Honda Car Forum

Hi all,

I have a 1990 Honda Accord EX that does not start. I can turn the
engine but it won't start.

I had it on a car ramp to change oil and maintenance. When I was done
I started the car, while on the ramps, and it died after about 2
seconds. Now my car had done this before, I would take out the key and
wait for about a minute and start the car again. This time it wouldn't
start. I found out I had left the number 1 spark plug wire off, DOH!
I plugged the wire back in, it still wouldn't start. Could this have
caused some damaged?

My friend came over to help check it out. He stuck a screwdriver in
the number 1 plug wire and held it near a ground plug. I cranked the
engine and there was no spark. He says its the distributor.

I'm not sure how to check it properly. But could it be something else
not working, main relay or alternator, thus having the affect of the
distributor appearing to be damaged?

Any thoughts/comments would be greatly appreciated!!!

lincw@yahoo.com wrote:
> My friend came over to help check it out. He stuck a screwdriver in
> the number 1 plug wire and held it near a ground plug. I cranked the
> engine and there was no spark. He says its the distributor.
>
> I'm not sure how to check it properly. But could it be something else
> not working, main relay or alternator, thus having the affect of the
> distributor appearing to be damaged?

id pop the cap off and at least check the cap/rotor, and look for
"bearing dust". have him crank it and make sure the rotor turns.

new cap/rotor? still doesnt work? id go with the main relay.

We cranked the engine and the rotor did spin....

Its not a new cap or rotor. I had not done any maintenance with the
distributor at all. Is it correct to say that if the main relay is
bad, it would give the appearance of the distributor not working?

Thanks....

lincw@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a 1990 Honda Accord EX that does not start. I can turn the
> engine but it won't start.
>
> I had it on a car ramp to change oil and maintenance. When I was done
> I started the car, while on the ramps, and it died after about 2
> seconds. Now my car had done this before, I would take out the key and
> wait for about a minute and start the car again. This time it wouldn't
> start. I found out I had left the number 1 spark plug wire off, DOH!
> I plugged the wire back in, it still wouldn't start. Could this have
> caused some damaged?
>
> My friend came over to help check it out. He stuck a screwdriver in
> the number 1 plug wire and held it near a ground plug. I cranked the
> engine and there was no spark. He says its the distributor.
>
> I'm not sure how to check it properly. But could it be something else
> not working, main relay or alternator, thus having the affect of the
> distributor appearing to be damaged?
>
> Any thoughts/comments would be greatly appreciated!!!
>
check the coil. if that sparks ok when energized, look at the igniter
circuitry. i know the accord's not the same as the civic which is bad
in this area, but check it anyway.

lincw wrote:
> We cranked the engine and the rotor did spin....
>
> Its not a new cap or rotor. I had not done any maintenance with the
> distributor at all. Is it correct to say that if the main relay is
> bad, it would give the appearance of the distributor not working?

after 12 years, its probably worth a new OEM cap, rotor, and wires.
>
> Thanks....
>

I tested the coil and when energized it does output 12 volts

Would that prove its not the igniter or coil that is faulty?

When I crank, the rotor does spin. But no spark at the end of the
wire. Would this absolutely point to the cap and wires as the
culprits?

Someone mentioned maybe the timing belt broke?

Thanks....

lincw wrote:
> I tested the coil and when energized it does output 12 volts
>
> Would that prove its not the igniter or coil that is faulty?
>
> When I crank, the rotor does spin. But no spark at the end of the
> wire. Would this absolutely point to the cap and wires as the
> culprits?

cap/wires/rotor. worth it, after 15 miles. OEM all the way, even if you
have to buy online.

is it ALL plugs not getting spark, or just the one?
>
> Someone mentioned maybe the timing belt broke?

rotor wouldnt spin.
>
> Thanks....
>

"lincw" <lincw@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1118525985.233006.123820@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com:

> I tested the coil and when energized it does output 12 volts
>
> Would that prove its not the igniter or coil that is faulty?



Leaving the #1 spark plug wire off has killed the coil.

A partial path to ground has been established through the coil body, so it
is leaking the high-tension current off before it can reach the plugs. Your
12V test voltage tells you nothing.

You have no choice but to replace it.
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/start...s.html#badcoil


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Cool link, thanks. I ended up getting an off duty mechanic to come
over and he tested the coil somehow with a multimeter. He said the
resistance was kind of low and that the coil needed to be replaced.

I asked him if running the car without the #1 spark plug wire on the
spark plug would kill it, he said not likely.

He change it out and the car startup just fine.

>From my perspective, that is the only thing that I could think that I
did that would've caused the problem. Everyone I talked to said it not
likely to have caused the problem.

Your FAQ makes sense to me and at least provides logic to the problem.

I spent a lot of time looking for the main relay too, thinking that
might be the problem.

FYI, for those reading this in the future, it is located to the left of
the steering column. If you go underneath the dash and look up you
will not see it. You have to remove this 4"x4"x1" silver metallic
box, cruise control. Then you will see the main relay.

Thanks to all who replied.....