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1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help

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Default 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-24-2009 , 12:52 AM






I have a 1990 honda crx dx 1.5 auto
The car is stock with no modifications
I have done a lot trying to get it to run so I will list all I can.

The car died on me while driving it ... sputtered to a stop.

After putting a new coil in it I did get it to start for about 2 minutes
running really rough I am not sure if I fried the new coil but it will not
restart. It is the last thing I tried other then recharging the battery
which is good.

This is my main transportation and I am really stumped, somewhat stranded
and without resources to dump parts in it that may just endup getting fried

I really appreciate your help if you can point me in the right direction

Things I have done and checked.

- I get 1 blink on my ECU battery has been out and still one blink after so
it must have reset.

- Check engine light comes on then goes off after 3 seconds.

- Fuel Pump is Good pumping Hard
- Main Relay Checked with Ohm Meter all three steps - good

- Replaced the Cap & Rotor
- Replaced the wires
- Replaced the Igniter
- Replaced the Coil

- Spark plugs not fowled look Gray
- Battery is Good
- Engine Ground Strap installed Seems Good
- Alternator is Good and Turns Free cant really test output
- Checked all my fuses they all seem good Replaced a few with spares

- I get power to the Coil with Ignition On
- I get power through the coil to the igniter

- Engine cranks Starter is good
- Rotor Turns in Distributor - Timing Belt Good
- TDC Lines Up with Crank Mark and #1 Spark Plug Wire
- Engine Turns Free with socket wrench

- Ignition switch - does crank the starter and I get voltage to the
Distributor

That is about all I can think of so far.
looking at the wire diagrams I am not sure why it would not at least start.

Are there any inline resistors or anything that would do this?

Thanks

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Default Re: 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-24-2009 , 08:30 AM






<CrxChicken (AT) anonamoo (DOT) com> wrote in
news:hbu14s$21fs$1 (AT) news (DOT) telesweet.net:

Quote:
I have a 1990 honda crx dx 1.5 auto
The car is stock with no modifications
I have done a lot trying to get it to run so I will list all I can.

The car died on me while driving it ... sputtered to a stop.

After putting a new coil in it I did get it to start for about 2
minutes running really rough I am not sure if I fried the new coil but
it will not restart.


When you crank and the engine will not start, does the tach needle jiggle
ever so slightly, or is it dead-still?



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Tegger

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www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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Default Re: 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-24-2009 , 12:44 PM



When I turn the ignition to On the tach goes to 500 rpm
When the engine is cranking I don't see any real movement

Ignitor is new






"Tegger" <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote

Quote:
CrxChicken (AT) anonamoo (DOT) com> wrote in
news:hbu14s$21fs$1 (AT) news (DOT) telesweet.net:

I have a 1990 honda crx dx 1.5 auto
The car is stock with no modifications
I have done a lot trying to get it to run so I will list all I can.

The car died on me while driving it ... sputtered to a stop.

After putting a new coil in it I did get it to start for about 2
minutes running really rough I am not sure if I fried the new coil but
it will not restart.



When you crank and the engine will not start, does the tach needle jiggle
ever so slightly, or is it dead-still?



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Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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Tegger
 
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Default Re: 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-24-2009 , 01:25 PM



<CrxChicken (AT) anonamoo (DOT) com> wrote in news:hbvasb$8gs$1 (AT) news (DOT) telesweet.net:

Quote:
"Tegger" <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote in message
news:Xns9CAE567D5F92tegger (AT) 208 (DOT) 90.168.18...
CrxChicken (AT) anonamoo (DOT) com> wrote in
news:hbu14s$21fs$1 (AT) news (DOT) telesweet.net:

I have a 1990 honda crx dx 1.5 auto
The car is stock with no modifications
I have done a lot trying to get it to run so I will list all I can.

The car died on me while driving it ... sputtered to a stop.

After putting a new coil in it I did get it to start for about 2
minutes running really rough I am not sure if I fried the new coil
but it will not restart.



When you crank and the engine will not start, does the tach needle
jiggle ever so slightly, or is it dead-still?





When I turn the ignition to On the tach goes to 500 rpm
When the engine is cranking I don't see any real movement

Ignitor is new



And aftermarket, I'll bet. I'll also bet your new igniter is bad.

When cranking you don't see any "real" movement of the needle, or you don't
see **ANY** movement? Does the tach drop to 0 when you start to crank?


Please be precise.


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Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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Default Re: 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-24-2009 , 02:20 PM



Just went out and tried starting it

RPM guage goes to just over 500 with key on
stays there while cranking

Think the cam position sensor is bad?

ALSO
the other day just before i put the Coil in
I had the Main Relay out to test it
It tested ok with battery voltage but do you think it could be an
intermitant failure?
I get no spark but do get fuel
Think direct battery voltage to it or bumping it may have got it to work
once and then fail again?


Does the main relay give a signal to the ecu -> then ecu to the ignitor to
tell it to fire?

also i put the heat sink jell between the ignitor and the small metal part
that it attaches (Heatsink i guess) to did i need to put any between the
metal part and the distributor housing?

Yes its a aftermarket borgwarner ignitor
I believe i replaced it for no good reason and the old one was good but i
dont know





"Tegger"
Quote:
I have a 1990 honda crx dx 1.5 auto
The car is stock with no modifications
I have done a lot trying to get it to run so I will list all I can.

The car died on me while driving it ... sputtered to a stop.

After putting a new coil in it I did get it to start for about 2
minutes running really rough I am not sure if I fried the new coil
but it will not restart.


And aftermarket, I'll bet. I'll also bet your new igniter is bad.

When cranking you don't see any "real" movement of the needle, or you
don't
see **ANY** movement? Does the tach drop to 0 when you start to crank?


Please be precise.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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Tegger
 
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Default Re: 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-24-2009 , 05:23 PM



<CrxChicken (AT) anonamoo (DOT) com> wrote in news:hbvggm$e00$1 (AT) news (DOT) telesweet.net:


Quote:
"Tegger" wrote:


I'll also bet your new igniter is bad.


When cranking you don't see any "real" movement of the needle, or you
don't
see **ANY** movement? Does the tach drop to 0 when you start to
crank?



Just went out and tried starting it

RPM guage goes to just over 500 with key on
stays there while cranking

Think the cam position sensor is bad?


No. The igniter has failed and was likely defective out-of-the-box,
which is common for aftermarket garbage.

The tach gets its signal from the igniter's blue wire. That wire gets a
pulse every time the igniter produces a coil-trigger signal. If your
tach gets stuck at 500, then the igniter is putting out spurious
signals.

Go to a wrecking yard and pick up an OEM igniter for much cheaper than
your crappy aftermarket one.



Quote:
ALSO
the other day just before i put the Coil in
I had the Main Relay out to test it
It tested ok with battery voltage but do you think it could be an
intermitant failure?


Not in this case. The tach's behavior is the giveaway here.




Quote:
I get no spark but do get fuel
Think direct battery voltage to it or bumping it may have got it to
work once and then fail again?


Does the main relay give a signal to the ecu -> then ecu to the
ignitor to tell it to fire?


No. The igniter is totally separate from the Main Relay.

In your car, fuel delivery is totally separate from ignition.



Quote:
also i put the heat sink jell between the ignitor and the small metal
part that it attaches (Heatsink i guess) to did i need to put any
between the metal part and the distributor housing?


You put heat-sink compound under the igniter before bolting it in place.



Quote:
Yes its a aftermarket borgwarner ignitor
I believe i replaced it for no good reason and the old one was good
but i dont know


If you still have the old igniter, then put it back in as an experiment.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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Default Re: 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-24-2009 , 09:52 PM



Ok thats kinda hard to believe but you seem to know about these things have
been reading your howtos

Is there a way I can bench test the igniter?

Is there something that would burn out an ignitor that i should check for?

There is really no good junkyards here most places just send cars off to be
crushed but maybe i can find something...
Could a parts place or dealer test it.
I got a dealer about 40 miles away I could probably scam a ride down there

but the closest decent junkyard is well over 100


Quote:
"Tegger" wrote:

No. The igniter has failed and was likely defective out-of-the-box,
which is common for aftermarket garbage.

The tach gets its signal from the igniter's blue wire. That wire gets a
pulse every time the igniter produces a coil-trigger signal. If your
tach gets stuck at 500, then the igniter is putting out spurious
signals.

Go to a wrecking yard and pick up an OEM igniter for much cheaper than
your crappy aftermarket one.

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Tegger
 
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Default Re: 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-25-2009 , 09:07 AM



<CrxChicken (AT) anonamoo (DOT) com> wrote in
news:hc0av8$16o0$1 (AT) news (DOT) telesweet.net:
Quote:
"Tegger" wrote:

No. The igniter has failed and was likely defective out-of-the-box,
which is common for aftermarket garbage.

The tach gets its signal from the igniter's blue wire. That wire gets
a pulse every time the igniter produces a coil-trigger signal. If
your tach gets stuck at 500, then the igniter is putting out spurious
signals.

Go to a wrecking yard and pick up an OEM igniter for much cheaper
than your crappy aftermarket one.





Ok thats kinda hard to believe but you seem to know about these things
have been reading your howtos


Then you haven't got much experience with aftermarket parts, I think.
Aftermarket has a very high likelihood of being defective right off the
bat. That's why I never use aftermarket.


Quote:
Is there a way I can bench test the igniter?


There sure is. Lots of resources here:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/startproblems.html#badigniter



Quote:
Is there something that would burn out an ignitor that i should check
for?


Pretty much the only thing that wrecks an igniter is defective build
quality. And there's nothing you can do about that.



Quote:
There is really no good junkyards here most places just send cars off
to be crushed but maybe i can find something...
Could a parts place or dealer test it.
I got a dealer about 40 miles away I could probably scam a ride down
there

but the closest decent junkyard is well over 100


THEN PUT YOUR OLD IGNITER BACK IN AS A TEST. Or did you toss it already?


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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Default Re: 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-25-2009 , 03:47 PM



I have my old ignitor
I will try the test on it and pop it back in tomorrow
see what happens


Quote:
THEN PUT YOUR OLD IGNITER BACK IN AS A TEST. Or did you toss it already?


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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Dillon Pyron
 
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Default Re: 1990 honda crx dx - wont start spark problem - really need help - 10-25-2009 , 09:45 PM



Thus spake Tegger <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> :

Quote:
CrxChicken (AT) anonamoo (DOT) com> wrote in news:hbvggm$e00$1 (AT) news (DOT) telesweet.net:


"Tegger" wrote:


I'll also bet your new igniter is bad.


When cranking you don't see any "real" movement of the needle, or you
don't
see **ANY** movement? Does the tach drop to 0 when you start to
crank?



Just went out and tried starting it

RPM guage goes to just over 500 with key on
stays there while cranking

Think the cam position sensor is bad?



No. The igniter has failed and was likely defective out-of-the-box,
which is common for aftermarket garbage.

The tach gets its signal from the igniter's blue wire. That wire gets a
pulse every time the igniter produces a coil-trigger signal. If your
tach gets stuck at 500, then the igniter is putting out spurious
signals.

Go to a wrecking yard and pick up an OEM igniter for much cheaper than
your crappy aftermarket one.
One can still find some NIB parts for cars that old. I have found NIB
parts for my 76 MGB.

Quote:



ALSO
the other day just before i put the Coil in
I had the Main Relay out to test it
It tested ok with battery voltage but do you think it could be an
intermitant failure?



Not in this case. The tach's behavior is the giveaway here.




I get no spark but do get fuel
Think direct battery voltage to it or bumping it may have got it to
work once and then fail again?


Does the main relay give a signal to the ecu -> then ecu to the
ignitor to tell it to fire?



No. The igniter is totally separate from the Main Relay.

In your car, fuel delivery is totally separate from ignition.




also i put the heat sink jell between the ignitor and the small metal
part that it attaches (Heatsink i guess) to did i need to put any
between the metal part and the distributor housing?



You put heat-sink compound under the igniter before bolting it in place.




Yes its a aftermarket borgwarner ignitor
I believe i replaced it for no good reason and the old one was good
but i dont know



If you still have the old igniter, then put it back in as an experiment.

--

- dillon I am not invalid

"Always shoot first. At the very least you'll
distract the guy enough to make the second one count"
-- Lazurus Long

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