Is there a way I can test the distrubutor to see if it is bad?

Got a b16a in a crx dx and currentley can't rev over 3000 rpms. Someone suggested on another topic that it could be the distributor. Is there a way to test it? Everything looks good when i open it up.

 

bump... good question

 

Bump for the answer ...

 

get 12 volt battery.

connect negative from battery to the metal body of distributor.
connect red B+ 12v to the black wire with yellow stripe of the distributor (Connector with 2 wire)

now. with one hand, grab hold of the distributor cap.
other hand, turn the input rotating shaft.

If u get a great big shock, wholla! it werked!

 

For real?? no Seriously...

 

come on, there has to be some way.

 

lol... ok ok..... do the same as in my other post. but instead of grabbing the distributor cap with one hand, get a short piece of wire. prolly about 6 inch long.

connect one end to the metal body of the distributor.
other end, put really near one of the 4 output plugs on the cap.
about 1/2 inch alway. maximum 1 inch.

now. with the distributor powered up. turn the input shaft
when the rotor inside the distributor reaches the terminal where u put the wire near. it will spark.

if it dosent spark. then your ignitor is prolly bad. that's usually the first electronic part to go out on a distributor.

 

careful, there are a lot of dumb people on this board, by which i mean young kids without dads. it would not be whise to get a grip on a powered distributer anymore than it is smart to lick spark plug wires.

 

ckp sensor

 

Bad bearings will be obvious when you rotate by hand. The rotor and cap are a visual. The Helms has flowcharts for troubleshooting the ignitor, coil, and all internal electrical parts. You will need a multimeter, the Helms can be found online.
HTH
chris