Honda Car Forum

Hi Folks,

I have some problems so I thought I'd stop in and see if anyone can help. I
have a 96 Civic LX that my daughter drives. Last Monday it refused to start,
turns over but won't hit a lick. Can't get a spark so...

I have replaced the plugs (They were very bad)

Checked the coil and the resistance seems to be fine according to the
Chilton manual I have.

Took the ICM out and had it checked - it is OK they say.

Replaced rotor and distributor cap.

I disconnected the wires from the ICM and with the key on checked the
voltage between the black wire with yellow stripe and ground and it was as
the book said the same as the battery voltage. Note, if you inadvertently
ground the wire you have to find a new 40 amp maxi fuse!

So, I know someone here has the answer, where do I go next?

Thanks,
Dan

Danny wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> I have some problems so I thought I'd stop in and see if anyone can help. I
> have a 96 Civic LX that my daughter drives. Last Monday it refused to start,
> turns over but won't hit a lick. Can't get a spark so...
>
> I have replaced the plugs (They were very bad)
>
> Checked the coil and the resistance seems to be fine according to the
> Chilton manual I have.
>
> Took the ICM out and had it checked - it is OK they say.
>
> Replaced rotor and distributor cap.
>
> I disconnected the wires from the ICM and with the key on checked the
> voltage between the black wire with yellow stripe and ground and it was as
> the book said the same as the battery voltage. Note, if you inadvertently
> ground the wire you have to find a new 40 amp maxi fuse!
>
> So, I know someone here has the answer, where do I go next?
>
> Thanks,
> Dan
>

what obdII code do you have?

the motor could be not starting due to flooding. also, you don't
mention plug leads - they need to be good.

regarding further diagnostics, check obd codes first before wasting any
more time and money messing about replacing stuff.

in the unlikely even that doesn't tell you anything, check the feed from
the ecu to the igniter [icu]. if that's ok and pulsing, check the
igniter again since you have just zapped something in proximity.
regarding the coil, resistance measurements don't mean it's not arcing
to earth internally. check against a known good coil and see if that
sparks the plugs.

Danny wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> I have some problems so I thought I'd stop in and see if anyone can help. I
> have a 96 Civic LX that my daughter drives. Last Monday it refused to start,
> turns over but won't hit a lick. <SNIP>

> Dan
----------------------------------------

Do what I did . . . (it makes sense when you realize that components
don't fail overnight by themselves) I finally looked in the Owner's
Manual and discovered that Hondas can get FLOODED. Held the pedal to the
floor for a 20 second spin of the starter and it started with a puff of
black smoke. One injector was dribbling overnight and the cure is to run
a can of injector cleaner through it every 6 months or so. I now use
gasohol once in a while too.

Explains why it happens on Monday morning too . . .

'Curly'

Well, I am pretty much old school and don't even have a scanner, guess I
might think of getting one. Is the feed from the ecu to the igniter only one
wire or is it more? The Chilton manual has a very limited diagram?


"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
news:M5ydnd5RSafCEBnYnZ2dnUVZ_sGqnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
> Danny wrote:
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> I have some problems so I thought I'd stop in and see if anyone can help.
>> I have a 96 Civic LX that my daughter drives. Last Monday it refused to
>> start, turns over but won't hit a lick. Can't get a spark so...
>>
>> I have replaced the plugs (They were very bad)
>>
>> Checked the coil and the resistance seems to be fine according to the
>> Chilton manual I have.
>>
>> Took the ICM out and had it checked - it is OK they say.
>>
>> Replaced rotor and distributor cap.
>>
>> I disconnected the wires from the ICM and with the key on checked the
>> voltage between the black wire with yellow stripe and ground and it was
>> as the book said the same as the battery voltage. Note, if you
>> inadvertently ground the wire you have to find a new 40 amp maxi fuse!
>>
>> So, I know someone here has the answer, where do I go next?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Dan
>>
>
> what obdII code do you have?
>
> the motor could be not starting due to flooding. also, you don't mention
> plug leads - they need to be good.
>
> regarding further diagnostics, check obd codes first before wasting any
> more time and money messing about replacing stuff.
>
> in the unlikely even that doesn't tell you anything, check the feed from
> the ecu to the igniter [icu]. if that's ok and pulsing, check the igniter
> again since you have just zapped something in proximity. regarding the
> coil, resistance measurements don't mean it's not arcing to earth
> internally. check against a known good coil and see if that sparks the
> plugs.

Curly, I'll check the fuel but I still don't think I am getting a spark.

Dan

"motsco_" <motsco_@interbaun.com> wrote in message
news:12o96g9sj1qt7a8@corp.supernews.com...
> Danny wrote:
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> I have some problems so I thought I'd stop in and see if anyone can help.
>> I have a 96 Civic LX that my daughter drives. Last Monday it refused to
>> start, turns over but won't hit a lick. <SNIP>
>
>> Dan
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Do what I did . . . (it makes sense when you realize that components don't
> fail overnight by themselves) I finally looked in the Owner's Manual and
> discovered that Hondas can get FLOODED. Held the pedal to the floor for a
> 20 second spin of the starter and it started with a puff of black smoke.
> One injector was dribbling overnight and the cure is to run a can of
> injector cleaner through it every 6 months or so. I now use gasohol once
> in a while too.
>
> Explains why it happens on Monday morning too . . .
>
> 'Curly'

Danny wrote:
> Curly, I'll check the fuel but I still don't think I am getting a spark.

be absolutely certain: take one of the old plugs, open up the ground
electrode to about 45 degrees, then ground it while one of the plug
leads is attached. have an assistant crank the engine and you'll soon
see if it's sparking. keep that old plug in your tool kit for future
diagnostics.

>
> Dan
>
> "motsco_" <motsco_@interbaun.com> wrote in message
> news:12o96g9sj1qt7a8@corp.supernews.com...
>> Danny wrote:
>>> Hi Folks,
>>>
>>> I have some problems so I thought I'd stop in and see if anyone can help.
>>> I have a 96 Civic LX that my daughter drives. Last Monday it refused to
>>> start, turns over but won't hit a lick. <SNIP>
>>> Dan
>> ----------------------------------------
>>
>> Do what I did . . . (it makes sense when you realize that components don't
>> fail overnight by themselves) I finally looked in the Owner's Manual and
>> discovered that Hondas can get FLOODED. Held the pedal to the floor for a
>> 20 second spin of the starter and it started with a puff of black smoke.
>> One injector was dribbling overnight and the cure is to run a can of
>> injector cleaner through it every 6 months or so. I now use gasohol once
>> in a while too.
>>
>> Explains why it happens on Monday morning too . . .
>>
>> 'Curly'
>
>

Danny wrote:
> Well, I am pretty much old school and don't even have a scanner, guess I
> might think of getting one.

they're cheap these days. make sure you get one that resets as well as
just reads.

> Is the feed from the ecu to the igniter only one
> wire or is it more?

only one afaik.

> The Chilton manual has a very limited diagram?

if you want to spend /any/ money on tools for this honda, go to helm.com
and buy the factory honda service manual. then take the chilton, burn
to dust, then take the dust and mix with camel dung. burn the dung then
take the ash and sprinkle around your neighbors roses at the dead of
night - the neighbor you don't like too much and whose garden looks
better than yours. the chilton will poison his roses so they stunt and
go black. and there will be much rejoicing in your garage.

>
>
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
> news:M5ydnd5RSafCEBnYnZ2dnUVZ_sGqnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>> Danny wrote:
>>> Hi Folks,
>>>
>>> I have some problems so I thought I'd stop in and see if anyone can help.
>>> I have a 96 Civic LX that my daughter drives. Last Monday it refused to
>>> start, turns over but won't hit a lick. Can't get a spark so...
>>>
>>> I have replaced the plugs (They were very bad)
>>>
>>> Checked the coil and the resistance seems to be fine according to the
>>> Chilton manual I have.
>>>
>>> Took the ICM out and had it checked - it is OK they say.
>>>
>>> Replaced rotor and distributor cap.
>>>
>>> I disconnected the wires from the ICM and with the key on checked the
>>> voltage between the black wire with yellow stripe and ground and it was
>>> as the book said the same as the battery voltage. Note, if you
>>> inadvertently ground the wire you have to find a new 40 amp maxi fuse!
>>>
>>> So, I know someone here has the answer, where do I go next?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Dan
>>>
>> what obdII code do you have?
>>
>> the motor could be not starting due to flooding. also, you don't mention
>> plug leads - they need to be good.
>>
>> regarding further diagnostics, check obd codes first before wasting any
>> more time and money messing about replacing stuff.
>>
>> in the unlikely even that doesn't tell you anything, check the feed from
>> the ecu to the igniter [icu]. if that's ok and pulsing, check the igniter
>> again since you have just zapped something in proximity. regarding the
>> coil, resistance measurements don't mean it's not arcing to earth
>> internally. check against a known good coil and see if that sparks the
>> plugs.
>
>

Danny wrote:
> Curly, I'll check the fuel but I still don't think I am getting a spark.
>
> Dan
> ===============================

Depending on how you tested for spark, you may no longer have spark. If
it doesn't have a ground to go to when you spin the engine, it will find
one internally. Igniter may now be fried.

'Curly'

Curly,

I took the igniter out and took it to the local parts house. They tested it
and said it was good, for what ever that is worth...

As far as I know I always had the plug grounded when I was testing it


"motsco_" <motsco_@interbaun.com> wrote in message
news:12o99kb711kbsa6@corp.supernews.com...
> Danny wrote:
>> Curly, I'll check the fuel but I still don't think I am getting a spark.
>>
>> Dan
>> ===============================
>
> Depending on how you tested for spark, you may no longer have spark. If it
> doesn't have a ground to go to when you spin the engine, it will find one
> internally. Igniter may now be fried.
>
> 'Curly'

Question, can the computer store codes and the MIL not come on?

Dan


"Danny" <dwest6@cox.net> wrote in message
news:xV%gh.57304$1J1.4919@newsfe17.lga...
> Hi Folks,
>
> I have some problems so I thought I'd stop in and see if anyone can help.
> I have a 96 Civic LX that my daughter drives. Last Monday it refused to
> start, turns over but won't hit a lick. Can't get a spark so...
>
> I have replaced the plugs (They were very bad)
>
> Checked the coil and the resistance seems to be fine according to the
> Chilton manual I have.
>
> Took the ICM out and had it checked - it is OK they say.
>
> Replaced rotor and distributor cap.
>
> I disconnected the wires from the ICM and with the key on checked the
> voltage between the black wire with yellow stripe and ground and it was as
> the book said the same as the battery voltage. Note, if you inadvertently
> ground the wire you have to find a new 40 amp maxi fuse!
>
> So, I know someone here has the answer, where do I go next?
>
> Thanks,
> Dan
>
>
>
>