Chuck,
Electrical problems are always very frustrating. First make sure that the
grounds are correct, battery, endgine block, everyone you can find. Then
make sure your battery cables are not corroded so badly that current can't
get to the engine.
Then take your Haynes manual and start doing the tests for all the major
components. By the way, check your FUEL PUMP RELAY111 My Mazda MPV died on
me and a mechanic friend suggested I check it. I found that it tied into
just about everything with a wire including the cigarette lighter.
I'm the last person to do a blanket defence of mechanics, however today it's
almost impossible to be a "good" general mechanic, especially on ICU based
stuff. A water pump is a water pump, but every car company is so different
from the other in their approach to these ignition and emissions systems,
that to be really "good" you have to specialize in one brand or another. My
Ford mechanic friend won't touch a Dodge. He just can't make heads or tails
of their ECU logic.
Good Luck.
Larry
>From: "Chuck Mathews" <lesser_of2evils@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: "Chuck Mathews" <lesser_of2evils@hotmail.com>
>To: <autox@autox.team.net>
>Subject: big problem - 92 civic
>Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2001 22:27:27 -0500
>
>Hi, guys. I am sending out an SOS. My '92 Honda Civic is dead. I am trying
>to
>revive her. My local mechanic (whom my entire family has been using and
>trusting for years) was just found to be ripping me off. He told me that a
>part was probably bad (the ICM -- aka ignitor) but that it could also be
>the
>ECU or ECM. He was going to charge me $200 for the ignitor. This is more
>than
>a 100% markup over the Honda dealership's retail price. So, I was mad and
>told
>them that I would do the repair myself. I just got the part installed, but
>the
>car still wouldn't run. Then, while looking through my Haynes manual I
>found a
>simple test for the ICM (an ohm meter test). The ICM was fine. They lied, I
>am
>mad at them. But worst of all, now all I know is that I don't have a spark
>and
>the ICM, coil, and distributor berrings are fine. Wires are fine. Plugs are
>fine. I need some help on this one.
>
>Also, because I have had distributor and coil problems in the past, I am
>considering looking at aftermarket ignition systems. If I determine that
>the
>computer is bad, I might also consider an aftermarket computer, too.
>However,
>I need some suggetions on which ones and where to get them.
>
>Thanks gang.
>
>Chuck Mathews
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