98 GSR question! help!

[marcos713]

ok so my CEL started blinking for a short while last night on my way home. when i got close to home it stoped and stayed solid like usual (have no CAT). I pulled over as soon as i could to check what was wrong, thinking i blew a head gasket but nothing was wrong, car idled normal and everthing. i took it to auto zone to get my codes read and it said miss fire in cyl. 3 &4 and random missfire. i startd checkin my cables and when i pulled out cable number 3 for bout 10sec my car shut off and never turned back on. bought new cables and plugs and dist. cap. so what i want to know is could it be the whole distributor or maybe just the rotor button??? :thinking: my engine mods are skunk2 IM, AEM fuel rail, Nrg fuel regulator set at 40psi idle, also CAI, full exhaust with str8 pipe and headers.

[DirtyMechanic]

when ever you replace a cap and wires. it always a good idea to replace the rotor too. sort of part of the whole tune up thing.

[Vteckidd]

Simple to check, have a friend turn the car over while you hold a spark plug wire against something metal like a valve cover bolt. See if you have any Spark ARCING. If not , your distributor is dead.

Turn the car to the ON position (dont crank it) and see if you check engine light comes on and stays on. If it does you have a code if it turns off you are ok.

Try those 2 things first an report back

[marcos713]

Ok update, did the arcing check and no spark. So does this mean my distributor is dead?

[Vteckidd]

Most likely yes you have a few options

1) replace the rotor button it's 5$ and might be the problem
2) borrow someones 96-98 or 99-00 gsr distributor and see if yourcar starts
3) order a new one from distributor king
4) look for a used one on here or cl

[Evil Goat]

so because he gets no spark the entire distributor is dead?

you know the distributor has an internal ignitor/coil right?


ONLY BUY OEM HONDA parts unless your car is highly modified....they work fine, and sometimes are cheaper than the autozones of the world


i'd suggest paying a small diagnostic fee at a reputable shop for them to tell you what's up, it will save you money in the long run vs. just replacing the parts blindly based on advice given on the internet and at autozone with a $39.99 scanner, especially since it seems you don't have any technical experience dealing with ignition components

pm me if you need a reputable place that won't charge you an arm and a leg.

[Vteckidd]

Tell me where you can get an ignitor or and a coil for less than $140 for a distributor?

Chances are if it's not the rotor then it's the coil or ignitor or both, at that point replace the distributor it's got over 100k it's due for one

distributor king is fine they are very reputable and have a lifetime warranty (limited). New oem dizzy is over $450.

[marcos713]

Distributor king it is!
Thanx for all the imput. I will update with the turn out

[Vteckidd]

Btw I used distributor king distributors on my 10000 rpm motors and on several 400-600 whp cars for years. Look them up the reviews speak for themselves.

And I told him to test things to see what the problem was. Test the rotor, test another dizzy. If the rotor doesn't fix it he needs a distributor. You wanna walk this kid through how to replace a coil and ignitor and spend a lot more versus buyijng a dizzy new and it's 3 bolts?

Op if you need a shop check out mainstream performance the Honda masters

[marcos713]

i checkd at the dealership for an OEM dizzy. Price is 620.
And yea idk all that much as i shud about ignition components , just enough to get me by. I will be double checking the firing order to make sure i have not mixed up cables any where but i will be updating when problem is fixed. Hopefully b4 this friday or else no IA09 for me this yr ....

[Evil Goat]

Btw I used distributor king distributors on my 10000 rpm motors and on several 400-600 whp cars for years. Look them up the reviews speak for themselves.

And I told him to test things to see what the problem was. Test the rotor, test another dizzy. If the rotor doesn't fix it he needs a distributor. You wanna walk this kid through how to replace a coil and ignitor and spend a lot more versus buyijng a dizzy new and it's 3 bolts?

Op if you need a shop check out mainstream performance the Honda masters


i wasnt referring to OEM for the distributor, i wouldnt pay oem prices for that, i was referring to the rest of the ignition components, ie, wires, cap, and button, slap a set of regular ngk's in there and good to go

and no im not walking anyone through anything, the guy should call a shop, no disrespect, but its obvious he has no clue what he is doing not knowing the basics of a simple ignition system

yes a $39 scanner will tell you what the ecu sees, but it doesnt have the experience that a certified honda tech does to tell you whats causing the code, go to a shop, mainstream would be fine for the area you are in, hopefully they have a platinum certified honda master tech/ase master tech there and stop throwing money at the car without knowing what the problem is and listening to people on the internet

i hate tech sections on forums, and i hate poor advice even more.


vteckidd...go make me some turbo manifolds, seriously.... :D

[marcos713]

In my defence im only 18, i knw a pretty good bit about honda systems, more than alota my friends do anyway, i help them on their cars when they need help. i learn more as problems arise or as a mod something. This is just another learnin experience , nothing major.
But again thanx for all the imput. Jus checkd my firing order and everything is correct and also have a spark checker for the plugs and no spark again. So i will be ordering a new dizzy from distributor king for 200 =] will update on how things turn out!

[Vteckidd]

Doesn't take an ase master tech to diagnose no spark haha ;)

[marcos713]

Update! car is up and running =]
New dizzy came in 2day, installd it and car cranked up on 1st try! Thanx to every1 for the help!

[Vteckidd]

Update! car is up and running =]
New dizzy came in 2day, installd it and car cranked up on 1st try! Thanx to every1 for the help!
Good to hear