Ok got a lil problem...about 2 weeks ago my factory coil went out on me for no apparent reason ( i just fig. it was getting up there in milage)...well, today im on the way into town the damn thing happens again (except this time it is w/ an MSD coil. WTF is going on? can anybody tell me what is ******* up my coils and why so fast? i was at a red light and started to take off and the poof..the ***** ******* gone!

 

sounds like you got a main relay going or already gone.just had the same problem.i replaced the main relay and has not done it since then.

good luck

 

Whats a main relay? never heard of it!

 

I wouldn't condemn the main relay (relay that powers your fuel pump and ECU)
I would be much more inclined to blame the ignitor(inside the distributor, provides signal to coil on when to fire spark) Extremely common and very typically fail in the manner you are talking about. Generally caused by heat soak(drives OK until warmed up and then seem as if engine just shuts off) But I have seen then fail even when engine is cold too. The main relay(typically) fails on initial startup due to contacts in relay not closing. The ignitor generally fails while driving and most of the time starts out failing very intermittently and then over time gets worse until it just totally ceases to function.

I'd have the ignitor and ignition system checked out for sure.

I see this time and time again

Just a thought to keep in mind

Hope this helps

 

Ive got an extra ignitor..and thats what i thought it was last time but turned out to be my coil! lets just say i put in that new ignitor and it happens again...what should i do?

 

There is just not many more ignition components to fail. About the only other thing that could cause this is possibly wiring issue but unlikely. At most shops (dealerships included) Honda recommends replacing both the coil and ignitor together as a set. A lot of times, the coil will exhibit high resistance that will cause premature failure of the ignitor. Other times, the ignitor will exhibit horrible signal pattern that causes coil to fail. That is why I ( as well as Honda) recommend replacing as pair (coil and ignitor). Saves face with customer and reduces comebacks.

I still feel pretty confident that an ignitor should fix car though.

 

aight...ill try the new ignitor when i get my new coil in from summit! thanks man!

 

I'm having nearly the same problem.

Replaced the coil. Fixed it for a day, then died again. Put in another coil, and got intermittent starting, but it wouldn't run for more than a minute.

Replaced EVERYTHING in the distributor from a used one. Ran great for about 20 minutes, got everything timed and set, and went to drive home and BAM...died a mile from where I was working on it.

Replaced the main relay. No change.

Currently, I'm testing wires here there and everywhere, and it turns out, power is going to my ECU from the ignition switch, but there is no signal coming out of it to the main relay, so no fuel. I think my next step is plugging in another ECU or something.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hondatim &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wouldn't condemn the main relay (relay that powers your fuel pump and ECU)
I would be much more inclined to blame the ignitor(inside the distributor, provides signal to coil on when to fire spark) Extremely common and very typically fail in the manner you are talking about. Generally caused by heat soak(drives OK until warmed up and then seem as if engine just shuts off) But I have seen then fail even when engine is cold too. The main relay(typically) fails on initial startup due to contacts in relay not closing. The ignitor generally fails while driving and most of the time starts out failing very intermittently and then over time gets worse until it just totally ceases to function.

</TD></TR></TABLE>
Good stuff.

A few months ago I had the same problem, I was about 5 minutes down the road after work and after taking off from a light that had just turned the car just died (nearly in the middle of the intersection). I ended up replacing the coil and the car has been running fine. Aside from taking a while to start.