Rep Power: 0

1998 Civic DX Hatch, 202k<O</O
12/2010 - car stalled, towed to garage, mechanic replaced distributor cap assembly ($340/part). 6 months later, same thing. Mechanic didn't charge for anything, said part still under warrantee. Claimed both parts new, not rebuilt. I looked up part at Majestic Honda - part is made by TEC-WESTEC. <O></O>
No other problems with engine, good idle and accelleration, does not burn oil.
Anybody have any idea what could cause a distributor to fail after only 6 months??

Thanks,

Frank P.<O></O>
<O></O>

 
Rep Power: 234

-With the ignition OFF, remove the cap, rotor, and the leak cover (under the rotor). Then disconnect the wires.

-Turn the ignition to ON and check for battery voltage at the black/yellow and white/blue wires.

How much voltage are you getting at each wire?

 
Rep Power: 313

Check voltage but my bet is the second dizzy was faulty.

 
Rep Power: 0

OK, Thanks Lazlong.
Checked all 4 wires going into Dist:


Yellow/Green= 11 volts
Yellow/thin green = 12 volts
Black/Yellow - 12 volts
Blue = 12 volts


The 11 volt wire is yellow with green stripe, other yellow wire has very thin green stripe.

1st 3 wires are in a row at the bottom, blue is on the side.

Thanks and Happy 4th

 
Rep Power: 234

OK, now disconnect ECM/PCM connector A(It's the only 32 pin connector) and check continuity(Ohms) of the yellow/green wire from dist to ECM/PCM. There should be continuity.

Check continuity from the yellow/green wire to body ground. There should be no continuity.

Check for continuity from the white/blue wire(dist) to the test tachometer connector:

There should be continuity.

Check for continuity from the white/blue wire to body ground. There should be no continuity.

If all tests are normal replace the ICM (Ignition Control Module). It's number 7 but, you would have to buy the whole housing( number 4): http://www.hondapartscheap.com/south...t=0&quantity=0 Or this place has 'em as cheap as $36: http://www.rockauto.com/

 
Rep Power: 0

I don't understand: If all tests are NORMAL, then replace ICM? That's the same part that was replaced a few weeks ago by mechanic, part #4 on the hondapartscheap link - "Housing, Distributor" @ $236. ICM is part of the distributor assembly??

Thanks again

 
Rep Power: 234

Which is it? Did you replace the cap assembly or the whole distributor?

 
Rep Power: 0

Whole distributor, Illustration 4 on these sites:

http://www.hondapartscheap.com/south...t=0&quantity=0


http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...C+-+WEASTEC%29

 
Rep Power: 234

I don't really know what it could be, unless you're getting too much voltage going into the dist and it's burning it up (and we already tested that and it's getting battery voltage). I do know that these dist are notorious for going bad, you may have just got 2 bad ones in a row.

 
Rep Power: 0

1st dist went bad after 190k miles - 2nd went bad 6 months after. Could be that Honda doesn't make a replacement dist for '98 models is causing this problem? Anyway, I'm seriously thinking of keeping a new dist in the car when and if this one goes.

 
Rep Power: 0

well i have replaced mine myself and they broke on themself twice, so i had my mechanic do it. And i also bought shitty ones too so that also might be the problem.

 
Rep Power: 0

wow... im now getting a gut feeling on just going aftermarket when it comes to the distributor... instead of going remanufatured

 
Rep Power: 0

I heard aftermarket distributers go as fast as manufactured ones lol. Idk if it's true or not but that's what I heard

 
Rep Power: 0

My mechanic installed a new distributor in my 1998 Honda Civic XL 2 months ago, replaced it about 2 weeks ago on warranty, and replaced it last Friday on warranty. All 3 replacement distributors were installed new.