Ask Me Help Desk - 91 Integra LS just died?

Hello,
Today I was driving my 91 integra and when I shift from 3-4 the engine just started being ill responsive. It didn't stall and die so I tried changing gears to see if it was a clutch/tranny problem. The engine rpms were collating to the tranny as I engaged through different gears so I'm pretty sure that its not that. Then as I pulled over, the car died. I tried cranking the car several times and it almost seemed to turn over once or twice. I pulled out the spark plug cables and they were dripping with oil. I looked down to the spark plugs and there was so much oil that I couldn't see them! So I grabbed an old shirt, wiped off the spark plugs and cables and sopped out most of the oil from the chambers... still nothing... replaced the plugs... still nothing.
I don't have the money to be shooting in the dark so anything would be helpful! I called up one local mechanic and he said it was the ignitor. I am having a hard time swallowing that one...
Thanks!
Steve

O yea my dad also thinks it might be a head gasket?

. Replace spark plug seals on the inside of the cylinder head cover--easy job. This will stop oil from leaking into the spark plug tubes.

. Replace Ignition Control Module (ICM) and coil:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-t...tml#post265896

This is a classic problem on older Integras and Hondas. It accounts for the majority of stalling and performance problems with these cars. I recommend replacing these components every 120,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first. While you have the distributor open, I would replace the rotor and distributor cap. Check out prices on RockAuto.com.

If you'd like to do a complete ignition system test, perform the steps in Sections A and B below:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-t...das-46563.html

You need to pull your distributor cap off and crank the motor. See if the rotor is turning. If not you could have a broken timing belt. You may check to see if that is and interference motor which means you could also have engine damage such as bent valve. Bad thing is the only way to know if you have engine damage is to do the timing belt and try to start it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SR71BlkBrd86

Hello,
Today i was driving my 91 integra and when i shift from 3-4 the engine just started being ill responsive. it didnt stall and die so i tried changing gears to see if it was a clutch/tranny problem. The engine rpms were collating to the tranny as i engaged through different gears so im pretty sure that its not that. Then as i pulled over, the car died. I tried cranking the car several times and it almost seemed to turn over once or twice. I pulled out the spark plug cables and they were dripping with oil. I looked down to the spark plugs and there was so much oil that i couldnt see them! so i grabbed an old shirt, wiped off the spark plugs and cables and sopped out most of the oil from the chambers.... still nothing.... replaced the plugs.... still nothing.
I dont have the money to be shooting in the dark so anything would be helpful! I called up one local mechanic and he said it was the ignitor. i am having a hard time swallowing that one....
Thanks!
Steve

O yea my dad also thinks it might be a head gasket?

Thanks for the advise! I am starting up the work today... dreading it a little though lol I will follow up on here with what I find

Welp she up and running... the problem?. the freaking screw came out of the ignitor rotor! That was it... but now it seems like sometimes when I accelerate... it goes back and forth between accelerating and gliding... any ideas?

I would replace the ICM (very important, in my opinion), coil, rotor, spark plug wires, and distributor cap--standard maintenance items. It's important to take care of the heart of the electrical system. Otherwise, high secondary voltage will "turn on itself" and destroy the guts of the distributor, as it finds an alternative path to ground.