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Thread: Diagnosis Help

  1. #1
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    Diagnosis Help

    Hey

    Not sure what happened. I am somewhat a novice on the diagnosis end. Was driving when the RPM's went kind of crazy. Went real high then low then very eratic. THen engine died. Limped off the road and was lucky enough to park it safely.

    Will not start now. Starter will turn the engine but will not start. Doesn't seem to have spark.

    I suspect timing belt but am not sure. Any ideas? Any reccomendations on what to look at?

    Thanks

    Mike Johnston



  2. #2
    3Geez Veteran lostforawhile's Avatar
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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Quote Originally Posted by sfcmikej View Post
    Hey

    Not sure what happened. I am somewhat a novice on the diagnosis end. Was driving when the RPM's went kind of crazy. Went real high then low then very eratic. THen engine died. Limped off the road and was lucky enough to park it safely.

    Will not start now. Starter will turn the engine but will not start. Doesn't seem to have spark.

    I suspect timing belt but am not sure. Any ideas? Any reccomendations on what to look at?

    Thanks

    Mike Johnston
    I would say the module inside of the dizzy , if you have a meter you can unplu the primary side that feeds power to the coil, then see if it's producing DC pulses when someone is cranking over the engine, the tach reading crazy then the car shutting down is almost always the module. what kind of dizzy is it? the brand? also need to know what model,is it carbed or fuel injected?

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    It is a 1986 Accord LXi with fuel injection.

  4. #4
    3Geez Veteran lostforawhile's Avatar
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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Quote Originally Posted by sfcmikej View Post
    It is a 1986 Accord LXi with fuel injection.
    trying to remember if the module is inside of the dizzy or not on those, used to carbed engines. eithier way i would test for a bad module, thats what it sounds like.

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Gotta love the Maule. Forgive the ignorance but what is the dizzy?

  6. #6
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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Quote Originally Posted by sfcmikej View Post
    Gotta love the Maule. Forgive the ignorance but what is the dizzy?
    the thing sticking out of your engine with all the spark plug wires on it, Dk why they call it that here but they always have.
    Last edited by lostforawhile; 09-07-2009 at 12:37 PM.

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Ah, then it would be the distributer or the electronic equivilent to it. So the module would be the EFI module?

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Quote Originally Posted by sfcmikej View Post
    Ah, then it would be the distributer or the electronic equivilent to it. So the module would be the EFI module?
    no the ignition module 0

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    OK, thanks for all the help.

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    One more question. Is the module the same as the igniter?

  11. #11
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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Quote Originally Posted by sfcmikej View Post
    One more question. Is the module the same as the igniter?
    yep
    normally on these cars when it' going the tach will act crazy due to it putting out erratic signals

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    What happened with the fuel injected engines is Honda needed a way to tell what the position of the crankshaft was (a so-called crank position sensor). They did a workaround using a sensor inside the distributor to provide this information. When you buy a remanufactured distributor ("dizzy") I think that the rebuilders don't bother with this little extra part, and consequently (like what happened to me) you buy a nice-looking part that, when installed, doesn't work. I ended up with a junkyard piece, which has been working very well for the past 50k, thank you.

    I agree, it sounds to me that your distributor cratered. The erratic tach is the main and pretty good clue. If you get a remanufactured one, be sure to keep the receipt and get a good guarantee.

  13. #13
    3Geez Veteran lostforawhile's Avatar
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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Quote Originally Posted by w261w261 View Post
    What happened with the fuel injected engines is Honda needed a way to tell what the position of the crankshaft was (a so-called crank position sensor). They did a workaround using a sensor inside the distributor to provide this information. When you buy a remanufactured distributor ("dizzy") I think that the rebuilders don't bother with this little extra part, and consequently (like what happened to me) you buy a nice-looking part that, when installed, doesn't work. I ended up with a junkyard piece, which has been working very well for the past 50k, thank you.

    I agree, it sounds to me that your distributor cratered. The erratic tach is the main and pretty good clue. If you get a remanufactured one, be sure to keep the receipt and get a good guarantee.
    I think the FI one has two pickups if i remember right, the ignition module can be replaced apart from the dizzy,usually the ignition module is the one that goes the other sensor just tells the computer the crankshaft position, both types of them have seperate ignitors

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Quote Originally Posted by lostforawhile View Post
    eithier way i would test for a bad module
    I would welcome your insight on how exactly to do that?
    Dr_Snooz

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    3Geez Veteran lostforawhile's Avatar
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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Quote Originally Posted by Dr_Snooz View Post
    I would welcome your insight on how exactly to do that?
    unplug the primary side going into the coil, and check for pulsed dc going into that side at the plug,while someone is cranking the car, chances are the module has failed.

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Hey all

    Well I got out the Haynes Manual and it had some tests to see if the module was bad. Ran the tests and they failed. Got a new modue and installed. Still doesn't start. There is at least an even chance that I did the test wrong. What to check next? Entire distributer? Coil? Any suggestions appreciated.

    Mike

  17. #17

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Post those tests! I've been looking forever to find out how to diagnose that stupid ICM. Post the tests!!!!!!

    Now that I've got that off my chest, a no spark or no start condition is relatively easy to diagnose and the web abounds with how-tos Like this one. Your Chilton's probably has a step-by-step guide too. The shop manual is available here and has all kinds of tests for specific components. Follow the steps and you'll have it figured out before you know it.
    Dr_Snooz

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  18. #18


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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Check your timing belt is still on. The rotor should turn when the car is cranked over.

    Look your distributor over very well for loose shaft or worn parts underneath the flat plastic cap.

    When your car cranks the tach should jump a little least my model does.

    Get your coil tested or replace it.

    wp
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  19. #19
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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    if your car just turn off...i would check the timing belt mike.......the dizzy on these cars RARELY go out......im not ssaying lost it wrong but check that anyways....but if your belt is old and the teeth are soft then you can firgure out the rest LOL....check the main relay also....


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  20. #20

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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    A bad bearing or chipped reluctor teeth (toothed thing directly under the rotor) can cause no spark on 2 or all cylinders. Check for shaft play and air gap between the reluctor and pick up plate (covered in your manual).
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  21. #21
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    Re: Diagnosis Help

    Quote Originally Posted by lostforawhile View Post
    I think the FI one has two pickups if i remember right, the ignition module can be replaced apart from the dizzy,usually the ignition module is the one that goes the other sensor just tells the computer the crankshaft position, both types of them have seperate ignitors
    Yes, two pickup sensors. One tells when #1 cylinder is on top (forgot the mnemonic for this!!) and another tells when each cylinder is on top.

    The module is mounted on the distributor wall outside of it. Whatever the testing procedure is make sure to get silicone grease when mounting it back (or mounting a new one). Silicone grease helps in transferring heat from the module to the distributor body that acts as a heatsink
    If it ain't broke... I fix it!

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