1995 ACURA TL ignition

Check for Wear and Damage

The starter should crank the engine smoothly and steadily.

If the starter engages, but cranks the engine erratically,

remove it, and inspect the starter drive gear and torque

converter ring gear for damage.

Check the drive gear overrunning clutch for binding or

slipping when the armature is rotated with the drive

gear held. If the clutch is damaged, replace the clutch

assembly.

Check Cranking Voltage and Current Draw

Cranking voltage should be no less than 8.5 volts.

Current draw should be no more than 380 amperes.

If cranking voltage is too low, or current draw too high,

check for:

Dead or low battery

Open circuit in starter armature commutator segments

Starter armature dragging

Shorted armature winding

Excessive drag in engine

Check Cranking rpm

Engine speed during cranking should be above 100 rpm.

If speed is too low, check for:

Loose battery or starter terminals

Excessively worn starter brushes

Open circuit in commutator segments

Dirty or damaged helical spline or drive gear

Defective drive gear overrunning clutch

Check Starter Disengagement

With the shift lever in turn the ignition switch to

"START (III)", and release to "ON (II)". The starter drive

gear should disengage from the drive plate/ring gear

when you release the key.

If the drive gear hangs up on the drive plate/ring gear,

check for:

• Solenoid plunger and switch malfunction

• Dirty drive gear assembly or damaged overrunning

clutchProCarManuals.com

Ignition Syste m
Componen t Locatio n Inde x
IGNITIO N TIMIN G CONTRO L SYSTE M
Description , pag e 23-8 2
Inspection , pag e 23-8 4
IGNITIO N COI LTest , pag e 23-9 1 SERVIC
E CHEC K
CONNECTO R (2P )
[Wir e colors : GRN/BLU , ORN ]
IGNITIO N CONTRO L
MODUL E (ICM )
Inpu t Test , pag e 23-9 0DISTRIBUTO RTop En d Inspection , pag e 23-8 7
Removal/Installation , pag e 23-8 5 an d 23-8 9
Overhaul , pag e 23-8 6
NOIS E CONDENSE R
Test , pag e 23-8 7
TESTTACHOMETE R
CONNECTO R SPAR
K PLUG SInspection , pag e 23-9 2
IGNITIO N WIRE S
Inspectio n an d Test , pag e 23-8 8
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Ignition Syste m
Descriptio n
Ignition Timin g Control :
Th e programme d ignitio n (PGM-IG ) use d i n thi s engin e provide s optimu m contro l o f ignitio n timing . A microcompute r
determine s th e timin g i n respons e t o engin e spee d an d intak e ai r flo w mass . Th e inpu t signal s ar e transmitte d b y th e
TDC/CKP/CY P sensor , throttl e positio n (TP ) sensor , engine coolant temperatur e (ECT ) sensor , an d MA F sensor . Thi s sys -
tem , whic h i s no t dependen t o n a governo r o r vacuu m diaphragm , i s capabl e o f settin g lea d angle s wit h complicate d char -
acteristic s whic h canno t b e provide d b y conventiona l governor s o r diaphragms .
Basi c Control :
The contro l uni t ha s store d withi n it th e optimu m basi c ignitio n timin g fo r operatin g condition s base d upo n engin e spee d
and intak e ai r flo w mass . Wit h compensatin g signal s fro m sensors , th e syste m determine s optimu m ignitio n timin g an d
duratio n fo r ambien t condition s an d send s voltag e pulse s t o th e ICM .
Compensatio n of ignitio n timing :
Compensatio n Ite m
Idlin g
Compensatio n a t warm-u p
ECT compensatio n Relate
d Senso r an d Informatio n
TDC/CKP/CY P senso r
MAF senso r
ECT senso r
ECT senso r
Descriptio n
Ignition timin g i s controlle d t o th e targe t spee d
wit h compensatio n accordin g t o th e idlin g speed .
La g angl e is adjuste d accordin g t o warm-u p con -
dition s t o brin g abou t a goo d balanc e betwee n
operating performanc e an d exhaus t ga s level .
Compensatio n fo r lea d angl e a t lo w engin e
coolan t temperatur e an d la g angl e a t hig h engin e
coolan t temperature .
Control a t Start :
Ignitio n timin g is fixe d a t 5 ° BTD C fo r cranking . Th e crankin g is detecte d b y th e TD C senso r (crankin g rpm ) an d starte r signal .
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Ignition Syste m
Ignition Timin g Inspectio n
SRS component s ar e locate d in thi s area . Revie w th e SR S
componen t locations , precautions , an d procedure s i n th e
SR S (sectio n 24 ) befor e performin g repair s o r service .
1.
2 .
Star t th e engine . Hol d th e engine at 3,00 0 rp m wit h
no loa d (shif t leve r i n o r position ) unti l th e
radiato r fa n come s on , the n le t i t idle .
Pul l ou t th e servic e chec k connecto r locate d unde r
th e glov e box . Connec t th e GRN/BL U an d OR N wir e
terminal s wit h th e specia l tool .
SCS SERVIC E CONNECTO R
( 07PAZ-0010100 )
SERVIC E CHEC K CONNECTO R (2P)
NOTE : Locate d unde r th e glov e bo x
3. Chec k th e idl e spee d (se e pag e 23-85 ).
4 . Connec t a timin g ligh t t o th e No . 1 ignitio n wire .
Poin t th e ligh t towar d th e pointe r o n th e timin g
bel t cover .
NO. 1 PLU G WIR E
TIMIN G LIGH T
5. Inspec t ignitio n timin g a t idl e speed .
Ignitio n Timing :
15 ° ± 2° BTD C (RED ) a t 70 0 ± 50 rp m wit h shif t leve r
in o r positio n an d electrica l system s turne d
off.
POINTE R
RE D MAR K
CRANKSHAFT
PULLEY
6. I f th e ignitio n timin g i s incorrect , replac e th e EC M
(ther e is n o wa y t o adjus t ignitio n timing) .
7 . Disconnec t th e specia l too l fro m th e servic e chec k
connector .
WHITE MAR K(TDC)
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Idle Spee d Chec k
1. Star t th e engine . Hol d th e engin e a t 3,00 0 rp m wit h
no loa d (shif t leve r i n o r ) unti l th e radiato r fa n
come s on , the n le t i t idle .
2 . Connec t a tachomete r t o th e tes t tachomete r connec -
tor.
TES T TACHOMETE R CONNECTO R
TES T TACHOMETE R CONNECTO R
BATTERY
Idle speed : 70 0 ± 5 0 rp m wit h shif t leve r i n positio n
or an d electrica l system s turne d off .
3 . Adjus t th e idl e spee d if necessar y (se e sectio n 11 ).
Distributo r Remova l
1. Disconnec t th e ignitio n wire s fro m th e distributo r
ignition (Dl ) cap .
MOUNTIN GBOLTS
2. Remov e th e distributo r mountin g bolts , the n remov e
th e distributo r fro m th e cylinde r head .
CLIP
TACHOMETE R
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Ignition System

Distributor Overhaul

DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION (Dl)

CAP

Check for cracks, wear,

damage, and fouling;

if necessary, clean or

replace.
DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION (Dl)

ROTOR HEAD

O-RING

Replace.

DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION (Dl)

HOUSING

Check for cracks

and damage.

CARBON

POINT
CAP

SEAL

HEAT INSULATOR
CARBON

POINT SPRINGProCarManuals.com

Distributor Top End Inspection

1. Check for rough or pitted rotor and cap terminals.

2. Scrape or file off the carbon deposits. Smooth the

rotor terminal with an oil stone or #600 sandpaper if

rough.

ROTOR

TERMINAL
CAP TERMINAL

CARBON

POINT

3. Check the distributor ignition (Dl) cap for cracks, wear,

and damage. If necessary, clean or replace it.
Noise Condenser Capacity Test

1. Use a commercially available condenser tester.

Connect the condenser tester probes and measure

the condenser capacity.

Condenser capacity: 0.47 ± 0.09 microfarads

POSITIVE TERMINAL

BODY GROUND

(Negative)

NOTE: The noise condenser is intended to reduce

ignition noise. However, condenser failure may cause

the engine to stop running.

2. If not within the specifications, replace the noise con-

denser.ProCarManuals.com

Ignition System

Ignition Wire Inspection and Test

CAUTION: Carefully remove the ignition wires by pulling

on the rubber boots. Do not bend the wires; you might

break them inside.

1. Check the condition of the ignition wire terminals.

If any terminal is corroded, clean it, and if it is broken

or distorted, replace the wire.

Check for broken,

corroded, and bent

terminals.
IGNITION

WIRES
2. Connect ohmmeter probes and measure resistance.

Ignition Wire Resistance:

25k max. at 68°F (20°C)

IGNITION

WIRES

3. If resistance exceeds 25 k , replace the ignition wire.ProCarManuals.com