No spark

[evol90accord]

So I go to drive my car to get dinner, and the shit doesn't start! I'd just driven it like an hour ago, wtf? Anyways, after several checks of the relay, fuel, etc I find I'm getting no spark.

The cap, rotor, and internal housing is less than 3 months old and look to be in great shape still. How do I test the ignitor and coil and what else should I check?

[starchland]

are you getting power from battery? check the coil and igniter using the values from the haynes manual. However just because a coil/igniter shows correct resistence when cold, it could change when hot and vica versa, thats probably not your problem though, maybe a loose wire.

[evol90accord]

The car just cranks and cranks, but never turns over. I know it has battery power, and the altenator is new (not like new, but NEW... its still all shiny and shit!). So having passed those checks and knowing its not fuel related, I took the plugs out and held em against the block... no spark. The timing belt and all that was done not 6 months ago, and I don't think it broke just sitting in the garage so it has to be distributor related.

What do I check in the distributor? Assume I'm an idiot, as I've never fucked with distributors other than the cap and rotor and twisting it to set timing... and my book is lost somewhere in the neverlands. I have no clue where it went!

[mrhonda]

Sounds like either coil or igniter....you'll need that book to do the specified tests though. First thing you can do is pull the coil out of its case and see if it looks discolored or burnt....this can be a good indication of how good the coil is.

[evol90accord]

I found the book, and tested the resistance across the main terminals of the coil and got an infinite reading... looks like its bad. After pulling it, I can see a fat thumbsized rainbow patch on the side of the black housing.

Now all I need is a ride to autozone to get my replacement part! They'd make so much money if they just delilered parts... hmmm my million dollar idea!