dirty_fingers
Sep 26, 2011, 09:45 AM
I've got a 1990 Civic Hatch Si 1.6l v-tec that cranks but has no spark... imagine that! I drove it, ran fine, parked and came out a couple hrs later and no fire. Thankfully it happened at home! Did some initial testing and there is 12v at the coil's pos terminal through blk&yel wire so I assume the ign switch, fuses, wiring, main relay, are all working. With a 12v test light, I get a pulsing signal to the negative terminal on the coil, which, when interupted, should make the coil fire. So I replaced the coil,aftermarket unit, AP Sorensen (not sure on that spelling). Still no fire. The new coil looks like its old and used and has a semi-circular crack in the side of it which COULD be arcing to its laminated steel body, both coils bench test the same, but that doesn't test under load. I then replaced the ignitor/ ICM, no help. New cap and rotor didn't help either. My fuel pump is working properly, cycles for a few seconds then clicks off and the CEL goes out as it should. Seems to have good pressure at the fuel rail. So, back to the dizzy, wires and connectors check out OK. The sealed bearing closest to the rotor is moving around just a bit in its brg holder, makes a clunk when the magnet in the pick-up pulls on it, though its not hitting the pick-up. I guess that alone means I should replace the dizzy. It seems like the ECM is working properly, blinks once at the turn of the key and shows no codes after that. I don't know how to test the ECM, I looked for the K test but can't find this. So, I made an error, grounded the white ICM wire and turned the key on. The computer shot me a Code 15, possible faulty ICM. So it seems to be working. I turned the ign switch back off and pulled the hazard fuse to reset the computer and it now shows no codes, just blinks once when you turn the key to on. Again, its normal. So, back to the dizzy. It rotates, valve timing vs dizzy timing is correct, no belt jump, everything is proper. I pulled the dizzy and went through it, found some aluminum shavings and just a bit of the dreaded red dust. Cleaned and blew it out then reassembled, but did not install. With it hooked up to wire harness and grounded,and the key on, by spinning counterclockwise I still have no spark at any plug. As I turn the dizzy, at 90 degree intervals I can hear injectors ticking and what I believe is the fuel pressure regulator letting more fuel in, it sounds like a bellows or artificial breathing machine, and I hear the fuel pump cycling to supply more pressure. A nose test on #1 cyl spark plug hole smells like its getting gas in there. My tach works as well when I spin the dizzy. I think I'm narrowed down to a new dizzy or the ECM. Fuses inside and under the hood are all OK, everything seems to testing OK! If I could nail down this K test on the computer I think Id know what to replace, I'm leaning toward the new dizzy but currently laid-off so don't want to spend $$ needlessly. Sorry this post is so long, I've been on this problem for a couple months, have done a lot, and wanted to include my findings. Help with a k test or any other advice would be certainly appreciated at this end! Thanks... whew