# Need help asap! **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [April 24, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007 "2011-04-24T02:22:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/1 "2011-04-24T02:22:58Z")
I have a '97 Honda Civic and I think I may need a new distributor, but I want to figure out if it could be something else before I spend $200 on the distributor. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/2 "2011-04-24T02:32:46Z")
I’ll be right over? Yes? No? Maybe? Or, in other words maybe you should mention something about the car itself and what kind of problem you are having ---
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/3 "2011-04-24T02:34:46Z")
I’m sorry I’m new to this!!! lol But I was driving and my car all of a sudden just stopped running. ---
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/4 "2011-04-24T02:36:54Z")
To make a long story short, that does not indicate a distributor any more than many other parts. Keep on giving information. Sounds like you might need a mechanic? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/5 "2011-04-24T02:36:59Z")
Are you sure it wasn’t your timing belt breaking? Why do you think it’s the distributor? ---
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/6 "2011-04-24T02:42:56Z")
My dad and uncle looked at it and they believe it is the distributor. I’m not sure if it helps at all but my fuel pump is working. The engine cranks over and it has normal compression. ---
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/7 "2011-04-24T02:43:27Z")
I’m trying to avoid going to a mechanic at all costs due to money issues at home… ---
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/8 "2011-04-24T02:46:18Z")
Also it didn’t just stop immediately, as I was driving it slowly died and came to a stop with a “chug, chug, chug” sound. The rpm’s just slowly went down as I drove until my car eventually came to a complete stop and would not start again. ---
**Author:** ![impala61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@impala61](https://community.cartalk.com/u/impala61)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/9 "2011-04-24T02:50:48Z")
Got fahr? ---
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/10 "2011-04-24T02:51:59Z")
I’m sorry I dont know what fahr means… ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/11 "2011-04-24T03:01:28Z")
The problem might be with the ignition control module within the distributor. This can be replaced without replacing the entire distributor which is cheaper. However you need to determine if it has the Hitachi or the TEC distributor assembly as the modules aren’t interchangable. Tester ---
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/12 "2011-04-24T03:03:57Z")
Is there any way that I can test to see if it is the ignition control module? And how can I find out if it is Hitachi or the TEC? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/13 "2011-04-24T03:17:18Z")
If there’s no spark then the module could be the problem. The distributor will have to be removed in order to replace the module. The distributor body should have a stamping on it indicating whether it’s a Hitachi or TEC distributor. If not, the module will indicate which it is. Tester ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/14 "2011-04-24T03:24:26Z")
throwing parts at the car will be more expensive than having someone diagnose it properly and fixing it right(hopefully) the first time. ---
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/15 "2011-04-24T03:30:05Z")
Yeah that is true, so would you recommend trying to get a distributor from a junk yard first or just buying a brand new one? ---
**Author:** ![impala61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@impala61](https://community.cartalk.com/u/impala61)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 7:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/16 "2011-04-24T07:48:59Z")
You may not be a redneck if you don’t know what “got fahr?” means. You stated that the fuel pump works and you have normal compression. Are your spark plugs making the little spark things? ---
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/17 "2011-04-24T17:45:46Z")
If my car for example has a Hitachi distributor but I find a TEC distributor for a cheaper price, would I be able to interchange that? And you said the only way to determine if it is the module is to see if there is or isn’t a spark? And thank you so much Tester! You have been so extremely helpful!!! ---
**Author:** ![chaissos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/chaissos/32/2347_2.png) [@chaissos](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chaissos)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/18 "2011-04-24T17:56:45Z")
You should be able to swap the entire unit, yes. You just can’t interchange individual parts within the unit (module for the TEC won’t fit in the Hitachi unit, etc). Double-check the connectors before installation to make sure. Test for spark: Pick a plug, remove the wire and plug, connect them back together, and lay the plug (metal threaded part) on the valve cover (if aluminum, hold it against the metal mounting cover nut). Have buddy turn over motor. You’re looking for a nice fat blue spark. If it’s a tiny yellow one, then it won’t have the juice required to burn the fuel. ---
**Author:** ![chaissos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/chaissos/32/2347_2.png) [@chaissos](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chaissos)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/19 "2011-04-24T18:07:00Z")
As it “Got Fire”?? I sorta speak redneck. 🙂 Sometimes I even get it right. ---
**Author:** ![dberg1363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@dberg1363](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dberg1363)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007/20 "2011-04-24T18:11:35Z")
I also noticed the distributor has been leaking a bit of oil where it is mounted to the motor. Can the seal be replaced or would I still need to get a whole new distributor? [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-asap/64007.md?page=2)