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Car Forum / Honda Cars / December 2006

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Update: 1991 Accord - No Start - No Spark

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The Reverend Natural Light - 03 Dec 2006 23:43 GMT
I posted a question regarding no-spark on a '91 Accord last week.
Problem solved:  It was the coil.  That is so strange considering the
car ran when parked.  I figured a bad coil would cause a breakdown, not
a no-start.

Diagnosis went like this (steps 1-5 done before the last post):

1.  Key on causes fuel pump to cycle.  Thus, ECM probably okay.

2.  Checked spark at a cylinder - nothing.

3.  Verified cam was turning through oil filler cap:  Cam turns, timing
belt must be okay.

4.  Removed cap, checked spark from coil high tension post:  Nothing.

5.  Checked coil resistance - .7 ohms low side, 12k ohms high side
(disregard last post on this - I measured the high side incorrectly).
Note:  These readings are in-spec!

6.  Removed ignitor from distributor and performed bench test procedure
from tegger.com - Passed!

7.  Bench tested the coil:  No spark from high side to ground - BUT,
just enough to cause a mild shock from high side to _positive_ terminal
of low side.  Looks like a bad coil.

8.  Connected small light bulb in place of the coil and cranked the
engine:  Light flashes.

Number 8 was what finally convinced me to replace the coil.  Installed
a new one and the engine fired right up.  I went ahead and replaced the
cap, rotor, plugs, and wires because their condition undoubtedly caused
the problem to begin with.

Thanks Elle, Jim Yanik, Thom, motsco, and Tegger!

-rev
Jim Yanik - 04 Dec 2006 16:17 GMT
> I posted a question regarding no-spark on a '91 Accord last week.
> Problem solved:  It was the coil.  That is so strange considering the
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
>
> -rev

If the internal coil insulation breaks down at HV,you could get a good
resistance reading at the low volts any meter uses for measuring
ohms,(IIRC,~2volts)but when the coil pulses,the HV breaks down the
insulation and effectively shorts itself out,thus not enough voltage to
make a spark.

Good to hear your problem is solved!

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Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

 
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