1999 Honda Civic won't start - distributor?

Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 225,000 MILES
History is that electrical system, lights, engine etc pulsed. The harness that rubs on the manifold bracket was repaired but still have pulse. Have had grounding issues, car wouldn't start grounds corroded at body/frame, cleaned up and additional grounds added. Car started and ran fine but still have pulse. Recently while driving car instantly went to half power, sluggish then died. Wouldn't start seemed to "skip" when turning i.E. Did not sound like it does normally when starting as if no spark. Diagnosis revealed that distributor was not generating spark. Replaced distributor with reman, did not replace rotor or cap, both appeared to be in ok shape and based on way car died it seemed to be something that developed immediately i.E. Not a rotor or cap wear type issue. Car ran fine up to that instant. After putting new distributor in, the car turned over normally - sounded normal - but would not start. Shortly later went back to skip type turnover, checked for spark from spark plug cables - no spark. Fear that something is killing the dist. Could short in the h/a to the distributor kill distributor? Car has been in two different shops multiple times and no one can diagnose the pulse problem. The distributor problem was correct but I don't think it is the only issue.
Saturday, September 18th, 2010 AT 8:37 PM

25 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi suncars,

Thank you for the donation.

Pulsing of the electrical system could be due to the alternator, PCM or ignition switch.

Was the charging rate tested? If charging rate seems out of specs, check the harmonic balancer if equipped. Note if the crank pully is moving in a wavy pattern and check alternator belt tension.

Distributor can only be damaged if the fault is internal. Did you test if power is present at the distributor with ignition switch turned ON? If yes, test if power is available while cranking.

A faulty ignition switch can result in power supply disruption to the distributor while cranking. There was a safety recall on the igniton switch and it can cause intermittent stalling and non starting.

Did you test if the rotor is turning while cranking? Hope it is not a bad timing belt.

Does the Check Engine Lamp comes on and goes off after 2 seconds when ignition switch is turned on?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Saturday, September 18th, 2010 AT 10:31 PM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
The alternator has been tested and reportedly ok.

Where should I check for power at the dist? At h/a, plug at unit?

I checked the timing belt and it is intact.

The engine light does come on for 2 seconds when switch is turned on.

Thanks for the help
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, September 18th, 2010 AT 11:23 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
At the distributor there is a Black/Yellow wire. That is the power supply from the ignition switch. Unplug the connector, attach a test lamp to it and turn ignition ON. If test lamp turns on, power is available. Turn the ignition to crank and note if the test lamp goes off. It should stay on indicating nothing wrong with the power supply.

Do not rule out a faulty replacement reman distributor.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Saturday, September 18th, 2010 AT 11:49 PM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Can you tell me what voltage to expect?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Sunday, September 19th, 2010 AT 1:44 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
It should be battery voltage.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 19th, 2010 AT 1:47 PM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Ive got 11.5 V both with switch on and when cranking - unless intermittent.

I can believe that I got a bad reman dist. But its strange that even when the turnover sounded normal i.E. When dist. Was first put in the car wouldn't start and then the turnover sounded bad again i.E. Bad dist.

Can the cap or rotor work intermittently or instantly die?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 19th, 2010 AT 1:56 PM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Other interesting facts:

backup lights and power mirrors don't work? - Have checked fuses.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 19th, 2010 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
To test if sparks are intermittent and eliminate the possibility of the rotor or cap, remove the distributor cap. Attach a spark plug cable to the ignition coil output while grounding the other end with a spark plug or spark plug tester and crank engine. If sparks are available and consistent, the rotor or cap is bad if it is not getting to the spark plugs.

If sparks are available and not starting, check the firing order. Sometimes reman distributors are installed incorectly and the rotor is facing 180 degrees out of time. Swapping the position of spark plug wires between 1 with 4 and 2 with 3 should allow you to start.

Did you check the reverse bulbs? With ignition switch turned on, does the R indicator light comes on? If yes, remove the reverse light bulb and test for battery voltage at the socket.

Power mirror shares the same fuse as rear defoger relay. Pull out the mirror switch and test the Black/Blue wire for battery voltage with ignition switch turned on. If power is available, you have either :
1. Faulty switch.
2. Faulty power mirrors.
3. Bad ground circuit.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, September 20th, 2010 AT 1:10 PM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Second dist. Still no start
with spark cable connected to the coil contact and spring, spark plug in cable, spark plug body grounded - no spark.

Reading about 10 V DC to ground at coil contact while cranking - V ok - seems low?

Tested continuity on all of the pins on the engine dist. H/a i.E. From car all open i.E. High resistance except black and low resistance on black/yellow. Voltage drops from 12 to 10.5 on black and yellow when cranking. Are these numbers ok?

Could there be a problem with something at the other end of the h/a wires such as a control module, computer etc. That wasn't allowing dist. To spark or short circuit?

Have new rotor but don't think thats the prob.

Tested each cable and spark plug - no spark while cranking.

Bulbs ok - had misplaced one of fuses while checking. Found fuse map on-line and checked everything.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Monday, September 20th, 2010 AT 4:53 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
The voltages are correct and should not be the problem.

If you had done any repairs, check the ground circuit connection for the PCM. It is located at right side of engine, on thermostat housing.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 9:31 AM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
I will check.

If I am getting the correct V (10.5 V DC) on the spring/contact for the coil at the distributor then could it be the rotor? Wouldn't think it fail entirely but possible I guess. I would have imagined a higher V at the coil - is the spark plug generating the high V spark itself?

Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 9:40 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Sparks are generated by the ignition coil. Rotor and distributor cap are only for distributing the sparks.

Did you test the ignittion coil primary and secondary resistance?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 10:22 AM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Good ground on PCM.

I only have access to the contacts on top of the coil - getting 1 ohm. This distributor has a number of electronic parts including an ignitor, I believe, so I am assuming that the coil has the contact that goes directly to the dist. Cap.

Should I be checking the V at the coil in A/C settings or DC i.E. Is it dc or ac voltage and what should I be seeing?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 11:17 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
All voltage test should be done in DC.

The ignition coil primary resistance should be 0.45 - 0.55 ohms and secondary resistance is 22,400 - 33,600 if it is a Hitachi distributor.
TEC distributor resistance is 0.63-0.77 with secondary 12,800 - 19,200 ohms.

Coil output point has a spring that is the contact for the distributor cap.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 11:32 AM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
I don't have access to the secondary w/out dissassembling dist. I'll take a look.

What V should I see at the coil - is 10.5 V ok?

If coil is ok what else could it be? Is there any other signal, sensor etc. That could keep dist from firing?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 11:45 AM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
There are only two contacts/wires going to the coil. I get about 16.5 kohms between the dist. Contact on the coil and the terminals at the coil. The 1 ohm was read between the two contacts at the coil. Is there another place to check the secodary?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Ignition Coil Resistance Test

Turn ignition off.
Remove distributor cap.
Remove primary leads from ignition coil.
Using an ohmmeter, check primary resistance between ignition coil terminals "A+" and "B-". See Fig. 1 .
Resistance should be as specified.
Check secondary resistance between ignition coil terminal "A" (+) and secondary output terminal (coil tower).
If readings are not as specified, replace ignition coil.


http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_IgnitionCoil99AccordFig01_1.jpg



Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 AT 7:53 AM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Primary is around 1 or a little below - ohm meter not precise enough to measure better than that and around 16.5 k on secondary.

Will distributor for this engine D16Y8 have blue wire as shown in the manual on pg 23-109? Shows wire connected to one of the ICM connectors.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 AT 12:34 PM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
The test proc. On this page states that there should be continuity between the tach test conn. And the blu wire at the icm. THere is no continuity between the the tach test conn. And any pins on the engine h/a that connects to the dist. H/a

The tach does not register when turning engine over either?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 AT 1:19 PM
Tiny
SUNCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Is it possible to connect pwr and ground from the engine h/a to the distributor i.E. Jump from the h/a to the dist h/a - will the dist still work - at least create spark or does it need the TDC. Sensors etc to fire?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-2
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 AT 1:49 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Not Running Content

Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
VIDEO
Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
Instructional repair video
Engine Not Starting
GUIDE
Engine Not Starting
Over the past 20 years at 2CarPros we have identified the top problems that are easily fixed. This guide can save you a trip to the repair garage or calling a tow truck and...
VIEW MORE