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Alright, I bought this car as a “non runner” from a Facebook group. My intention was to get it running and sell it for more. I am mechanically inclines, however not familiar with Honda’s at all..
the cars plate in the engine bay says it is a D15A3. However, the engine says 16valve Honda motor on it, so it can’t be a D15A3... also, when I replaced the distributors rotor, it was an 88 rotor. I also dug up the ecu, which is also for 88-91. The heads are stamped pm9-3 with 9/4 following it. And the distributor on it was a td-01U.
the engine has compression, it turns over, and I can smell that it is getting fuel, but it has no spark. I can’t seem to figure out the reason. I have tested the main relay. It seems to check out, and the ecu isn’t blinking any codes at me..
d15a3 would mean it's 1.5 liters
Post a photo of the engine. I don't think an ecu from an 88 will work on an 87 si
the car itself is an 87, it has had an engine swap done to it. The D15A3 is only a 12valve engine, this one is a 16valve. the distributor and ECU are both for an 88. So it has to be a Honda motor of that year, and a 16valve fuel injected.
What does the block say?
The manifold is from a newer model civic, not an 88-91.
No spark, look to see if the thermostat ground is bolted down. On the thermostat there is a ring terminal that comes from the wire harness.
Pull the spark plug wires from the cap and put a screw driver to the terminals on the distributor as someone cranks the engine. It should arc.
If it does arc, move to the wires, then the plugs. If it does not arc. That is where your problem begins.
Yes, they wer for the distributor. I have checked for spark at the plugs, was none, I checked the spark through the wires, again there was none. Checked for continuity with multimeter, and it was fine. I checked for power on those plugs and it was fine, there was power at the distributor, the continuity on the ignition coil was writhing range, the igniter seemed fine as I tested that as well. The ECU and main relay are both good. I can’t check for spark coming off the ignition coil because it has the internal coil.
sounds like it is your dizzy then.
You can check for spark at the cap.
The spring for the ignition coil is built into the cap, and I can’t access it.
And when I check coming right off of the ignition coils brass surface inside, there is none. But the resistance of the ignition coil is good. And there is power going to it.
Someone help?
I have power going to my distributor. With the key In the on position, both the + and - terminals on my coil have power? As well as all of the connector points on my ICM. Is this normal? No spark coming from my coil even though everything has power
i still need to determine what motor this is for my firing order. Since it’s clearly not a d15a3
Should be the same as the d16a6.
Originally Posted by Redrager
Someone help?
I have power going to my distributor. With the key In the on position, both the + and - terminals on my coil have power? As well as all of the connector points on my ICM. Is this normal? No spark coming from my coil even though everything has power
I think your ignitor is bad. I typically replace the complete distributor at this point.
It's not disconnected is it? Like it is in that photo you posted.
I think your ignitor is bad. I typically replace the complete distributor at this point.
It's not disconnected is it? Like it is in that photo you posted.
I think I discovered my issue. The car had an engine swap on it. The motor compartment plate says it had a d15a3 engine in it before. Which I believe is a DPFI motor, this one is MPFI judging by the intake manifold.
The distributor is a TD-01U, which doesn’t have a cylinder position sensor, which is needed for the MPFI engine.
Also, the ECU wasn’t properly wired for a DPFI - MPFI swapout
the D15A3 is a multi-port fuel injected engine, not DPFI - one big difference between the D15A3 and the 88 and up MPFI engines is the ignition system - A3 had a vacuum advance ignition while later engines used an electronic ignition controlled by the ECU - you are correct that the TD01U distributor is not the right one for the MPFI - needs to be a TD02U - what is the ECU? - needs to be a PM6 - could be a PM7 or PG7 (88-89), however it wouldn't work as well - the engine code and serial number badge is on the front of the block below the exhaust manifold right where the transmission mates with the block - the engine wiring is quite different between the two generations of cars
the D15A3 is a multi-port fuel injected engine, not DPFI - one big difference between the D15A3 and the 88 and up MPFI engines is the ignition system - A3 had a vacuum advance ignition while later engines used an electronic ignition controlled by the ECU - you are correct that the TD01U distributor is not the right one for the MPFI - needs to be a TD02U - what is the ECU? - needs to be a PM6 - could be a PM7 or PG7 (88-89), however it wouldn't work as well - the engine code and serial number badge is on the front of the block below the exhaust manifold right where the transmission mates with the block - the engine wiring is quite different between the two generations of cars
ive searched hard for the engine code. I can’t find it, only the plate on the frame which says d15a3. But the motor says 16valve right on it. So can’t be d15a3, and it’s got a pm6 ECU. The car was sold to me as an 87 CRX Si.
But the distributor and ECU are 88.
I was guessing it had a DPFI-MPFI conversion done, but that may not be the case then.
are you talking about the block or the head? the head could be swapped from a later model. the manifold most definitely is and the casting stamp on the head says later model, but if the block reads d15a3 it is a 1.5 liter block that is likely original to the car. also you have not given any ecu information. that is kind of a key issue.
the 87 si was mpfi btw, so the stock ecu COULD work find with the right distributor and injectors whether it is an 8 valve or 16 valve head.
to me it sounds like you bought someone's basket case they could not make run right and now you have to figure out how to make it run when they could not already.
are you talking about the block or the head? the head could be swapped from a later model. the manifold most definitely is and the casting stamp on the head says later model, but if the block reads d15a3 it is a 1.5 liter block that is likely original to the car. also you have not given any ecu information. that is kind of a key issue.
the 87 si was mpfi btw, so the stock ecu COULD work find with the right distributor and injectors whether it is an 8 valve or 16 valve head.
to me it sounds like you bought someone's basket case they could not make run right and now you have to figure out how to make it run when they could not already.
the head was definitely changed out, I know I got someone’s basket case... I just need to figure out what engine is in it so I can find the proper wiring for it.
The number is not on the block, i am guessing it got worn away. The d15a3 is on a metal tag stamped to the body, on the steel frame right above the headlight. But the engine says 16valve right on it, and the d15a3 has 12 I believe. Also the previous owner told me it had an engine swap done.
So now I’m wondering if there are any other ways for my to identify the different Honda engines without the number off the block. Any visual differences? the pinout for the ECU wiring if i am looking at the proper ECU wiring diagram, tells me this is not wired in properly. I am missing a lot of wires into the ECU.
1987 CRX si problems... help!
