If this happened all of a sudden, then it's more likely the igniter rather
than the coil. The coil tends to fail slowly. With a dying coil, the car
starts to display bad running symptoms after it is warmed up. Then the car
will die at idle at stoplights or while cruising. Wait an hour, and with a
dying coil, it will start up again.
With a dying igniter, the car tends not to start again, no way no how.
How old are the igniter and coil, anyway?
www.autozone.com has a complete Chilton's manual for this Civic. It has a
resistance check one can do on the coil. But ISTM the Haynes manual should
have this check, too. The autozone manual's check on the igniter there isn't
quite the same as the one you describe. I'd try it.
See also http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/faq.html , igniter and coil sections
It has some tests that are different but many here endorse.
Lastly, if it is the coil, there is an argument to be made that it's
malfunction will tend to foul up the igniter, as well. If both are very
old, I would strongly consider replacing both.
Use only an OEM igniter and OEM coil, whatever you do. www.slhonda.com and
www.hondaautomotiveparts.com have great prices.
> Loaned my 1990 Honda to my son and it wasn't a matter of an hour or so
> and I received a phone call announcing it had died. Frustrating
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> can't troubleshoot the problem properly. The Haynes manual is sketchy.
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
mac@bbc.net - 15 Feb 2006 00:44 GMT
The car has 240,000 and I'm not suprised with problems with the car.
The car never started after it quit. I have ordered an ignitor.
Thanks