Hey guys, i just fixed my no spark problem in my integra, and i figured out a quick way to check if it's the coil or the ignitor.

Now, the ignitor grounds (completes) and ungrounds the primary circuit of the coil to induce the voltage in the secondary. Every time the circuit opens, the magnetic field created by the primary passes through the secodary coil very quickly, creating high voltage to jump the spark gap.

A quick way to check if the ignitor is doing it's job is to take a test light ($2 form any parts store) and connect one end to the positive post on the battery, and the other side the the negative (-) wire on the coil. It's on the top of the coil, with a screw going through it. crank the car, if it flashes, then the ignitor is doing it's job, your problem lies in the coil. If i just stays lit or doesn't light, then u need a new ignitor

Another note, don't rely on resistance tests of the coil, my coild passed both of these, and it was still bad.

Hope this helps!


Modified by sugarloafpkwy at 7:28 PM 4/8/2004

 

wow thats really helpful! my teg was doing some weird **** and the only way I had to check the igniter was to use an ohm meter

 

Just to clarify though: The igniter completes the ground which allows the primary to charge up. When the igniter releases the ground, this field quickly cuts through the secondary and a spark occurs....just the opposite of what you were thinking.

 

No kidding? There's nothing in the service manual that says use ohms to check the ignitor, just the coil. I don't trust an ohms check for anything