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Car Forum / Honda Cars / November 20041991 Accord Dead Igntion
My 1991 Accord stopped running, without warning. I towed it home and determined the timing belt is not broken, but that there is no spark. How can I determine what the cause of this problem is? The distributor rotor turns, and there is no evidence of distributor bearing failure (no dust). I understand the igniter may be a problem, but that there may be no way to test it without just buying one, which is not returnable. Also, does the rotor just pull off? It does not want to come off. Thank you, - Phil I have a good ignitor from a '90 Accord I can send you. bob > My 1991 Accord stopped running, without warning. I towed it home and > determined the timing belt is not broken, but that there is no spark. How [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > - Phil Also, feel free to take the dist out of the car. Mark on the block where the rotor is pointing, and then take all the bolts out and remove the dist. The rotor will pry off with a big blade screwdriver. There is a test for the ignitor, I can check the manual if you have a meter. bob > My 1991 Accord stopped running, without warning. I towed it home and > determined the timing belt is not broken, but that there is no spark. How [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > - Phil I have a typical multimeter, so if that is what is needed, I can test. What is the procedure. This car will not be kept for much longer, so do not want to buy a manual. So, if you can tell me what to look for, that would be great. - Phil > Also, feel free to take the dist out of the car. Mark on the block > where the rotor is pointing, and then take all the bolts out and remove [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > > > - Phil > I have a typical multimeter, so if that is what is needed, I can test. > What is the procedure. This car will not be kept for much longer, so do > not want to buy a manual. So, if you can tell me what to look for, that > would be great. Here's a link to an online version of the manual. http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/AccordManual/ Eric hi, i read your post about the ignition problem in honda accord......im in australia holidaying on the gold coast and my honda has stopped.....i have no spark at the plug leads and wondering if you could tell me the test for the "igniter"? is that the cream component inside the distributor with 4 or so wires? i note here that they also discuss a dry joint on one of the module...u know about that? hope u get this coz im in a bit of a bind!! thanks and best wishes, michael Hi Mike I am doing something very similar on an Integra, which I am sure is very similar to an Accord. Yes, the ignitor is a small module with four connections on it. First determine if you have 12V on this subsystem by taking the cap off. Turn the car to the 'on' position (where all your dash lights are on but don't start the car. Don't leave it in this position too long; a couple of minutes won't hurt anything, though). Probe on the coil primary (that thing that looks like it has a chimney - the screw contacts are primary) - you will see 12V if power is getting to the distributor. You will also see close to 12V on your secondary, depending on the type of voltmeter you use. If you see 12V on your primary and absolutely nothing on secondary, your coil is probably bad. If you don't see 12V anywhere, I'd check the starter switch and trace it from there. If you see 12V on the secondary, your coil could still be bad, but it is far less likely. (It could have cracks, as was the case with mine. The thing comes off easily, so you may want to inspect it.) To check the ignitor (ICM), you will need to have access to a scope and probe the input (i.e. 12 V or so -- not the secondary of the coil as that will blow your scope up) to the module and start the car. If you see pulses, it is most likely the ignitor. I bought a new aftermarket ignitor for under $70 at carpartsamerica.com -- OEM retail was $205 so it pays to shop around. Hope this is of use to you. Remco > hi, > i read your post about the ignition problem in honda accord......im in [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > michael > Hi Mike > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > Hope this is of use to you. > Remco With the scope I could see the input on mine was toggling from ground to about 10 or 12 volts, while the output (on the coil) stayed at battery voltage without a trace of toggling. Your test procedure is right on. A voltmeter may catch enough activity for a go/no-go test, but I'm not sure. If it acts bad, it probably is. If the voltage pulses from about 12V to about ground on the coil, without a multi-hundred volt positive spike when the voltage is released from ground, the coil is more likely bad. The 2 round head screws that hold the ignitor (on the outside of the distributor) can be very tight. If you aren't going to go to the trouble of removing the distributor (I don't blame you!) you may want to break the screws loose with a pair of locking pliers (vise-grips) to avoid stripping the heads. Those wires pull off the module, and that terminal nearest the front is *supposed* to be bent over a bit. >> hi, >> i read your post about the ignition problem in honda accord......im in [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >> >> michael and now the easy way.... pull the dist cap off. now find the wire on the ignitor that goes to the coil negative terminal and take it off. put a test light on the positive pole of the battery and connect the ground lead to the ignitor wire just removed. crank the engine, if it flashes the ignitor is good. all the ignitor does is make and break the ground on the primary side of the coil. i've been doing this for years, learned it at honda school. Chip Cool trick - thanks, Chip! I'll have to remember that one for next time. With your honda experience, you should think about putting ins-and-outs like that on a site someplace - I am sure all back yard mechanics would appreciate it. Remco > and now the easy way.... pull the dist cap off. now find the wire on > the ignitor that goes to the coil negative terminal and take it off. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > i've been doing this for years, learned it at honda school. > Chip i have a 90 distributor and a 92 distributor with the ignition coil and plug wires. > hi, > i read your post about the ignition problem in honda accord......im in [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > michael About 3 years ago on our 92 Accord I had what sounds like the same problem --- was the ignition relay located under the left foot rest that was the problem as I recall. That has been the only failure this car has had since new -- all other repair bills have been for normal maintenance and wearables such as exhaust, tires, brakes and minor front end. If I can remember the bill was something like $200 can. Oh one other thing failed and that was the radio antenna which I replace with an old fashioned stick style rather than the one hidden power one. I figure there's at least 3 to 4 more years of wear in this baby with just 180,000 km on it now. Hope yours is as dependable as this one. The Artful Codger > My 1991 Accord stopped running, without warning. I towed it home and > determined the timing belt is not broken, but that there is no spark. How [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > - Phil > I figure there's at least 3 to 4 more years of wear in this baby with just > 180,000 km on it now. 3 to 4 years? For sure! Mine's at 264,000km and compression is still great and it's my daily commuter & trip car! Amazing cars for a 4 cyl! How does one get to this? - Phil > About 3 years ago on our 92 Accord I had what sounds like the same > problem --- was the ignition relay located under the left foot rest that was [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > > > - Phil I personally did not repair this but my mechanic friend told me that is where the ignition module was located. Under the left foot rest on a 92 Accord. The Artful Codger > How does one get to this? > [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > > > > > - Phil | How can I determine what the cause of this problem is? Touch the ridge ( above coil ) of your distributor cap while some1 cranks engine, if you can feel ~1320v AC jolt, "ignitor" is fine. Just had this same problem on '91 Accord LX. Igniter and Coil was the problem. Expensive parts! G-Man > My 1991 Accord stopped running, without warning. I towed it home and > determined the timing belt is not broken, but that there is no spark. How [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > - Phil How expensive? May just give the car away if too pricey or too much hassle. - Phil > Just had this same problem on '91 Accord LX. Igniter and Coil was the > problem. Expensive parts! [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > > > - Phil |
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