Honda Car Forum

A distributor go bad on a 95 civic? car ran fine then went to start it and
wouldn't start, turned over and all but no fire. had it towed to a garage
and they said its the distributor, the civic has like 88 k on it. just
wondering if this is common or a preview of more things to come

Steve


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On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 20:36:35 GMT, MrBlues <mrblues@comcast.net> wrote:
>A distributor go bad on a 95 civic? car ran fine then went to start it and
>wouldn't start, turned over and all but no fire. had it towed to a garage
>and they said its the distributor, the civic has like 88 k on it. just
>wondering if this is common or a preview of more things to come

Unless the shaft breaks in two, or the bearings jam in which case your timing
belt will slip and destroy half your valve train, there's not much that
can go wrong with a distributor.

The parts that go inside or on the distribrutor, on the other hand, can and
often fail: position sensor, ignitor, coil, rotor, cap.

Saying "it's the distributor" is like saying "it's the engine". Fine. Fix
the damn thing, don't replace the entire unit.

The place that I had it towed to said their diagnosis was that it was the
distributor. So they replaced it, and while driving it home, it started to
spit, sputter and knock before finally dying. So I immediately called them
and said what happened, well they are coming to tow it back and start over.
My curiosity has got me now, if it is the same problem, then they didn't
properly diagnose it and that replacing the distributor wasn't necessary and
my thinking is that if that's the case, then I shouldn't have to pay for the
repairs that are going to be done to fix the problem, considering I have
spent $400.00 on it and it isn't right....any opinions?

Steve
"TCS" <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote in message
news:slrncc9lrc.ehu.The-Central-Scrutinizer@linux.client.comcast.net...
> On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 20:36:35 GMT, MrBlues <mrblues@comcast.net> wrote:
> >A distributor go bad on a 95 civic? car ran fine then went to start it
and
> >wouldn't start, turned over and all but no fire. had it towed to a garage
> >and they said its the distributor, the civic has like 88 k on it. just
> >wondering if this is common or a preview of more things to come
>
> Unless the shaft breaks in two, or the bearings jam in which case your
timing
> belt will slip and destroy half your valve train, there's not much that
> can go wrong with a distributor.
>
> The parts that go inside or on the distribrutor, on the other hand, can
and
> often fail: position sensor, ignitor, coil, rotor, cap.
>
> Saying "it's the distributor" is like saying "it's the engine". Fine.
Fix
> the damn thing, don't replace the entire unit.


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On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 00:30:37 GMT, MrBlues <mrblues@comcast.net> wrote:
>The place that I had it towed to said their diagnosis was that it was the
>distributor. So they replaced it, and while driving it home, it started to
>spit, sputter and knock before finally dying. So I immediately called them
>and said what happened, well they are coming to tow it back and start over.
>My curiosity has got me now, if it is the same problem, then they didn't
>properly diagnose it and that replacing the distributor wasn't necessary and
>my thinking is that if that's the case, then I shouldn't have to pay for the
>repairs that are going to be done to fix the problem, considering I have
>spent $400.00 on it and it isn't right....any opinions?

Give them one more chance; refuse to pay another penny.

When it does again (and it will), take it to somewhere competant and
if you paid the $400 w/ a credit card, content it. In any case file a small
claims case for the $400 plus towing fees and any other incidental damage
(has to involve real money) you can think of.

Hello MrBlues,

Monday, June 7, 2004, 8:30:37 PM, you wrote:

M> The place that I had it towed to said their diagnosis was that it was the
M> distributor. So they replaced it, and while driving it home, it started to
M> spit, sputter and knock before finally dying. So I immediately called them
M> and said what happened, well they are coming to tow it back and start over.
M> My curiosity has got me now, if it is the same problem, then they didn't
M> properly diagnose it and that replacing the distributor wasn't necessary and
M> my thinking is that if that's the case, then I shouldn't have to pay for the
M> repairs that are going to be done to fix the problem, considering I have
M> spent $400.00 on it and it isn't right....any opinions?

M> Steve
M> "TCS" <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote in message
M> news:slrncc9lrc.ehu.The-Central-Scrutinizer@linux.client.comcast.net...
>> On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 20:36:35 GMT, MrBlues <mrblues@comcast.net> wrote:
>> >A distributor go bad on a 95 civic? car ran fine then went to start it
M> and
>> >wouldn't start, turned over and all but no fire. had it towed to a garage
>> >and they said its the distributor, the civic has like 88 k on it. just
>> >wondering if this is common or a preview of more things to come
>>
>> Unless the shaft breaks in two, or the bearings jam in which case your
M> timing
>> belt will slip and destroy half your valve train, there's not much that
>> can go wrong with a distributor.
>>
>> The parts that go inside or on the distribrutor, on the other hand, can
M> and
>> often fail: position sensor, ignitor, coil, rotor, cap.
>>
>> Saying "it's the distributor" is like saying "it's the engine". Fine.
M> Fix
>> the damn thing, don't replace the entire unit.


M> ---
M> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
M> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
M> Version: 6.0.699 / Virus Database: 456 - Release Date: 6/4/2004


This may sound wrong, but take it in the spirit it is offered. If you
know nothing about your car and don't have a mechanic you trust: Auto
repair for Dummies. It is a great place to start to learn about your
car and at a beginning at not being taken by every shop you bring your
car to.

--Andrew

I agree with TCS that usually the whole distributor does not have to be
replaced. I suggest you take a quick peak at http://tinyurl.com/3dvaz . It shows
the distributor for a 95 Civic LX, auto trans. Maybe print this out and take it
to the shop with you. I'd say the most common distributor failure items are as
follows:

1. igniter unit assembly (a.k.a. "igniter" or "ignitor" or "ignition module"),
item 9.
2. coil assembly, ignition (a.k.a. "coil"), item 12
3. distributor cap, item 2
4. distributor housing (typically the bearings go? red dust in the cap is a
symptom?), item 4
5. distributor rotor, item 3

Ordinarily, only one of these should have been replaced, and the part name
should appear on your bill, along with the labor charge.

Ask the shop:

1. Which parts in the drawing were replaced?
2. What was the charge for each part, not counting labor?
3. How much labor time were you billed for, in hours?

Given the bill you received, most likely, they will claim either the ignitor,
coil, or housing was replaced.

So far, yes, it looks like you should not have to pay anything more.

I am a 1991 Civic owner, 153k miles. I've had the ignitor fail once (at 91k
miles and six years) and the coil failed two or three times (at something over
100k miles, IIRC). The early 1990s Civic ignitors had some kind of flaw, and an
official Honda recall (or similar) was put out on them. I doubt the 1995 Civics
have the same problem with ignitors. Failing distributor coils are a common
problem in all cars. Coils don't usually completely die. That is, with a coil
that is almost dead, the car may stall and will not re-start right away. Then an
hour later it will start again. IIRC, ignitors tend to fail completely--no
start, no how. That's what I remember when my ignitor failed. Two years ago my
car's distributor rotor kept coming off the distributor shaft. Ultimately, I,
not the stupid dealer service department, figured out that the screw hole that
held it in place had become stripped. After a lot of incompetence from a few
shops, I ended up with a new housing (which I may not have needed--I had a jury
rig fix which the shop said was the problem), because the rotor screw hole was
stripped. The shop transferred the old ignitor and old coil to the new housing,
as the ignitor and coil are expensive parts and there's no reason not to
transplant them.

Last time my coil failed, the shop strongly suggested I replace the ignitor too,
as they argued that the malfunctioning coil can screw up an ignitor. The ignitor
in the car was not OEM and had given me probably about it's lifetime of
satisfactory service, so I went ahead and replaced it myself.

Now I do all my own distributor work.

"MrBlues" <mrblues@comcast.net> wrote
> The place that I had it towed to said their diagnosis was that it was the
> distributor. So they replaced it, and while driving it home, it started to
> spit, sputter and knock before finally dying. So I immediately called them
> and said what happened, well they are coming to tow it back and start over.
> My curiosity has got me now, if it is the same problem, then they didn't
> properly diagnose it and that replacing the distributor wasn't necessary and
> my thinking is that if that's the case, then I shouldn't have to pay for the
> repairs that are going to be done to fix the problem, considering I have
> spent $400.00 on it and it isn't right....any opinions?
>
> Steve
> "TCS" <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote
> > On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 20:36:35 GMT, MrBlues <mrblues@comcast.net> wrote:
> > >A distributor go bad on a 95 civic? car ran fine then went to start it
> and
> > >wouldn't start, turned over and all but no fire. had it towed to a garage
> > >and they said its the distributor, the civic has like 88 k on it. just
> > >wondering if this is common or a preview of more things to come
> >
> > Unless the shaft breaks in two, or the bearings jam in which case your
> timing
> > belt will slip and destroy half your valve train, there's not much that
> > can go wrong with a distributor.
> >
> > The parts that go inside or on the distribrutor, on the other hand, can
> and
> > often fail: position sensor, ignitor, coil, rotor, cap.
> >
> > Saying "it's the distributor" is like saying "it's the engine". Fine.
> Fix
> > the damn thing, don't replace the entire unit.

>
> Now I do all my own distributor work.

you are definately the coolest chick on this newsgroup

"SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote
> > Now I do all my own distributor work.
>
> you are definately the coolest chick on this newsgroup

Take credit. ;-)

(But am I the only chick here?)

I've seen some 92-95 civics with bad sensors in the distributor. Honda
does not sell them separately. In that case you would need the complete
subassembly.

"MrBlues" <mrblues@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:nl4xc.18251$Sw.4890@attbi_s51...
> A distributor go bad on a 95 civic? car ran fine then went to start it and
> wouldn't start, turned over and all but no fire. had it towed to a garage
> and they said its the distributor, the civic has like 88 k on it. just
> wondering if this is common or a preview of more things to come
>
> Steve
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.699 / Virus Database: 456 - Release Date: 6/4/2004
>
>

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 20:36:35 GMT, "MrBlues" <mrblues@comcast.net> wrote:

>A distributor go bad on a 95 civic? car ran fine then went to start it and
>wouldn't start, turned over and all but no fire. had it towed to a garage
>and they said its the distributor, the civic has like 88 k on it. just
>wondering if this is common or a preview of more things to come

The only way I've heard of the distributor to go bad, usually on 90-93 or
so models is that shaft bearing seal goes bad and when you take the
distributor cap off there's red dust everywhere from the corrosion of the
bearing. The only other thing about a distributor which can go bad is the
oil seal at the base which allows oil to leak inside the body. Ask for
details of their diagnosis of why the distributor was blamed and the next
time, ask for the old parts to be returned to you - keeps 'em honest.

What's more likely is that the igniter, which is an electronic part inside
the distributor which replaces the contact points, is bad, or maybe even
the coil, but they can be replaced without replacing the distributor.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??