Hello I have a 1996 ek hatch with a d15b vtec motor . Its not starting. It started to run rough at highway speeds for a few days now it wont even start. There is oil near the distributor so a seal must hv gone there . Would this cause a no start ?

 

Take the cap off the distributor

 

Post the CEL codes.

Listen for whether the fuel pump primes.

Check for spark at the plugs.

 

If you have a scanner and the check engine light is on, post the diagnostic trouble codes here. If you do not have a scanner you can gomto an Autozone or O'Reilly and probably other parts stores, where they will often read the codes for free. Your check engine light is on, no doubt, yes? [to answer your question, yes a bad distributor MIGHT be the answer, but you want to know the trouble codes before spending money & time on parts you might not need.]

 

I tried turning it over today. It turns and turns but wont fire and when turnjng the noise is slightky different than the normal sound. I dont hv a scanner there is a light on but there was a light on before because of vtec engine in a non vtec car cel 22 vtec oil pressure code has always been there even tried every fix for it. So i jumper wired i dont know if thats as good as a scanner but i pulled the codes that way and im still only getting a cel 22. I smelled gas whike tryjng to start it as well if i pull the dist off do i need to mark anything ?

 

He wasn't saying to pull the distributor off, just the cap to see if oil is inside the distributor.

 

Ok thanks i will do that.

 

Pulled cap off distributor and it looked really bad inside not much oil but rusty and thick with carbon and dust see pics . Car sat outside for 8 years without moving so i expected it to be bad in there and ok .... Does the rotor look like it needs replacing it does to me ? Now with the distrubutor cap off can anyone by chance tell me why car turns over but just wont fire ? Hoping I luck out here and really hope engines not toast!!!

 

The red dust that has accumulated inside the distributor cap suggests that the distributor bearing is bad. I also see oil inside the cap, suggesting a bad internal seal. Remove the inner cover to inspect the distributor internals. I did not see the rotor in your pics, but it may be wise to replace the entire distributor, cap, rotor, plug wires, and plugs.

 

Red dust of death I believe is what I've seen it called.

 

Sudden decrease in performance / cranks but won't start you should check the cam timing in case the timing belt skipped. Also check that the rotor points at wire 1 with the engine set to TDC. I have had the rotor melt (due to heat from a bad bearing) and/or come loose from the shaft causing a no-start.

 

Yea that distributor is most likely the cause, The cap looks like its not making contact with the rotor anymore and or its in bad shape, its also possible the oil is preventing spark, Take it off and its not that difficult to disassemble the distributor, your seal inside deff looks like it needs to be replaced. Then clean everything off double check the wires for anything loose or wet and also use a multimeter to test the coil and ICM if they test bad you need to replace them, all these repairs can be done pretty easy and cheaper than getting a new distributor.

 

That red dust is the bearing of the distributor. Putting new ICM/COIL and even seal into that distributor is asking for problems shortly there after. The seal is gone because the bushing is gone and the shaft now wobbles in the distributor. This wobble also prevent the TDC and CYP sensor from operating correctly all of which is killing the cars ability to run.

When you see the red dust of death, it's time to replace the distributor.

 

Yea I agree, a new distributor is better in the long run.

 

So as far as a new distributor goes, does anyone know of one from around here that will interchange with the dustributors on the jdm 92 -95 D15B vtec motors ? Or are they all the same ?

 

Is the old distributor OBD1 or OBD2. If OBD1 you need the TD42U distributor as that is the vtec(-e) distributor of the 5th gen. If it's obd2, I am not sure if the D16Y8 or Y5 dizzy mates up but that would be the vtec(-e) distributor of the 6th gen.

 

Ya its obd1 in a obd2 car thank u

 

So i got my new to me distributor its a used oem one . Anyone know part numbers or interchangability with usdm engine on the distributor shaft seal and o ring for d15b vtec ?

 

Had some good weather here finally so I put the used oem distributor I ordered from a wrecker and it starts! Took a little while of turning it over to fire but now it starts every time and runs strong guess I threw the right part at it lol. Installing it is super easy just put it back in the someway as it came out. If something happens and you didn't like me its still easy. Set piston one to tdc spin rotor to piston one and pop distributor into motor. Thanks for everyones help