Car flooded - now no spark? Please help.

[topa85]

Hi,

I have a EK civic hatch which has just previously been through the Brisbane floods a few months ago. The car has been cleaned i.e any water/mud from everywhere, incl fuel tank motor and ECU etc. i have had my cousin and uncle helping me out although they have the car currently cranking there is no spark coming from the plugs they say its most likely the distributor or coil but I would like some other opinions to what the problem may be before buying a distributor/coil. I have also got a new keys cut with transponders as the old ones where lost. Is there anyone out there that can please help me out?

[owens14]

I think it my be the dizzy. I had the same problem I done an engine conversion and went to kick over and sounded like it wanted but just couldn't. I replaced the dizzy coil and kicked over fine. Their not really expensive. Was the engine under water at all

[topa85]

The engine was under water although everything has been cleaned out.

[jeremydawg]

have you cleaned or changed the spark plugs and wires?

Using precautions and common sense take your leads off the spark plugs and hold a peice of metal close to the wire, test every wire. If you get spark from every wire your dizzy should be fine. Do this while the car is running of course.
also test the plugs, turn your car on and one at a time take a spark plug out. if your car starts to run rough your spark plug is good. if there is no change when you take one out then that spark plug is no good.

[string]

Do you have a test light? (Basically just an LED inbetween two probes so it lights up when there is 12V)

The distributor serves two functions:

1) To report to the ECU the crank position so that it can pulse the injectors and spark at the right time
2) To receive the spark pulse from the ECU and fire the coil

Assuming that your injectors are working...

To test (1), take off the distributor and put the key in the ignition and turn it to on. Rotate the distributor by hand and listen for the clicks in the injectors. Every full rotation of the distributor is four strokes of the crank (two revolutions) and four ticks on the injectors. If this was dead, you'd probably throw a code and the check engine light would come on.

The ECU sends the spark signal into the ICM (ignition control module). If it is dead, you'll get no spark. With a wiring diagram and a test light, you can spin the distributor by hand, probe the output of the ICM to check if it's working. If you're getting output from the ICM but not the coil, the coil is dead. If you're not getting any output from the ICM; it's borked, but your coil could be ok. You can check the coil with a multimeter using the methods mentioned in the Honda manual.

In all likelihood, it's either the ICM or the coil or both.

[Bludger]

this thread is helpful

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?144080-Helppppp!!!!!!!!

[ECU-MAN]

does the green key indicator go out when you turn on the ignition. Did you copy the original key transponders when you had new keys made ?. or did you get them properly programmed in ?


an incorectly programed immo system will cause no injector pulse and possibly no cranking ability

to test the ICM in the dizzy you can check the ICM singal output.
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?68096-DIY-PGMFI-Diagnostics-Code-15-Ignition-Output-Signal

[DLO01]

Title change. OP please think of a more specific/appropriate title in future. Thanks.

[topa85]

to ECU-Man: The green key indicator switches off and car cranks but doesn't start. I had no key to begin with, got it cut from the immobiliser and ECU. There's also an alarm in this car - could this be the problem??

[Lukey]

watch this video and follow directions on trouble shooting no spark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K78XIhhjAQ

[ECU-MAN]

to ECU-Man: The green key indicator switches off and car cranks but doesn't start. I had no key to begin with, got it cut from the immobiliser and ECU. There's also an alarm in this car - could this be the problem??


its hard to say with out knowing how the immo was programed, are you getting injector pulse when cranking ?

[topa85]

its hard to say with out knowing how the immo was programed, are you getting injector pulse when cranking ?

Yes there is injector pulse. Others have told me to remove the mongoose alarm system cos I don't have the remote. Know of any good mobile auto electricians/alarm specialists in brisbane?

[ECU-MAN]

start by checking for the ICM output signal from your ECU