This seems to be a common problem with Integras and all Honda vehicles. Driving along, when all of a sudden car shuts off. I am not getting spark. Doing a search in this forums concludes that its probably the coil and or ignitor. My question is.. How Do I test the coil and ignitor? The coil is a $90 part at any auto parts, but they tell me that the ignitor is a dealer part. What am I looking to spend for an ignitor? I am not the most mechanically inclined person so please be gentle...

Thanx

Ren

 

Ummm... the "ignitor coil" was a single piece I thought.

Anyways, a nice simple way to test it would be to remove it from your distributor (Be REALLY damn careful not to strip any screws) and take it to your local Autozone. They do free testing for ignitor coils.

Anyways, all you have to do is run a resistance test on the contacts in the coil. Nice and simple, but I don't remember the resistance ratings off the top of my head. Things to note: You MUST be within a specific temperature range to get an accurate reading, and even .5 Ohm out of spec can be considered defective.

 

The 'ignitor' is the ignition control module (ICM), sorta like the ignition amplifier in other cars. Not the same thing as the coil; both are inside the distributor.

 

Thanks guys for the help. On the way home from work, I stopped by a junkyard and purchased a used distributor. My Integra fired up!!! After calling the dealer and finding out the an ignitor cost $250 I took a gamble with the used distributor.

peace out!!

 

Just happened to me today...I need an ohmmeter. Does autozone test the coil and igniter, or just the coil?

 

I called them and they told me they were not able to test them, but then again it was sunday and they were probably trying to get rid of me.

 

I think just the ignitor. They (Autozone) offered to do it for me, but I wanted to try it myself and play with my new Helms manual.

But getting a good multitester is a good idea, so check out what radioshack has to offer. I got a good one and it's helped me troubleshoot a LOT of problems.

 

I'm gonna try and borrow a multimeter from a friend and start taking some shit apart. In the meantime, another friend is working on getting me a distributor. I haven't checked for spark yet because I'm alone, but it's all I can think of. Timing belt is good, fuel pump turns on and the rail pressurizes, it cranks over but won't fire. Am I missing anything? The car shut off on the freeway...I'm thinking something in the distributor.

 

my car isnt firing.... i took one of the plugs out and had my mom crank it while i looked for spark.... didnt spark, i even tried doing it once with it touching the ground wire, again no spark.... am i testing for spark the wrong way?

 

Do a search at the Advance Auto parts web site for ignition control module and you will see that they sell two different ones for my 95 Integra LS. One is a Beck/Arnley unit for $90 and the other is a GP Sorensen for $250+/-. You can have a good coil and not get spark to the engine if the ICM is bad.
Gary