InTeNsE805vp

Hey everyone, thought maybe you could help me out here. I think I'm heading in the right direction so far ... I've got a little free time so here's what happened.

I was driving down the road just fine, came to a big intersection and stopped in the left turn lane. Light turns green, I try to go and the car just DIES. Wants to start but can't. Whatever. I push it backwards finally (was on a slight uphill) and get it to the side of the road.

AAA comes, tow it to my house.

First thing I do is pull the valve cover off and make sure the timing belt didn't snap. It's still there so I'm good as far as that's concerned. Since I bought the car at 87k miles I've never given it a tune up so I figure I'll do that knowing it probably won't work anyway but it needs it. So I go to Kragen, pick up some spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor.

This is what the plugs looked like by the way



So I put the new ones in



Anyway, still no starty starty. I wasn't surprised at all actually.

Sooooooo, I just picked up an ignition coil and ordered the ignition control module (igniter) and will be picking that up around 4pm.

Here is a quick video of what it sounds like and what it does ...



DIRECT LINK: http://s17.photobucket.com/alb...2.flv

This has happened to me before on a different b series and it was the igniter but I just thought some of you would have other thoughts I may have overlooked?

Thanks in advance for your help!

GottaDC2

do you have fuel? try smack the tank w/ ur hand or rubber mallet, if it starts needs a fuel pump.

InTeNsE805vp

hmmm interesting, thanks ... fuel pump is accessible under the rear seats, right? I mean IF I have to change it?

all-mtr-teg

You're definately on the right track, checking the timing belt should be everyones 1st concern. The coil is notorious for going bad on honda dizzy's. Good luck with the repair, hopefully the new coil takes care of your problem. If not, like mentioned check out your fuel pump or even your charging system and battery.

InTeNsE805vp

Thanks all-mtr-teg ... yeh I've been through this once before unfortunately but my Honda's have never left me STRANDED haha

Also, quick side question ... if all the windows roll up fine and the lights don't dim at all, should I still check the battery?

all-mtr-teg

Naw, battery shoud be okay, but the charging system may not be.

InTeNsE805vp

Gotcha.

but if the charging system gave out, wouldn't it have run off the battery until the battery died as well?

sjbmx

checks timing belts, take out the wires and plugs make sure you geting a spark, sounds like your missing fuel. take out the injectors and see if its spitin fuel

all-mtr-teg

The car may have been running off the battery for a while and slowly losing power. I've been told that if the ecu doesn't maintain a certain voltage, like above 12.x volts it dies, and the car shuts off. By then the battery doesn't have enough cranking power to turn over the engine but still enough power to run your accessories like windows, radio, headlights.

sjbmx

oh and try jumping it

95 integra

iTrader: (2)

As stated, check for spark and fuel. Easiest thing is to turn the key to the "on" position and make sure the pump is priming (ie, the whining sound for a couple seconds). Then pull a plug out and see if its sparking. I had a similar problem once and it was the fuel pump relay....ofcourse I had another similar problem and it was the plugs fouling out....and yet again with some bad wiring in a 240. Your plugs look good though, so you can probably rule that out.

p nut

Had that happen to me once. Turned out to be the alternator.

InTeNsE805vp

wow, good to know ... thanks all for all the info! Just want to be prepared in my mind if it's not the coil. Will keep you all posted around 5pm when I get home and try the coil. Thanks again everyone!

InTeNsE805vp

ok so ... took out the coil, still the same issue. same exact everything. Good thing I already pre-ordered / pre-paid for the ignition module today, it should be here tomorrow morning.

So, just to verify ... to check the spark I take out one of the spark plugs (still connected to the plug wire), have someone try to crank it and visually see if it's sparking? all while not trying to kill myself right? haha

all-mtr-teg

Good luck

cetcivic

also try a different ecu..

InTeNsE805vp

no spare

InTeNsE805vp

well just for ***** and giggles, I took my LS and tried jumping it ... same exact thing.

Soooooo, I get the ignition module tomorrow morning and I'm hoping that's the problem.

InTeNsE805vp

fuel pump is priming by the way, i can hear it

95 integra

iTrader: (2)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by InTeNsE805vp &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

So, just to verify ... to check the spark I take out one of the spark plugs (still connected to the plug wire), have someone try to crank it and visually see if it's sparking? all while not trying to kill myself right? haha</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, but be aware that if there is fuel it can/will spray out of the cylinder (ie the spark plug hole) and your plug can ignite it. Don't ask me how I know that, but I do....

InTeNsE805vp

wow thats scary, I'll make sure to block it somehow I guess thanks for the info ...

soooooo, the guy at kragen ordered the wrong part ... he ordered a COIL, you know the one I already ordered and installed? yeh that one. Amazing how some Kragen's can get it same day (the one in Simi Valley can get it same day) but anyhow I called Acura dealer and they can get me the exact part tomorrow. Decided to pay a little extra and get the genuine part. One more day isn't gonna kill me I guess ....

I miss my GSR haha

vshavoc

Pull a spark plug wire off a spark plug. Don't have to pull the spark plug out. Put a screw driver into the spark plug wire boot and make sure it is touching the metal part that connects to the spark plug. Set it on the valve cover to where it can ALMOST touch one of the nuts on your valve cover or anything metal. Don't hold it because it will shock you if it is getting fire. Make sure it has a little gap between the screw driver and the nut so you can see the spark going from the screw driver to the nut. Have somebody turn it over and look for a spark to shoot from where the screw driver is to the nut or whatever piece of metal you put it next to.

Or you can take the spark plug wire off and stick one of your old spark plugs in there and set i down and see if you see a spark between the electrode and tip.

You shouldn't have went and spent all that money until you knew what was wrong with it. You can test for each part inside the distributor instead of buying and seeing which one works. Any library has Mitchell Manuals on all cars and you could photocopy anything you need to help trouble shoot your problem. The cheapo haynes or chiltons won't tell you half of whats in the Mitchell Mauals. Those are the ones the ASE techs use. They are bank too so that's why you can only photocopy from them. They usually don't let you check them out.

Also a quick way to make sure you are getting fuel is to loosen the top hose coming into your fuel filter and have somebody turn the key on. It will build pressure and come out of the hose where you loosened it. Be careful to not squirt it in your eyes or all over yourself. Just a quick turn of the key on and off. Fuel will come out. Maybe put a rag around it so it doesn't squirt every where.

And if it was a charging problem it would probably just make a clicking noise when you turned it over or no noise at all and it wouldn't even turn over.

I'd say it's your distributor because I had a 2000 gsr and had the same exact thing happen to me. I trouble shot it for a day and it was the ignitor. I just got a new distributor from Distributor Kings for like $150.

InTeNsE805vp

I'll check for spark / fuel tonight with the info you provided, thanks!

The only thing I really wasted $$ on was the coil ($50) so it's not too bad. It has 98k miles now so it's due for a tune-up anyway.

Thing is, I don't have a bunch of tools at my house, just the basics

So I ordered the igniter today from Acura and will be getting it in the morning ... $230 :shudder:

all-mtr-teg

So you are getting fuel but no spark?

InTeNsE805vp

yeh I'm pretty sure but I really need to double check tonight ... the igniter will be here in the morning so I'm going to get that around lunch time tomorrow, head home early and replace it.