no spark after removing distributor
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From: TN
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no spark after removing distributor
Hose broke, engine overheated. Got it home, found the hose leak, replaced, filled with coolant, everything look great.
Went to fill up with gas, drove home and parked the car.
Next day, needed to do some errands. Started car, it ran a bit sluggish in driveway. RPM's fluctuating 500-2500. Out the driveway, car was bucking and running rough the next couple of blocks then check engine light came on. Came back home and traded cars. Later, I did OBD scan. #2 misfire. Cleared codes. really hard to start. Did not want to idle. Pressed on gas to keep running, CEL came on. Shut off. OBD codes showed P0302 & P0304 misfire codes. Started up again, Engine turned hard, I assumed water in cylinders. Finally got it to idle, went back and checked exhaust and water was dripping tail pipe with some white smoke. Knew it head gasket or cracked head.
Decided to put the car in the shade and pull the head. Starter was struggling to turn the engine and did not start. So, pulled the distributor to start the process. Then decide to pull the plugs, turn the engine over a few time and hopefully the water in pistons would get extracted to start engine. Plugs back in, distributor back in, engine turned normal but would not start. Checked the electrical connector, it was seated right. Many more attempts, no start. Pulled #1 wire to test for spark but no spark. Pulled the distributor for bench test, both test showed the coil good. Put back in car, still no spark. Thinking it might be hard to detect in bright light, tested for spark last night total dark. NO SPARK
Any ideas?.
After removing distributor and turning the engine, I did not set back to TDC before installing the distributor since I did not mess with timing belt and there is only one way to match the cam and distributor rotor to bolt to engine. Is this the problem?
Went to fill up with gas, drove home and parked the car.
Next day, needed to do some errands. Started car, it ran a bit sluggish in driveway. RPM's fluctuating 500-2500. Out the driveway, car was bucking and running rough the next couple of blocks then check engine light came on. Came back home and traded cars. Later, I did OBD scan. #2 misfire. Cleared codes. really hard to start. Did not want to idle. Pressed on gas to keep running, CEL came on. Shut off. OBD codes showed P0302 & P0304 misfire codes. Started up again, Engine turned hard, I assumed water in cylinders. Finally got it to idle, went back and checked exhaust and water was dripping tail pipe with some white smoke. Knew it head gasket or cracked head.
Decided to put the car in the shade and pull the head. Starter was struggling to turn the engine and did not start. So, pulled the distributor to start the process. Then decide to pull the plugs, turn the engine over a few time and hopefully the water in pistons would get extracted to start engine. Plugs back in, distributor back in, engine turned normal but would not start. Checked the electrical connector, it was seated right. Many more attempts, no start. Pulled #1 wire to test for spark but no spark. Pulled the distributor for bench test, both test showed the coil good. Put back in car, still no spark. Thinking it might be hard to detect in bright light, tested for spark last night total dark. NO SPARK
Any ideas?.
After removing distributor and turning the engine, I did not set back to TDC before installing the distributor since I did not mess with timing belt and there is only one way to match the cam and distributor rotor to bolt to engine. Is this the problem?
Last edited by whatchagonnado; Jun 20, 2025 at 09:31 AM. Reason: add information
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: TN
Rep Power: 0 Re: no spark after removing distributor
Sorry, I thought I did the post in the 6th gen forum.
2000 civic, 1.6L
How do I move it to the 6th gen forum?
2000 civic, 1.6L
How do I move it to the 6th gen forum?
Last edited by whatchagonnado; Jun 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM. Reason: post question
