I have a 4 cyl. accord - In 1998 (which is my accord) ''They'' changed the dizzy- Now in 98 you can't fix leaking 0'ring's in the dizzy,,Because they ''Pressed'' in the 'pin' on the shaft..
Of course 'I' got the O'ring seals off the net. And Pounded out the 'Pin' on the shaft.. replaced the seals, and put it all back together- Sweet- working fine...
Until the other day, it threw a code- intermittent misfire- which is the dizzy.
I just pulled the connector and replaced it, to make sure connection...
Cleared code'..and SOoo far no problems..

What I'd love to know is--- Can I swap the 'easy to fix'' Dizzy from 97 to my 98?? Just wondering cause I might have to change my dizzy...someday..

There are at least two utube vids, one from Erik the car guy..about how to test the coil and igniter- and how to tell if you ecm is sending the right signal..
I've been reading some old posts about the dizzy, and none of that was known then?

 

What code(s) did you get?

An error code doesn't necessarily mean a sensor is bad. The issue can be the sensor, the wiring, the PCM, or something upstream up the sensor is causing a problem.

Your last question isn't clear to me. What is missing in the old posts?

As for swapping distributors, you would have to do some homework by looking up part numbers. The key, the length of the distributor shaft, and the o-ring would have to have the same part number. Not sure if the holes on the 97 distributor line up with the 98 either. Plus how to properly wire it up. It is not worth the hassle in my opinion.

 

Keep in mind that 97 is also like the 94-97 models in that there were 2 distributors offered for the 4 cylinder. VTEC and non-VTEC. I know, as I have a non-VTEC engine in my 97 LX sedan. You'd have to check the lengths that PA mentioned against a 97 VTEC didtributor. It might also be easier to find a 98 thru 2002 distributor from a pck n pull. I only say that, as those are 2.3L F23A engines and came standard with VTEC. Those in a pick n pull will most likely be there due to either an accident, or from an automatc trans failure (according to live2rice).

 

I fixed my 97 Vtec distributor with the new Orings. Yet 'they' said you had to buy a new one. Because of the pressed in pin on the shaft holding the 'key'..
I was hoping, I could get a Vtec 97, because it would have the 'circlip' holding the 'pin' on the shaft.Which makes it easy to take out the pin and slide the shaft out of the dizzy body.
So thanks, I now know there were two different dizzy's made for the 4 cylinder. I'm looking for junk yard honda accords now...If I can find one off a Vtec 97..I'll try it out..just to see if it will work..

 

I think they also changed the character of the timing signals coming from the distributor. So a 97 distributor might not create the same signals that your 98 PCM is looking for.

And also... 98+ Accord DX actually does have a non-VTEC engine. The F23A5 engine is non-VTEC, and its distributor has a different part number. So don't just look for "ANY" 1998-2002 Accord.

 

Yes I'll have to check the part number on my distributor when I take it out. To look at it. Because I got another check engine light. been to busy to put in the paper clip and count the blinking.
I had to go the dentist today, (my temporary bridge for row of front teeth)..And sense I was out that far...I went to a junk yard out that way..

The Yard desk , said they had some for $80...So I'll get back out there when My social secuity check get here...By then I should have the EXact number I'm going toneed...
Maybe I can find my note's from when I went through all this, about the different Part#'s last time I worked on the distributor..

Thanks for reading my post and weighing in on what I might do...

 

I didn't realize that Honda carried on with the non-VTEC engine in the Accord. Does it have a seperate coil like my 97 does?

 

It looks like the coil is inside the distributor for 1998 VTEC and non-VTEC.

For all I know, the DX version is pretty uncommon.

 

Ok can anyone tell me how to determine which engine type/ number I have in my 98 ex accord 4cyl.

And the coil is inside the dizzy. It's just that it does not look like the ones in Utube vids.
All the other honda accords look different, they have negative and positive printed on them, and a spring in what looks like a round tower ..
mine does not..
I would think someone has changed it. but I've had this car sense it was a 40,000 mile car the dealer used to show people...

 

On the engine, where the trans bolts to the engine, under the upper radiator hose is a number with a letter or 2 that is cast into a flat section of the engine. It should have as an example F23A5 or F23A1 or something like that. You can see it looking almost straight down from the upper radiator hose.
I should mention most of the Honda 4 cylinder engines have that flat section with an engine model number on it there.
Also, you can check the VIN number on the car, as the 2nd set of 3 numbers (CXX) will show which engine the car originally came with. The first set of 3 numbers are where the car was built. Example 1HM is Ohio, and 1JM is Japan.
Note there were 3 different types of F23A enegines in the Accords, with the letters matching which engine it came with. An example is CF8= F23A5, CG5 = F23A1, and CG6 = F23A4. This is straight out of the FSM.
I hope this helps.