1998 Honda Civic New Distributor for 98 Civic?

Tiny
CHARMEDLIFE
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 16,075 MILES
Hi, my daughters car recently stalled at a light, and then wouldn't start up again. (It turned over, but wouldn't start.) We had it towed to a shop, where they replaced the ignition control module & the ignition coil. ($515.00, including $95.00 for diagnosis.)

When we got it out of the shop, the check engine light was on, so we were told to put it through a drive cycle, then call back in a few days if it was still on.

As soon as it came out of the shop, it was still running rough, and threatening to quit whenever she stopped.

We took it back in (21 miles later), and now they say we have to do the whole distributor, which is going to cost another $500+. They told me at the time of the first repair, that the distributor may still go out, but that it wasn't yet bad. So I could do the less expensive repair for the moment, and take my chances on the distributor.

So my question is, did the distributor go bad in the last 21 miles, or I am correct in thinking it was probably bad before, and they misdiagnosed it?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 AT 5:37 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Thank you for there donation,

Can you tell me the set fault code as indicated by the engine light, this will be a big help, there are components with in the distributor apart from the module that may be the cause but with out seeing and having the fault code to go on it is a bit hard to make a judgment on it, if it is still drivable a scened opinion would be a good idea, and if you can post the codes that will help me a great deal.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 AT 5:51 PM
Tiny
CHARMEDLIFE
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I don't have access to the codes without making an issue of asking the mechanic for them. Mechanic says he will try to get a distributor without the parts we already paid for. It is still going to cost us, but probably less. The car is driveable, but to get another diagnosis would end up costing more so I am not sure I want to do that.
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Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 AT 12:37 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
OK, see what price they come up with for the distributor, and haggle with the labour price as they should come to the party, even if it is only a little it's better than nothing.

Mark.
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Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 AT 9:16 PM

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