I have a 1994 Honda Civic EX (1.6L, manual) and I've went through 4 rebuilt distributors in the past MONTH! Now, I know these were rebuilt distributors but these were good distributors. Now I'm wondering what is frying my distributors? I started thinking maybe it was the spark plug wires (the distributor caps)... but the distributor feeds through them -- the distributor caps couldn't have damaged 4 distributors... could they?? It usually takes about 5 -10 days after the installation of another distributor and then suddenly the car will die and then not start. I'm thinking something is frying these distributors slowly. When I turn the key the engine will crank but it won't start. I'm just wondering what do I have to do to fix this problem! Computer diagnostics seem to not pick up this problem b/c although my engine light is on the diagnostic picked up it was the Oxygen Sensor. Do I need new wires? If anyone could help me, please do!! I'm desperate. I'm 17 and I've been through 3 cars and it's just been really unfortunate because every day I'm thinking about my car and whether or not I'll be able to fix it.. or when it's running I'm petrified it will break down. I don't want to have that mindset with my Civic-- I love it.

 

Are you replacing the WHOLE distributor or what? It seems like there is too much voltage coming from the battery or something. I doubt it's the wires. Are you buying these distrubutors each time? What's are you doing with the old ones?

 

DId you rip apart the faulty ones to see what's wrong? What about the primary and secondary windings of the coil? Is there continuity?

 

I am getting these rebuilt distributors through Advance Auto Parts. I bought the first one for $180 and the next 3 I went through were covered by a "Lifetime Warranty." I just take the broken distributor back and exchange it for a new rebuilt one. And yes I'm talking about the complete distributor minus the distributor [cylinder] caps.

An employee told me he tested one of the ignition modules of one of the blown distributors and it was blown. I believe my car is killing the ignition modules contained within the distributor??

DPKelly, explain primary and secondary windings of the coil further.. I am relatively new to this. Thank-you for the help!

 

Sorry for doubleposting but I thought I should mention this: When the car did run the RPM rapidly jumped around when it hit 3000 rpm in any gear. When I hit 65 the RPM would be hitting 3,000 rpm and it would jump around crazy. Odd because I know the dirty oxygen sensor would not cause my RPM guage to jump around that crazy, would it? If anyone can solve this problem on why my Civic is frying my distributors... thank-you.

 

I think the rpm jumping on the tach is just a sign that the distruibutor was messed up. If I'm right, the Tach gets it's signal from the distributor. So the distrubutor was messed up and sending a crazy signal to the tach (and probabaly a crazy or intermitent spark to your plugs). If I were you, I'd drive under 3,000 rpm until you figure it out because is sounds like whatever is wrong is frying the distributor at or above that rpm.

 

Okay so a possibility is my distributor is getting too much voltage from the battery. I thought there was an electrical problem that caused these distributors to go out and the RPM Guage going crazy backs it. I just got a new rebuilt distributor (The 5th) and it runs now... so question is what I do next?

 

Look up how to check that in the Helms Manual in the resources sticky.

It's on Page 23-100. It just says to check for battery voltage and shows you where. I would assume that it should be the same voltage as your battery so check your battery voltage to compare it to.

You should go buy a Haynes manual too. They are cheap and I find them to be better than chiltons for most stuff.

 

How do I check the voltage that is going to the distributor? You explained how to test the voltage of the battery but how do I test the distributor's voltage?? This is a brand new battery so maybe the battery is flucuating voltage to the distributor since the distributor is used and that fries it?? I just put the 5th rebuilt distributor in and The car runs now but I'm terrified to drive it. Luckily the RPM does not jump around at 3,000 RPM like it did before but I am still fearful of the distributor breaking again.

 

I'm shooting from the hip on this so take it for what it is....

There are two plugs that hook up the distributor. I think the one with the two larger wires is where the power comes from. Unplug it and then turn the key on to power up the wires. Put one leed on one wire and the other to ground. Then check the other. I honestly don't know if one will be powered or both (probably just one).

I'd be surprised if this is the problem but you never know. Have you called a dealer or other shops to pick their brains?