Hi all,
my '95 civic dx had the engine shut off on me on the highway yesterday.
It still turned over w/ no problem.
I had it towed home....i checked for spark...nothing.
'thought it was the distributor so I replaced the whole unit 'cept for the rotor which looked o.k. but still no spark.
I checked the coil and MAP signals which checked out good. wires and plugs are good.
ECU?...what else do I look for.
much thanks everybody,
jamie

 

Wow, I just don't get it. Distributors are really getting a bad rap from someplace. Isn't it amazing how people spend all that money for a new/reman distributor assembly and end up right where they started? Then they show up here and find out they can get free advice from a huge knowledgeable resource instead.

Getting to your issue, there have been a few posts very similar to yours in the last few weeks. If you are getting no spark at all, have you checked to make sure the distributor is even rotating? You may have a timing belt issue. Pull off your distributor cap and have someone crank the motor. Does the distributor rotor spin at all?

 

I already pulled the top half of the T-belt cover off for inspection...the belt looks fine.
I think i'll pick up a new rotor today and try it out.

 

i think you can check for current at the ingition control module to see if it is getting it from the ignition switch (or do you check at the coil) - not for sure.
but only think i can think of in your case is the ignition switch.

 

Already checked that...it's good.
Actually what we look for is voltage...12v at the ICM with the ignition switch on.
And the coil was already checked for proper resistance.
My old '87 crx was a lot easier to diagnose ...miss it much.

 

a new or rebuilt dist does not come with a dist cap (at least mine did not).
did you put on a new dist cap??

 

What you want to do is check the ICM to see if it is turning the coil on and off. If it turns the coil on and off, then look to the rotor, cap, or coil. The coil is getting the signal to create a spark, but it isn't so you have to see if why it isn't. That is assuming that the ICM is turning the coil on and off.