Well here's the story, I was driving up to the snow this weekend in my 90 civic DX. As I was starting to climb the mountain the car started to have a quick stutter now and then. It got worse until the car finally died and the CEL flashed a code 1(which I already know is 02 sensor) and a 15 (some ignition output signal) So I have the local Honda dealer deliver me an igniter. I do roadside surgery on the distributor to replace the igniter. but no go.... call the dealership (shingle springs Honda) and ask them to then bring me out a coil. I replace that and everything's fine......

Now here's my question. After calling the wrecker I bought the distributor from just a few weeks ago, he said that he wouldn't refund my coil cost because, Honda's are known to burn up coils? And that there is something else wrong with my car, and that it will burn up the new coil in no time at all.....

Is this true? I've had my 89 CRX si for 10 years now and have ran through igniters but never a coil. Is there something I need to do or check to keep this car from eating coils. They're like $70 bucks and thats with my dealer discount.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

If it happens again I would be concerned, but honestly I have replaced coils in lots of hondas... You are correct, its mainly ignitors, but coils are known to go out as well.

Just make sure you have a well maintained ignition system, plugs/cap/rotor/wires etc.

Jeff Frank

 

second that
just keep the ignition sytem well mantained and it iwll not give u problem as long as u dont make them suffer

 

Thanks for the info guys.... I had new plugs/cap and rotor but not the wires. I'll take care of those today. But if that were to happen again (fried coil) where do you all recommend I start to try and troubleshoot. Has anybody had a car that just constantly fried coils? What did you do. I know, I know I'm probably just being paranoid and everything will be o.k. but I'd like to find out anyways.

Thanks again!

 

if you fry another one, its time for a new distributor.

 

Please enlighten me, other than the coil and igniter what else could go wrong in the distributors? Distributor shaft? and how does that in turn kill coils? The guy at the wrecker said something to the fact of the alternator being the culprit.

 

their are magnetic pick ups in the distributor, injector pulse/tdc sensor. They are not really wearable items, but I have seen them go bad.

Jeff