#294290 - 06/27/06 07:01 AM
No Spark please help ! UPDATE
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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So I go to help out a friend who's car all of a sudden won't start....it's a 92 Civic LX, 1.5. Cranks over but has no spark. A year ago I replaced the distributor because it was making a loud screeching noise....could this be related ? Can anyone point me in a direction to start ?
Thanks !!!
Edited by Alexxn_00_Si (07/16/06 09:52 PM)
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#294291 - 06/27/06 10:40 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Import Tuner
Gold Member
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/04/00
Posts: 8185
Loc: Tacoma, Wash..
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First step would be to insure the distributor is turning...
Then check for power (key on) at the + side of the coil...
Then check for interupted ground at the - side of coil (while cranking)... 
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#294292 - 06/27/06 11:05 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Si's_RUS
Poster
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 202
Loc: Ohio
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if you have power at the dizzy swap out the dist.module.this happend to me one time driving down the road.hope this helps
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#294293 - 06/27/06 11:46 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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cool thanks guys ill start there...Im tryin to get the NAPA to warranty the distributor first.....
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#294294 - 06/27/06 01:03 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Import Tuner
Gold Member
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/04/00
Posts: 8185
Loc: Tacoma, Wash..
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Most replacement distributors don't come with an ignition coil and some don't come with the igniter...
If yours came as a complete unit, you'll remedy the problem with a warrantied part, however IF you need to transfer either of those components there's a good chance you'll be swapping in a bad part...
If you don't have an interupted ground at the - side of the coil, the igniter (module) is bad...
IF you do have an interupted ground at the - side of the coil, the coil is bad...
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#294295 - 06/27/06 01:37 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
Most replacement distributors don't come with an ignition coil and some don't come with the igniter...
If yours came as a complete unit, you'll remedy the problem with a warrantied part, however IF you need to transfer either of those components there's a good chance you'll be swapping in a bad part...
If you don't have an interupted ground at the - side of the coil, the igniter (module) is bad...
IF you do have an interupted ground at the - side of the coil, the coil is bad...
Good to know...how exactly do you check for an interrupted ground ??
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#294296 - 06/27/06 02:14 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Import Tuner
Gold Member
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/04/00
Posts: 8185
Loc: Tacoma, Wash..
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Using a test light, you'd normally hook the alligator clip end to the negative battery cable (or ground) and check a component for power by seeing if the light lights...
Well when checking for a ground, put the alligator clip on the positive battery terminal and touch the tip to the - side of the coil and have somebody crank the motor over, the light should flash (interupted ground) if the igniter is doing it's job...
The igniters job (one of) is to supply a momentary ground to the negative side of the coil via a reluctor wheel inside the distributor to ground the secondary windings and bring the saturated voltage over from the primary windings inside the coil and out the center terminal to the distributor rotor for distribution to the wires and plugs...
IF you're seeing that interupted ground, it's VERY probable that the ignition coil is bad...
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#294297 - 06/28/06 09:53 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Funny thing.....this morning my friend forgot the car was dead, got in it, started it up and drove away ! He parked it a few block away and was like oh crap ! Tried to start it again and guess what ? NOTHING....no spark again....WTF ? How could this be intermittent ???? 
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#294298 - 06/28/06 11:57 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Import Tuner
Gold Member
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/04/00
Posts: 8185
Loc: Tacoma, Wash..
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Coils die outright...
Igniters can be intermittant...
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#294299 - 07/08/06 11:44 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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So I finally got the new distributor and it had both a new coil and igniter...and it still has no spark....arghhhhhh
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#294300 - 07/08/06 12:25 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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martine
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/12/04
Posts: 5561
Loc: New England
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Maybe the main relay is bad? Has it ever been replaced? Check for cracks in the solder.
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#294301 - 07/09/06 09:44 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
Maybe the main relay is bad? Has it ever been replaced? Check for cracks in the solder.
Where do I find the main relay ??
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#294302 - 07/09/06 12:22 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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00CivicSI-R
Jr Member
Registered: 03/18/06
Posts: 717
Loc: westchester county, NY
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I had the same problem with my car.....and I had to replace the ignition starter and coil.
_________________________
Juno
aim: iamyatypema
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#294303 - 07/11/06 07:21 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
Using a test light, you'd normally hook the alligator clip end to the negative battery cable (or ground) and check a component for power by seeing if the light lights...
Well when checking for a ground, put the alligator clip on the positive battery terminal and touch the tip to the - side of the coil and have somebody crank the motor over, the light should flash (interupted ground) if the igniter is doing it's job...
The igniters job (one of) is to supply a momentary ground to the negative side of the coil via a reluctor wheel inside the distributor to ground the secondary windings and bring the saturated voltage over from the primary windings inside the coil and out the center terminal to the distributor rotor for distribution to the wires and plugs...
IF you're seeing that interupted ground, it's VERY probable that the ignition coil is bad...
OK...so I tried checking this with the test light hooked to positive and the tip on the - side of the coil....had a friend crank the engine over - no flashing light...I guess it's the igniter then ?
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#294304 - 07/12/06 10:27 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Import Tuner
Gold Member
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/04/00
Posts: 8185
Loc: Tacoma, Wash..
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Correct...
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#294305 - 07/12/06 12:43 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Thanks I just ordered one from Honda...I'll let everyone know the results !
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#294306 - 07/16/06 09:54 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Well I put the new igniter in today and guess what ? STILL NO SPARK...any fellow CSIers have ANY other advice ? What the heck else could this be ???
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#294307 - 07/17/06 06:52 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Import Tuner
Gold Member
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/04/00
Posts: 8185
Loc: Tacoma, Wash..
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Quote:
First step would be to insure the distributor is turning...
Then check for power (key on) at the + side of the coil...
Then check for interupted ground at the - side of coil (while cranking)...
Are ALL of those things present ?... 
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#294308 - 07/17/06 07:10 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
Quote:
First step would be to insure the distributor is turning...
YES the distributor is turning....
Then check for power (key on) at the + side of the coil...
Power is there on the + side of the coil with the key on....
Then check for interupted ground at the - side of coil (while cranking)...
NO, the test light is not flashing when the alligator clip is on the + side of the battery and I touch the tip to the NEG side of the coil while someone cranks the engine..
Are ALL of those things present ?...
So now what ????
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#294309 - 07/17/06 08:49 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Import Tuner
Gold Member
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/04/00
Posts: 8185
Loc: Tacoma, Wash..
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Disconnect the wire from the - side of the coil and see if the interrupted ground is available to the wire when it's disconnected from the coil...
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#294310 - 07/18/06 09:13 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Si's_RUS
Poster
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 202
Loc: Ohio
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dumb question you didnt lose the spring off the coil that makes contact with the cap did you?
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#294311 - 07/18/06 09:26 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
dumb question you didnt lose the spring off the coil that makes contact with the cap did you?
Nope...I made sure to keep track of that being there...I'm thinking of checking out the Main Relay that was mentioned earlier if I can find some info on it....this is very strange...
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#294312 - 07/18/06 12:29 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Import Tuner
Gold Member
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/04/00
Posts: 8185
Loc: Tacoma, Wash..
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The main relay runs the fuel pump and has nothing to do with your car having spark...
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#294313 - 07/18/06 12:50 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
The main relay runs the fuel pump and has nothing to do with your car having spark...
Ahh good point
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#294314 - 07/18/06 03:32 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Si's_RUS
Poster
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 202
Loc: Ohio
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another stupid ? how are you checking for spark
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#294315 - 07/18/06 07:43 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
another stupid ? how are you checking for spark
2 ways...first way was a screwdriver in the spark plug wire boot and close to a bolt on the valve cover, second, I took out a spark plug and put it in a wire and let it touch ground while it was cranked over.....I tried 2 different spark plug wires as well....
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#294316 - 07/19/06 09:57 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Import Tuner
Gold Member
Post Master Sr
Registered: 03/04/00
Posts: 8185
Loc: Tacoma, Wash..
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Quote:
Disconnect the wire from the - side of the coil and see if the interrupted ground is available to the wire when it's disconnected from the coil...
?...
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#294317 - 07/19/06 10:04 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
Quote:
Disconnect the wire from the - side of the coil and see if the interrupted ground is available to the wire when it's disconnected from the coil...
?...
It's gonna be a few days til I get get over there and try this...I'll keep everyone posted....
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#294318 - 07/20/06 03:02 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Si's_RUS
Poster
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 202
Loc: Ohio
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im really at a loss based on what youve tried and tested.my only other suggestion is to swap out a distributer from a running vehicle that you know is good and see if it starts if not work your way back thru wiring and see if you have a wire grounding out somewhere.did you check all your fuses? i believe there should be a fuse for the ecm?also check and make sure the dizzy ground wire isnt shorted out to the case somewhere.
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#294319 - 07/21/06 09:05 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
im really at a loss based on what youve tried and tested.my only other suggestion is to swap out a distributer from a running vehicle that you know is good and see if it starts if not work your way back thru wiring and see if you have a wire grounding out somewhere.did you check all your fuses? i believe there should be a fuse for the ecm?also check and make sure the dizzy ground wire isnt shorted out to the case somewhere.
I'm at a loss myself...I really doubt that I would have 2 bad distibutors at this point, and also I did test the coil and all tested OK....where is this ground wire that you mentioned ? Also I thought about the fuse for the ECM but then why would it have started that one time and died again ?? Strange....
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#294320 - 07/24/06 01:48 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Si's_RUS
Poster
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 202
Loc: Ohio
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i was talking wth siadam from this thread over the weekend and mentioned this to him.he said it sounds like the ecu.and that would make since,and explain why it started the one time and no again.check the fuses for the ecu first, and see if you can find a good ecu loaner for test. hope this helps
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#294321 - 07/25/06 08:27 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Quote:
i was talking wth siadam from this thread over the weekend and mentioned this to him.he said it sounds like the ecu.and that would make since,and explain why it started the one time and no again.check the fuses for the ecu first, and see if you can find a good ecu loaner for test. hope this helps
I really appreciate everyone's input on all of this....I did take a look in the fuse panel for an ECU fuse but I couldn't find anything that seemed like it could be....are there any CSI'rs in the area (Connecticut) that could let me try an ECU ? I really don't have any resources for this and would hate to have to buy one....I'll put a call out in the Northeast forum....Thanks !!
Edited by Alexxn_00_Si (08/08/06 06:59 AM)
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#294322 - 08/08/06 06:59 AM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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Well here's an update:
So I just finished trying a few things....I took apart the ignition switch, didn't look bad really but I did sand / clean all of the contacts and once I put it back together I had the diagram of what wires needed to have continuity when the key was in certain positions, checked it all out, all had continuity in the right places. Tried to start the car, NOPE still no spark.....just for the hell of it I also took off the upper timing belt cover and distributor cap, everything was lined up where it was supposed to be...
So back to sqaure one, I'm still at a complete loss here....
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#294323 - 10/08/06 07:22 PM
Re: No Spark please help !
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Alexxn_00_Si
Jr Member
Registered: 11/01/02
Posts: 494
Loc: Jupiter, Florida
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I almost gave up on this thing...turned out to be the computer....fixed !!
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