spdweb.net
3/21/2008 5:29:49 PM
After owning and building many Civics I have just acquired my first Accord and have some questions about the ignition system. This accord comes with a none adjustable Hitachi Distributor. Base timing is factory set and the distributor can not be adjusted. Every Civic I have ever owned or worked on for that matter comes with an adjustable 3 bolt TEC distributor. This allows base timing to be independently controlled separate from the ECU. I notice the head on the Accord F23 engine has the mounts for the TEC distributor just like the Civic D16 and I also know some Accords of the same make and model come equipped with the TEC distributor, just like vise versa some Civics come equipped with the Hitachi (which I have never seen on a Civic).
My question is is it possible to swap the Hitachi distributor for a TEC and gain the ability to mechanically adjust base ignition by rotating the distributor or is the wiring harness completely different? I do know the mounts for the TEC on the F23 head are there.
Also does the use of a TEC vs. Hitachi distributor have something to do with a California Cert? I live in MD and all my other cars are not CA certified but this one seems to be. Which adds a bunch of extra crap to deal with.
Accord Hitachi Distributor
Un used mount on head
Civic D16 Adjustable TEC distributor
Chiovnidca
3/21/2008 9:47:08 PM
It would be a lot of work rewireing the engine to use the sensors in the civic dist. Dont know if they would be compatable with the ecu either. Why do you want to adjust the timing?
spdweb.net
3/22/2008 8:36:37 AM
quote:
ORIGINAL: Chiovnidca
It would be a lot of work rewireing the engine to use the sensors in the civic dist. Dont know if they would be compatable with the ecu either. Why do you want to adjust the timing?
I didn't mean to actually use the D distributor on the F engine. I only used that picture as an example from my Civic to show the adjustability and 3rd mount on the head in use on the TEC vs. the Hitachi on the F23. Some Accords do in fact use the TEC distributor and it is adjustable. So that is my question.. if I had an adjustable TEC from a F23 accord would it work on mine which originally came with the non adjustable Hitachi. The proper mounts are there as the heads are all the same of course but I don't know if the harness is the same.
The reason for this is that I am completely anal and would like the ability to slightly tweak base ignition timing, which in turn would give the ability to add or subtract a few degrees throughout the RPM range as driving habits warrant. You and I both know this is probably completely worthless but thats just how I am.

Just I just bought this car to drive I should probably just leave it completely alone and focus on the Civic but I seem to have the inability to do that.
Chiovnidca
3/22/2008 10:20:07 AM
The adjustable accord and civic distributors are similar. They have the adjustability so that the base timing can be synced up with the crankshaft since they have all 3 sensors in em. The non-adjustable distributors have the crank and tdc sensors moved to the engine reading directly off the crank so no adjustment is needed to compensate for timing belt stretch and such.
spdweb.net
3/22/2008 10:54:10 AM
AH thanks. You answered my question.
Out of 6 Hondas this is the first I have had with the Hitachi setup.