the ignition switch to the distributor, then you need to look at the igniter. My gut instinct tells me you still have a problem with your ignition switch.

 

Kev thanks for following up with all this.

Since I replaced the ignition switch with one from Honda when I first had problems two weeks ago and I went through the testing at the web site I posted and replaced the ignition coil.

Late last week I decided on replacing the ignitor. The best bang for the buck was a rebuilt Dorman distributor with new bearings, coil and ignitor for 65 bucks on ebay. Since then I haven't had any problems at all and the car has started and run fine.

Managed to find a pdf file of the entire shop manual online and it helped me with the distributor replacement and re timing the engine.

I still have to replace the timing belt and adjust the valves within the next 5K or so.

Paul