1996 HONDA CIVIC Oil

Starting System
Starter Test lcont'dl
Ch€ck tor Wear and Damage
The starter should crank the engine smoothly and
steadily, lf the starter engages. but cranks the engine
erratically, remove it, and inspect the starter drive gear
and torque converter or flywheel ring gear for damage.
. Check the drive gear overrunning clutch for binding
or slipping when the armature is rotated with the
drive gear held,- lf damaged. replace the gears.
Check Cranking Voltsge and Curr€nt Draw
Cranking voltage should be no less than 8.5 volts.
Current draw should be no more than 350 amperes.
lf cranking voltage is too low, or current draw too high,
check for;
. dead or low batterv.
. open circuit in starter armature commutator seg-
ments,
. starter armature dragging.
. shorted armature winding.
o excessive drag in engine.
Check Cranking rpm
Engine speed during cranking should be above 100 rpm,
lf speed is too low, check for:
. loose battery or stanerterminals.
. excessively worn starter brushes,
. open circuit in commutator segments.
o dirty or damaged helical spline or drive gear.
. defective drive gear overrunning clutch.
Check Siarter Disengag€ment
With the shift lever in El or @ position (A/T) or with the
clutch pedal depressed (M/T), turn the ignition switch to
START (lll), and release to ON (ll).
The starter drive gear should disengage from the torque
converter or flywheel ring gear when you release the
Key.
lf the drive gear hangs up on the torque converter or fly-
wheel ring gear, check for:
. solenoid plunger and switch malfunction,
. dirty drive gear assembly or damaged overrunning
clutch.
Starter Solenoid Test
1. Check the hold-in coil for continuitv between the S
terminal and the armature housing (ground). The
coil is OK if there is continuitv,
ARMATUREHOUSING(GROUND)
S TERMINAL
M TERMINAL
B TERMINAL
STARTERCAELE B TERMINALMOUNTING NUTI N.m {0.9 kgf.m,7 tbf.ft)
Check the pull-in coil for continuity between the S
and M terminals. The coil is OK if there is continuity.

Starting System
Armature Inspection and Test (cont'dl
4. Check tor mica depth. lf necessary, undercut mica
with a hacksaw blade to achieve proper depth. l{ ser-
vice limit cannot be maintained, replace the armature.
MICA D€PTH
Commutator Mica D€pth
5. Check for continuity between the segments of the
commutator. lf an open circuit exists between any
segments, replace the armature.
NOT GOOD
Standard (NEW)Service Limit
0.4 - 0.5 mm
(0.016 - 0.02 in)
0.15 mm
(0.006 in)
23-98
corL coFECOMMUTATOR
6. Place the armature on an armature tester. Hold a
hacksaw blade on the armature core.
ARMATURE TESTER
. lf the blade is attracted to the core or vibrates
while the core is turned, the armature is shorted.
Replace the armature.
7. Check with an ohmmeter that no continuity exists
between the commutator and armature coil core,
and between the commutator and armature shaft. lf
there is continuity, replace the armature.
ARMATURE

-Performance Test
NOTE: Before staning the following checks. disconnect
the wire from terminal M. and make a connection as
described below using as heavy a wire as possible (prefer-
ably equivalent to the wire used for the car).
Pull-in CoilTest:
Connect the battery as shown, lf the staner pinion pops
out. it is working proPerly.
CAUTION: Do not leavo tho batterv connost€d for more
than 10 seconds.
Hold-in Coil Test:
Disconnect the battery from the M terminal' lf the pinion
does not retract, the hold-in coil is working properly.
CAUTION: Do not loavc lhe battsry connected for mot6
than 10 ssconds.
Retracting Tosi:
Disconnect the battery also from the body. lf the pinion
retracts immediately, it is working properly.
GAUTION: Do not loave the baftery conn€ctod tor more
than 10 seconds.
Startor No-load Tost:
Clamp the starter firmly in a vise.
Connect the starter to the battery as described in
the diagram below, and confirm that the motor
starts and keeps rotating.
1.
3, lf the electric current and motor speed
specifications when the battery voltage is
the starter is working ProPerly.
Specifications:
80 A or less (Electric current),2,600 rpm or more
(Motor-speed)
meet the
at 11.5 V,
23-101

lgnition System
Component Location Index
IGNITION TIMING CONTROL SYSTEM
. Troubleshooting, section 11
. ldle speed Inspection/Adjustment. section 11
. Inspection and Setting, page 23-105
SERVICE CHECK CONNECTOR {2P}Iwiie colors: 8RN and BLKI
TEST TACI{OMETER CONNECTOB
IGNITION WIRESlnspection and Test, page 23-110
PLUGSInspection, page 23 1 11
Replacement, page 23'106Overhaul, page 23-107lgnition Coil Test, page 23'110lgnition Control Module llCM)Input Test, page 23-109
23-102

lgnition System
Distributor Replacement
Removal:
1. Disconnect the connector from the distributor.
2. Disconnect the ignition wires from the distributor
ignition {Dl) cap.
3. Remove the mounting bolts from the distributor,
then remove the distributor from the cylinder head.
DISTRIBUTOR END CAMSHAFT END
MOUNTING BOLT18 N.m 11.8 kgtm, 13lbf.ltl
lnstallation:
NOTE: Before you install the distributor. bring the No. 1
piston to compression stroke TDC.
1. Coat a new O-ring with engine oil, then install it.
2. Slip the distributor into position
NOTE: The lug on the end of the distributor and its
mating grooves in the camshaft end are both offset
to eliminate the possibility of installing the distribu-
tor 180" out of time.
3. Installthe mounting bolts, and tighten them lightly.
23-106
4, Connect the ignition wires to the distributor ignition
(Dl) cap as shown.
rracfit'
No. 1CYLINDERMARK
No. 1CYLINDER
TEG:
5.
6.
7.
No. 2No. a
Connect the connector to the distributor.
Set the ignition timing (see previous page).
After setting the ignition timing, tighten the mount-
ing bolts.

lgnition System
Distributor Overhaul (cont'dl
TEC:
IGNITION CONTROLMODULE IICM'Input Test, page 23-1
DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION {DI} HOUSINGCheck for cracks and damage.
COVER
DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION IDI) ROTOB
CAP SEALCheck for damage.DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION {DII CAPCheck for cracks, wear,damage, and fouling.Clean or replace,
IGNITION COILTest, page 23-110
O-RINGReplace
\
I
@
TDC/CKP/CYP S€NSORTroubleshooting, section 1 1Do not disassemble.
WHT/BLU
23-104

Jlgnition Control Module (lCMl Input Test
NOTE:
. See section 1'l when the malfunction indicator lamp
(MlL) turned on.
. Perform an input test for the ignition control module
(lCM) after finishing the fundamental tests for the
ignition system and the fuel and emissions systems
1. Remove the distributor ignition (Dl) cap, the distrib-
utor ignition (Dl) rotor and the leak cover (TEC).
2. Disconnect the wires from the lCM.
HITACHI:
BLK/YEL
TEC:
Turn the ignition switch ON (ll). Check for voltage
between the BLK/YEL wire and body ground.
There should be battery voltage.
. lf there is no battery voltage, check the BLK/YEL
wire between the under-dash fuse/relay box and
rhe lcM.
. lf there is battery voltage, go to step 4.
Turn the ignition switch ON (ll). Check for voltage
between the wire*r and body ground
There should be battery voltage.
. lfthere is no battery voltage, check:
- the ignition coil.
- the wire*1 between the ignition coil and the
tcM.
. lf there is battery voltage, go to step 5
*1: BLU'wire (HITACHI)
WHT/BLU wire (TEC)
Disconnect the EcM/PCM connector A (32P). Check
for continuity on the YEUGRN wire between the
ECM/PCM and the lCM.
There should be continuity.
Check for continuity on the YEUGRN wire to body
ground.
There should be no continuity.
Check for continuity on the BLUl wire between the
test tachometer connector and the ICM
There should be continuitY.
Check for continuity on the BLUl wire to body ground.
There should be no continuity.
lf all the tests are normal, replace the ICM
7.
23-109

lgnition System
lgnition Coil Test
Using an ohmmeter, measure resistance between the
terminals. lf the resistance is not within soecifications.
replace the ignition coil.
NOTE: Resistance will vary with the coil temperature;
specifications are at 68'F (20'C).
HITACHI:
Primary Winding Resistance
{Betwesn the A and B lerminalsl;
0.45 - 0.55 0
Secondary Winding Resistanc€
(Between the A and secondary winding terminals):
22.1 - 33.6 kA
TERMINAL B {-)
TERMINAL A
TEC:
Primary Winding Resistsnce
{Between the A and B terminalsl:
0.63 - 0.77 0
Secondary Winding Resistance
(Between the A and secondary winding terminals):
12.8 - 19.2 kO
SECONDARYWINDINGTERMINAL
TERMINAL A
23-110
TERMINAL B (-)
lgnition Wire lnspection and Test
CAUTION: Carelully remove the ignition wires bypulling on the rubber boots, Do not bend the wires; you
might break them inside.
'1. Check the condition of the ignition wire terminals. lf
any terminal is corroded, clean it, and if it is broken
or distorted, replace the ignition wire.
Check for broken,corroded, and bentlermrnals.IGNITION WIRE
Connect ohmmeter probes and measure resistance.
lgnition Wire Resistance:
25 k0 max. at 68"F (20"C)
IGNITION WIRE
3. lf resistance exceeds 25 kO, replace the ignition wire.