99 civic ex msd help needed!! ASAP

[allblack325i]

Ok so I have a 99 civic ex. Problem I'm having is this, About a week ago I was driving it and as I was pulling into my driveway it just shut off... Like I had NO power. Well once I get parked I tried starting it but all it would do was crank and crank... Popped the hood and low and behold, my Mds cap was cracked big time down the side. I go and order a new one from autozone and throw it in the car thinking I'll be able to drive my car again in no time, but that's NOT the case!!

 

Now it has a msd cap with external coil, Now I'm getting spark and the car kinda acts like it wants to start every so often but it doesnt. Any ideas????

 

I know it's getting fuel cause I can smell it. And I am in fact getting spark. Could my coil have anything to do with it???

 

 

I have a guy planning on coming in tomorrow to trade me cars. But I obviously can't trade a car that's for whatever reason not running now. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!

[Guest Removed]

are the plugs fouled?

[allblack325i]

You know... I never thought to even look....... wooow ok I'll go buy new ones anyways and try it. if not any other ideas??...

[Guest Removed]

well, let it set with the plugs out, cause if you can smell fuel, its flooded.

 

pull the plugs out, and go grab some new ones..just cause your getting spark to the plug wires, the plugs may not be firing..

 

or are you checking spark at the coil?

 

i have seen the rotors burn up etc..so make sure your getting spark to the plugs. and not just from the coil..

 

and just why did the cap crack?

[allblack325i]

I have absolutely no idea why the cap cracked.... but I called and talked to a guy at Jeg's and he said they do that when there's a lot of moisture in the air... I wasn't too sure about that one. Then I was told that if it was tightened down too much it would cause it to crack too??

 

 

All I know though is I pulled 3 of the plugs and they were BLACK So needless to say I'm gonna change all 4.. but the 4th plug over will NOT budge at all!......wtf!!!!

[35RFTW]

What are you using to try to take them out? Spark plugs should not be that tight at all.

[allblack325i]

a ratchet, an extension and a spark plug socket....

 

 

Any idea's how I can get it out without any major problems??

[allblack325i]

ook so update....

 

 

 

car's suddenly not making any spark now....

 

 

Could it be a crank sensor? and if so where exactly is that?

 

 

and worst case scenerio.... if the head gasket blew.... would it do what it's doing?

[Guest Removed]

everything for it to make spark is in the dizzy..crank, cam, coil , module,etc....its all in the dizzy..

as far as plugs go, well either its overly tight, or it has been cross threaded.

[allblack325i]

so then can i just get a stock dizzy and use that rather then having to deal with all the msd bullshit???

 

 

 

 

and how can i tell if any or all the parts in my dizzy is bad? can you direct me toward a diagram of one showing all the parts??

 

 

 

lastly about the plug... what do you suggest I do about getting it out then?....

 

 

And for what it's worth thanks a lot man! I really apriciate the help!!

[Guest Removed]

ill post info in a bit..i have the diagrams

[Guest Removed]

location

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/gearhead559/86109816.gif

 

diagrams

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/gearhead559/83266952.gifhttp://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/gearhead559/83266953.gif

 

basic overlay of components

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/gearhead559/86161870.gif

 

digging for trouble shooting info..brb

[allblack325i]

ok so looking at this is it possible to make my dizzy back to utilizing the internal coil and getting rid of the msd crap altogether? (I know I would need another dizzy cap of course, but those are a dime a dozen around here)

[Cordell]

You need to take a test light and check for pulse from the ignitor, either way one of those wires should pulse. This is not uncommon at all.

[allblack325i]

I'm not gonna bullshit anyone.. I'm NOT mechaincally inclined at all... so can you tell me what I have to check exactly on the ignitor?.... I'm sorry for not fully udnerstanding. But I greatly appriciate the help!

[Guest Removed]

take a test light to the coil wires...one will be hot all the time, the other will pulse a ground signal when the engine is being cranked.

[allblack325i]

ok gotcha! so I'm guessing the hot one will be the + one right? and if it's not doing what you said it should then chances are it's my ignitor?

 

 

 

 

if it is the ignitor can that be replaced? or do I have to look for a whole other dizzy?

[Cordell]

ok gotcha! so I'm guessing the hot one will be the + one right? and if it's not doing what you said it should then chances are it's my ignitor?

 

 

 

 

if it is the ignitor can that be replaced? or do I have to look for a whole other dizzy?

 

Yes you can just buy the ignitor, most of the time replacing the whole dizzy isn't neccesary.

[allblack325i]

ok crazy question... would it matter if the cap seal was ripped?.... I didnt even notice in the packaging it came with a whole new one and the one on the dizzy is missing a 2" section!!

[Cordell]

ok crazy question... would it matter if the cap seal was ripped?.... I didnt even notice in the packaging it came with a whole new one and the one on the dizzy is missing a 2" section!!

 

Would still think it would run, but I can't really picture that.

[allblack325i]

see that's what I was thinking too..... This car has me tore down right now..... I'm tired as hell, and I have been at it since a little after 2 yesterday afternoon (techinically it's sunday now)..... It's a vendetta!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just wish I knew what it was and I deffinitly wish I could get that plug to come out... that has me really worried! I wont get rid of this car with it having problems like that...... I wouldnt really want that same shit happening to me thats for sure!

[Guest Removed]

i have seen these dizzys lock up and break the cam shaft..but only a few have ever done it. but still, you might want to make sure the dizzy is turning.

[allblack325i]

yea just checked it and it's turning.... I had to tap the key crank to bump it over to get the rotor button to spin so i can put the new one on...

[allblack325i]

ok here's another update....

 

 

Compression on all 4 cylinders is good.

 

Ecu is good (took it out and checked it)

 

double and triple checked wires coming from the dizzy to the coil. (Have yet to get a voltmeter to check the signals off the coil however. Should have that done in a hour or so)

 

Was able to remove the 4th plug, it was just a bit more snug then the rest after a few good back and forth methods it came right out with no other problems.

 

 

http://autorepair.about.com/library/firing_orders/bl-fo-3967.htm

 

so is the 1 on the dizzy the one on top, or is it the one closest to the firewall?

One thing I did notice is the car seems to crank a bit faster now... but still no clue as to what that's about.

Edited August 9, 2009 by allblack325i

[Guest Removed]

it cranks faster cause the plugs are out?