Basic System Test

If engine will not start and starter will not crank engine, check battery, main fuse and electrical wiring. Check starter circuit wiring and ignition switch. If engine will not start, but starter cranks engine, hold coil wire 1/4" from coil tower while cranking engine.
If there is spark from coil, then hold spark plug wire terminal 1/4" from spark plug while cranking engine.
If there is no spark at the plug, check spark plug wire condition, inspect distributor cap and rotor, and as a last resort on Civic models and California Accord and Prelude models with automatic transmission, replace ignitor in distributor. On all models, if spark exists at the plug, check fuel system, spark plugs, ignition timing or valve timing.
If there was no spark at the coil in step 1), check voltage between coil primary winding positive terminal and ground with ignition switch in "ON" position. Battery voltage should be found. If not, check wiring from ignition switch to ignition coil.
If battery voltage exists, check voltage between coil primary winding negative terminal and ground with ignition switch in "ON" position. Again, battery voltage should exist. If not, check wiring from coil primary negative terminal to igniter. Also check coil primary resistance.
If battery voltage was present at negative terminal, check voltage between coil positive and negative terminals with engine cranking. Reading should be 1-3 volts. If within specifications, check primary and secondary coil resistance, as well as spark plug wire resistance.
If voltage in step 6) was not 1-3 volts, proceed as follows. On all Civic models and California Accord and Prelude models with automatic transmissions, disconnect lead wires from ignitor in distributor. On all other models, disconnect ignitor connector. See Fig 1. Check voltage on coil side of connector, first between blue wire and black (ground) wire and then between black/yellow wire and black (ground) wire. Battery voltage should exist with ignition switch "ON".

Fig 1: Checking Voltage of Ignitor Connector
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If not, check wiring from ignition coil to ignitor. On Civic models and California Accord and Prelude models with automatic transmissions, check continuity between ignitor terminals. See Fig 2. Set ohmmeter to x100 range. Attach positive lead to black/yellow wire and negative lead to blue wire. There should be no continuity.

Fig 2: Checking Continuity at Ignitor Terminals (All Civics & Calif. Accord & Prelude Auto. Trans.)
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Then, reverse ohmmeter leads (positive lead to blue wire, negative lead to black/yellow wire. There should now be continuity. If incorrect results are obtained, replace ignitor and repeat test.
On models other than those listed in step 8), check resistance of pulse generator by connecting ohmmeter leads across blue and pink terminals at distributor connector. See Fig 3. Resistance should measure 800-1200 ohms. If not, replace pulse generator. If within specifications, but system still does not operate, replace ignitor and repeat test.

Fig 3: Checking Pulse Generator Resistance (Models with Externally Mounted Ignitors)
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