If your valve cover gasket is leaking then buy plugs and wires too, the oil soaked wires may be shorting to ground inside the plug well, remember, electricity takes the path of least resistance, oil conducts electricity, spark plugs have lots of resistance with an air gap to jump while all under compression, that makes it even harder to spark in the cylinder.

You stated getting sprayed with fuel, sprayed when you cracked the bolt or sprayed when you turned the engine over with the key, the key to crank is the true test, just in case you didnt do it.

 

I feel your pain with Iowa.

 

uhhhh ..... Finch. Please use a spark plug to ground the lead. You can blow out a good coil by grounding with a screwdriver. That technique works well for non-Hondas. If there was oil in the plugs before, that's the first thing I'd look to fix. DH has the writeups in DIY.

 

Well I went back out and tested the spark again using spark plugs this time and still spark.. more of a yellow-orange though which I know is not the best spark but its still there. There was oil around the base of the plugs, but not on the electrode. I went to Napa and AutoZone, both with extremely riced out cars in the parking, but still no help, haha. AutoZone recommended a small service shop that I stopped at and it stumped him too and he said to check the timing belt. He also said he would fix it between $300 and $1500 so I laughed and walked out. Went back and checked the timng belt which looks a-okay; no missing teeth, didn't jump any teeth. So now I'm debating calling my Grandpa for his trailer and I'm sure he can figure it out.

 

If you have a volt meter, deserthonda has a good writeup on how to test for a bad coil vs a bad ICM in the DIY section.

Like I said, see if a junkyard nearby has a coil for sale and try it.

 

Alrighty, cracked open the distributor and it was finally corroded enough to cause a low power spark. Went to O'Reilly's and bought their "top 'o the line" cap and rotor for $36 and she fired right up. There's also a lot more noticeable power, which makes me happy. Thanks everyone for helping me out!

 

glad that it is fixed ,, and thanks for posting the fix

 

...... and another Honda stays on the road!!!!!

Glad it worked out for you and her Finch!!!! and for only $36!!

 

Oh of course she's still running, like a champ I might add. After I drove home yesterday my MPG jumped from 25 to 31 just because of the better spark.