Change the distributor and it's out of time how do I put it back in time

 

Timing light.

 

Timing light and jumper the service connector: https://honda-tech.com/how-tos/a/hon...-timing-374867
Also, putting the distributor between in the middle of travel between max advance and max retard will get it very close to correct ignition timing to start with. However, follow the method in the link above to set it correctly to avoid any pre-detonation that may harm your engine. Once you get the ignition timing set correctly use a chisel or grease-marker to mark a notch in the distributor and cylinder head/valve cover for a quick reference point if the distributor needs to be removed in the future.

 

This statement is only accurate when using Factory OE distributors... cheap aftermarket replacement distributors have commonly misplaced sensor pick-ups and there is no rhyme or reason as to proper distributor placement based on the slot placement. For example, I just set timing on a GSR with a junk aftermarket distributor... the mechanical (timing belt) timing is spot on yet the distributor is advanced all the way and I can still only get 13' Advance. Placing it midway in the slot made the car run very sluggish.

 

I've never replaced a distributor just coil or icm.. always used oem (TCM or Hitachi) to do so. Good to enough about the aftermarket junk though.

 

Then you have done it the right way !!! Unless you get distributor related sensor codes (TDC, CKP or CYP), changing the coil or ICM when it fails is absolutely the right call. Most dummies have a coil failure, remove the OE complete distributor and replace it with some cheap azz crap from their local auto parts store... and either use the OE dizzy as a core and give it away... or worse yet, toss it in the garbage and never look back.

 

You are right about that. Most don't even bother doing a spark/arc test on the coil to check for spark quality. All it takes is a long screw driver to ground and if the coil is weak the test will usually kill it for good, confirming it needs to be replaced.

I went through this last year and was fortunate to find a distributor in a local junkyard that had a healthy oem (TEC) coil and igniter.
Parts cost me $10 bucks. Looking back the distributor was only $30 so I should've purchased it because they are hard to find in a salvage yard. However, my current one is working fine.

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