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just_jay · Nov 11, 2011, 08:59 AM

I have a bone stock 1.6l d series motor. I have changed the distributor, cap, rotor, plugs (ngk of course), and fuel filter. My car was running great, but has recently been giving me a bogging issue when I am in 3rd 4th or 5th gear. Now, a week later it seems to be misfiring a little bit and flashing the cel on occasion. There has been one code on for several months (1420) bat batalytic converter I think it was, but now I can't figure out what's wrong with my car. Thanks for the help in advance.

TxGreaseMonkey · Nov 11, 2011, 09:45 AM

You are likely experiencing incomplete combustion, due to the distributor. In turn, unburned fuel is likely building-up in the catalytic converter, triggering a code. Unburned fuel building-up in the converter can suddenly ignite, blowing the exhaust system off the car.

Try exchanging the distributor for another one, if it's under warranty. I really only recommend genuine Honda distributor housings, however, where it's fine to install an aftermarket igniter and coil to keep the cost down. Over 50% of new aftermarket distributors for Hondas have not worked at AMHD. They tend to have problems with the internal sensors (CKP, TDC, and CYP). The remaining ones have been unreliable and problematic.

just_jay · Nov 11, 2011, 09:53 AM

Thanks for the quick response! I was leaning toward the new distributor being bad myself, or perhaps some bad ignition wires, I am going to swap distributors and see if that may fix my problem. My old distributor had a bad coil, but I figured I should just buy and entire distributor with a new coil and icm to avoid this problem. (obviously it didn't help) I where I was a bit confused was that it only seems to bog down in the 3rd to 5th gears, and on very rare occasions gives me a bit of a rough idle.

TxGreaseMonkey · Nov 11, 2011, 10:00 AM

If your old distributor housing was made by Honda, I would just install a new igniter and coil in it.

Aftermarket distributors for Hondas are usually querky in different ways.

just_jay · Nov 26, 2011, 06:13 PM

TX grease monkey. Changed the distributor out and put onsome brand new NGK wires, which I also thought was going to work. I took it to a good friend of mine (Lexus mechanic, but die hard honda guy), he performed a leak down test and turns out I had a blown head gasket between the 1 and 2 cylinder. I just wanted to let you kowwhat it wound up being and wanted to thank you for your help as well. Thanks a lot man! Jay