Spark plug cables.

[Bad_dude]

I just won an Ebay auction for an Accord 1990 distributor with spark plug cables from NGK.
I have a 1990 Honda Accord LX, 4 door, automatic. My car only have 4 cables going to the valve cover to go into 4 spark plugs.
The one I won on Ebay is used for 1990 Accord but has a 5th cable that is different than that of the other 4 cables. What is that 5th cable for? When I bought a new set of spark plug cables a year ago, I also had a 5th cable but did not use it.
Thanks,

[IAmTheNight]

It goes to the ignition module.

[benji]

I just won an Ebay auction for an Accord 1990 distributor with spark plug cables from NGK.
I have a 1990 Honda Accord LX, 4 door, automatic. My car only have 4 cables going to the valve cover to go into 4 spark plugs.
The one I won on Ebay is used for 1990 Accord but has a 5th cable that is different than that of the other 4 cables. What is that 5th cable for? When I bought a new set of spark plug cables a year ago, I also had a 5th cable but did not use it.
Thanks,

If you had an external coil, the 5th wire would go from the coil to the distributor. Some Accords were external, some were internal (internal means the coil is under the cap).

[Bad_dude]

If you had an external coil, the 5th wire would go from the coil to the distributor. Some Accords were external, some were internal (internal means the coil is under the cap).

So if my coil is internal, this distributor I bought is useless for me right? Or should I just change out the cap and I can use the distributor?
Thanks,

[benji]

So if my coil is internal, this distributor I bought is useless for me right? Or should I just change out the cap and I can use the distributor?
Thanks,

You can convert them, but you would have to get a coil and do some rewiring. I've never done it, but there is a guide in the H22A Swap FAQ (because some H22As are external). It's probably easiest to just get an internal coil dizzy.

[Bad_dude]

This is the link to the item I bought. It did not mention if it was internal or external. It just say 1990 distributor. I would assume they are all the same for the same year and model.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...9168&viewitem=

So the Dizzy I bought is without the ignition coil. Great, it's useless to me now.

[benji]

This is the link to the item I bought. It did not mention if it was internal or external. It just say 1990 distributor. I would assume they are all the same for the same year and model.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...9168&viewitem=

So the Dizzy I bought is without the ignition coil. Great, it's useless to me now.

Yep, that is an external coil dizzy (it has the 5th post for the coil wire). The poster probably doesn't know for sure what year engine it came off of and just guessed.

Why are you replacing your dizzy?

[wed3k]

if i may ask, why do you need a distributor? you can replace the majority of components inside of one.

[Bad_dude]

I just bid on it for fun and won it by b/c no one else competes for it. It comes with NGK wires. I guess this one does not have the coil at all.
Thanks,

[Bad_dude]

While we are on the subject, any link for a DIY for timing my car? I never done it before and would like to learn how. I am a newb at fixing cars. I had to save money so I do it.
Thanks,

[cloudasc]

External Coils were on 92-93, Internal on 90-91 from my understanding. The only thing required to convert an internal to external coil is the distributer cap, a external coil, and that 5th wire. Honda changed from internal to external because the internal coils would go out faster then normal due to the higher temperature conditions they are exposed to vs an external coil.

So if you want to use that distributer you bought on your 90, I would go out and buy a MSD Blaster coil to go with it; otherwise you will need to use the cap and coil from your 90.

[Bad_dude]

External Coils were on 92-93, Internal on 90-91 from my understanding. The only thing required to convert an internal to external coil is the distributer cap, a external coil, and that 5th wire. Honda changed from internal to external because the internal coils would go out faster then normal due to the higher temperature conditions they are exposed to vs an external coil.

So if you want to use that distributer you bought on your 90, I would go out and buy a MSD Blaster coil to go with it; otherwise you will need to use the cap and coil from your 90.

How much is the MSD Blaster coil and where can I get it?
Thanks,

[wed3k]

check ebay, i think i got mine for less than 30 bucks.

[cloudasc]

Should be less than $50, and you can get it from any local auto store.