My 96 Honda civic 1.6 l engine was missing real bad -- I replaced the spark plugs... still missing... found distributor leaking oil and cap was cracked so I replaced the leads, new distributor, cap and rotor. Now the engine won't fire -- it's trying but no joy. What can I check?

DO you get a spark? Did you put it in backwards I.E. 180 degrees out?

Did you retime it?

Over 50% of new aftermarket distributors for Hondas at AMHD don't work. The remaining ones are unreliable and problematic, in most cases. I only recommend using a genuine Honda distributor housing and installing an aftermarket igniter and coil, to keep the cost down. Assuming the CEL comes on for 2 seconds and goes out, when the ignition switch is turned to ON (Position II), then your Honda will fire right up.

If you can't get your money back, then ask them for another distributor.

Sounds like it it way out of time. Do you have a timing light? Did you mark the position of the rotor before removing the old distributor? It could even be 180 degrees out.