There is no spark?

Tiny
HALLUCIDRUMMER
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 165,000 MILES
Hey all

Oct 28th my car was stolen. It was driven until the tank was empty and battery was dead. The steering column was also shredded. The car sat up until 3 days ago. The steering column was replaced. The battery was replaced and half a tank of gas was put into it.

The car cranks and cranks but will not fire up! Fuel is getting delivered to the engine; fuel system checks out ok. The ignition fuse is not blown. There is no spark coming into the engine.

Thinking maybe the distributor?
Saturday, January 30th, 2010 AT 5:33 PM

55 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi hallucidrummer,

Yes, when sparks are not available, the distributor is the first thing to check.Test for battery voltage to the Black/Yellow wire with ignition switch turned ON and while cranking. If voltage is available, then you need to test the ignition coil and ignition control module (ICM)

This guide will help us test for spark.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 AT 11:33 AM
Tiny
VSELLERS71
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
  • 1998 HONDA CIVIC
  • 250,000 MILES
My Honda civic dies while driving down the road it turns over but will not crank it isn't getting any spark to the spark plugs. We have replaced the distributor, distributor cap, spark plugs, computer, and timing belt. We also had the ignition module, coil, and plug wires checked they are fine. The autoscan machine at autozone kept saying error. It is getting fuel cuz the spark plugs are wet and smell of gas. Please help we are stumped!
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Inspect and test the crankshaft positioning sensor-
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VSELLERS71
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I forgot to say we did that too. It worked fine we even put another one on it just to make sure and it still won't crank.
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
How are you testing spark?
Have you verified that the distributor is actually turning?
Have you taken a compression test?
Were all these parts replaced in an attempt to resolve this specific problem.
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VSELLERS71
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Taking the spark plug out and putting it on the end of the plug wire it belongs to and grounding it to the engine and cranking the car. Yes the distributor is actually turning. And no we havent taken a compression test. And yes all these parts were only replace to fix this problem.
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Did you mark the distributor before you replace it?
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Be sure to check fuse #8
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+1
Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VSELLERS71
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Well how we knew that it was turning was cuz the screw distributor cap button was no longer visible. And we have checked all of the fuses and none of them are blown. Could it possibly be my main relay?
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VSELLERS71
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Im sorry I read the question wrong yes we marked the distributor before we put the new one on.
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Could be the main relay-test it
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VSELLERS71
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
How do we do that? And do u know where it is located in a 1998 honda civic dx? And how to get it out properly?
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Didn't see Wrench EWD -check the ignition switch if there's no power at coil positive terminal
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VSELLERS71
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
There is power at the coil. It reads voltage. Everything in the distributor has been replaced or checked. Can u tell me where the main relay is located and how to test it?
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
If you have working injectors there is nothing wrong with the main relay.
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VSELLERS71
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Well I just got it our. Can u tell me how to test it just in case. We will try anything at this point. We cant figure out what could be wrong with it after all the things we have replaced. And where is the fuse #8 u were talking about?
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VSELLERS71
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
What else could it be? Please help!
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LABADIL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1998 HONDA CIVIC
Its cranking but won't start. It's a new spark plugs, wires and distributor ignition system assembly but still I can't get a sparks from my spark plugs. I removed the distributor cap and checked the spark from the main output of my ignition coil while cranking, no sparks. Checked the input voltages from ignition control module with my dvom while cranking, i'm getting.320mv.
My question, is my new distributor unit has something to do with manufacturer made? Like it is made in taiwan. Would I need to buy the original distributor unit that made from honda or japan? 2nd, I don't have an engine check is lit on my dash board. I also checked with my obdii for diagnostic. No error or code found. What else is my problem? Need help. Thank you.
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi LABADIL,

Did you check if the camshaft is turning?
A broken timing belt would not produce any sparks as the distributor would not be turning.
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LABADIL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Yes, my camshaft is turning and my timing belt is ok. I'm still looking where the source of voltage supplying the ignition control module through the ignition coil. I even tried spraying my TP valve to be sured I have a fuel going through my combustion. I crank it no luck.
Anyway, I thank you so much for the tips you have sent to me. I really appreciated of your great response. Hope you will continue helping the people who are trying hard to get succesful of their troubleshooting. I get encourage more if fixed bymyself. Pls don't lose your patience. Thank you.
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Monday, November 2nd, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)

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