Hello Forum!

This question is for a 2000 Honda Accord LX 2.3 liter engine.

Question 1): When the ignition coil goes bad or starts to go bad does it function sporadically or does it abruptly quit working altogether?

Question 2). When the ignition module goes bad or starts to go bad does it function sporadically or does it abruptly quit working altogether?

Symptoms:

• My car sometimes will not start. The problem is sporadic. Most of the time it starts and runs fine. Other times it won't start but after a period of time it starts fine.
• Sometimes the car will run for a few weeks with no problems at all; other times the problem may happen 2 or 3 times in one day.
• The engine cranks just fine but it seems like there is not a spark when the problem occurs.
• I can let the car set for a while (maybe 5 minutes to an hour) and it will start.
• The problem has occurred first thing in the morning when the engine is cold. The problem also has happened after I have been driving and the engine is hot.
• This problem has been happening for the past two or three years.

Remedies so far:

• My mechanic replaced the ignition switch. Cost: $128
• I replaced the spark plugs, the spark plug wires, the distributor cap, and the rotor.
• I replaced the ignition module with (a cheap $12.99) one I bought from Amazon. My car backfired and sputtered badly so I replaced the old one (picture below).
• I bought an ignition coil from AutoZone. It was supposed to fit according to their website but it was the wrong part/did not fit so I returned it.
• I took sandpaper and polished the metal contact on the ignition coil so that it would make better contact with a spring in the distributor cap.

I usually can open the hood and press on the distributor cap with my thumb and the car will start. However, I pressed on the distributor cap a few days ago and the car did not start. I waited about five minutes and the car started.

A good ignition module costs at least $50 (more like $75 to $100). AutoZone said that a good ignition coil that would fit properly would cost about $80.

If the ignition coil goes bad slowly I can purchase a new one and see if it will work. I can do the same with the ignition module.

However, if the ignition coil goes bad abruptly I can know the problem does not originate with the ignition coil. The same is true for the ignition module.

Thank you in advance.


Old ignition module I replaced with new one. I had to reinstall this ignition module because the new one did not work very well.


This is the distributor head with the distributor cap removed.