I'm probably not supposed to post this in two seperate forums, but I'm really desperate for help. My daily driver is dead

Car: 1992 Civic Si Hatch (bone stock)
Problem: Car no start It urns over and over but doesn't ignite. I can smell the gas. Problem happened while I was driving - the car just decided to stall on me; no warning at all. I was slowing down at a light, let go the gas pedal, pressed the clutch pedal in, started braking, and all of a suden the car dies on me.

Checked already: Tank is full of gas, new plugs about two months ago, never had any problems with the car, no warning lights, all fuses checked and okay. I checked for spark and there doesn't seem to be any spark at all. I removed the distributor cap and there are no burn marks or anything weird in there.

What should I check for now? How do I test the other components? I think I want to test the coil, but how?

 

Okay I have the cap and leak cover off. I want to test the coil, but I don't know which screws are terminals A and B to test for resistance. The manual says BLK/YEL wire is A and WHT/BLU is B but there is no WHT/BLU ???

 

try cranking the engine and see if your distributor turns, if it does, timing belt should be o.k. typically if there is no fuel or spark, it's usualyy a main relay, but you said you have fuel right??????if no spark it's either a bad coil or a bad igniter.

 

forgot one more thing, check if there is a brown powder in the distributor/cap. if there is, remove the distributor and check for rotational movement of the distributor shaft. if it's binding, the bearing is probably finished.

 

Found the problem. The coil is fine. I just over the rotor one last time because I was getting frustrated that the coil was okay and it turns out the rotor isn't even coming close the the contact points (and I mean really far off!). Thanks for your help (well, sort of).

 

DISREGARD! That wasn't the problem. I don't know what it is anymore. The rotor turns when I try to start the car. Resistance checks out according to the service manual specs. I now think the problem is the ignitor. How can I test the ignitor and if I must replace it, how much are they? Anybody?


[Modified by RedHatch.eh, 1:24 AM 1/6/2003]

 

Disconect both wires from the coil and hook up a test light between them. When you crank the engine the light should flash.

BTW, just because a coil tests good doesn't mean it is.

 

Okay, so I've checked the Ignitor with a test light (from the 2 leads going to the Coil) and there is absolutely nothing happening when I crank the engine. I'm pretty confident the problem is the Ignitor. Anybody know how much these things are of know of anybody who has one for me?

Just to make sure I'm not missing anything:

- Plenty of fuel in the tank
- Fuel Pump and Injectors work (I'm assuming only because I can here them and I can smell gas in the engine bay); therefore assuming the Main Relay is okay?
- Cap and Rotor are in top shape (they were also tested for resistance and pass)
- Coil seems okay as per service manual resistance specs
- No spark at the Plugs
- No spark at the Secondary Winding Terminal
- No sign of power when Ignitor is tested


[Modified by RedHatch.eh, 12:42 AM 1/7/2003]

 

check the cap also...there should be a contact point in there that is spring loaded. Make sure its clean and extending out.

Goodluck

 

If you have battery voltage at the black/yellow wire, it's probably a bad igniter.

 

Problem solved! It was the Ignitor. I got a new one for $90 (Canadian), replaced it and presto! Thanks for the help everyone.