Distributor / Aftermarket Ignition Control Module (ICM)

[Idemann]

Hi All,

 

Long story short, my engine started randomly cutting out whilst driving. I'd pull over, turn everything off, wait an ever increasing time and it would start again.

I pulled the MIL codes and got DTC 15, Ignition Output Signal, and after searching on this amazing website (thanks all), came to the conclusion I was going to have to change the distributor.

 

Now, I'm reluctant to change the distributor as I don't have a timing lamp or any experience of setting timing so would have to pay someone else to do this on top of the parts. Plus there doesn't seem to be many TD86U distributors available in this country, for reasonable money anyways. There are some on ebay in america for around £70 delivered but there seems to be issues with compatibility between JDM & UKDM distrubutors.

 

Any how, I got it in my garage yesterday and started to get the dissy cap off. The metal contact from 1 of the leads stayed in the cap so new leads required. Inside the cap, the retaining screw for the rotor arm had worked loose and made a real mess (I'm surprised it was running at all) so new cap and rotor required. These are all ordered and I will fit monday eve and with a little bit of luck these will have been the actual cause of my problems.

 

However, whilst I was cleaning inside the dissy I took the Ignition Control Module out and got the part number NEC MC-8541. Now, the Honda service manual suggests that this is the part of the dissy that needs replacing with DTC 15 (page 11-B-41). After a fair bit of google and ebay research I cross referenced this number to a few others including: Lucas DAJ904, Intermotor 15750 and Quinton Hazell XEI44 as fitted to older Hondas and Rovers. These and others like them are readily available on ebay for as little as £9.50 delivered (new old stock).

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IGNITION-MODULE-ROVER-216-GTi-XW-1990-1991-1992-14993-1994-1995-/331033805359?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3ARover&hash=item4d1327022f

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-ACCORD-IV-SALOON-2-2-I-16V-AUTOMATIK-1990-TO-1993-IGNITION-MODULE-AMPLIFIE-/181228936483?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a32161d23

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-IGNITION-MODULE-FOR-ROVER-HONDA-/251098445392?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a76a23650

 

 

My questions are, has anybody tried using an aftermarket ICM such as theses instead of replacing the whole dissy and what was the result. Also does anybody know why these would not all be equivalent to each other and as such valid replacements for the ICM as fitted?

 

I'm hoping this research might prove to be a cheap repair whilst replacement parts for these Civics are getting rarer and more expensive. 

[NIKH25]

I can't really help with the ICM Q's but if you need a complete dizzy I suggest you PM 10000rpm on here as he breaks them and should have 1 or 2 hanging around.

[Idemann]

Thanks Nick, I'll bear that in mind

[marko]

I recently bought a reconditioned dizzy for £190 with a 2 yeah warranty, 25 pound of it was a surcharge aswell so should get that back when I send mine back, they also sell used ones with a 6month warranty, think the site was ignitioncarparts.com will double check when I get home for you

[KiNK43]

No experience with the other branded parts you mention.

Would it not be easier to replace the dizzy. It doesn't have to be a td86u. I have td44 just cut and soldered the old plug on. Simple.

As for ignition timing ten minute job for a mechanic. Cost ya a tenner maybe.

[Idemann]

Well, cap leads and rotor fitted, took her for a spin, all good for 20mins then spent the next 20 mins smoking in a lay-by before she would start again

 

Mark, thanks for the pointer. I had a look on ignitioncarparts.co.uk, the 6 month warranty units are used and work out at £111 + return shipping for the exchange. The cheapest I found new on ebay in the UK was £100 for a TD44U but I'm really trying to spend as little as possible 

 

Jake, if I'm correct, this is a cheap repair that can be done by almost anyone with only a cross head screw driver and a 7mm ring spanner in under an hour. No cutting, soldering or timing required. It's gotta be worth a try 

 

I've ordered this one now, £11.50 with 1st class P&P, I'll let you all know how I get on. I'll take some pics as I do it and if it works out I'll put up a How To

[noodels]

http://easyautodiagnostics.com/honda_dist_ignition/honda_ignition_systems_1.php

[marko]

10000rpm still has a dizzy for sale for £80+ postage, i read up on my dizzy when it was going and decided rather than change it part by part as it could be ignitor, lead, plug, cap, rotor or coil, i just went the safe route this time and changed it complete, good look with the new ignitor hope it sorts it out for you.

[KiNK43]

Yeah I'm sure that will sort it. As its usually the culprit.

I was just thinking for ease.

and obviously all the other components are new in a new dizzy.

Im shocked the prices for dizzys. I paid 70 brand new from eBay. Assumed it would be crap and break. But keep me going for a while. 2 yrs + still going strong.

[Idemann]

Good News

 

ICM arrived today, big thank you to naesltd on ebay for shipping so quickly. Paid 2pm yesterday and it was waiting for me when I got home from work.

 

Fitted while we waited for a chinese then took her for a long drive  after we'd eaten and all is good      She even feels a bit livelier but I guess that's to be expected given the state of the cap & rotor.

 

It is worth noting that I did put a few hours into diagnostics, checking the manuals and forums and researching the part. If I was having to pay a mechanic to do this at £20/30/40 per hour then a new dissy soon becomes the cheaper option. However, my time is free and I have to save a buck where I can.

 

I ended up doing the job for £78.76 but that includes leads at a wopping £42. I could have got them cheaper, about £30 on ebay, but it was saturday afternoon and eurocarparts had them in by monday morning. 

 

I do have some concerns about how long a pattern part may last but if she makes it to the MOT in march then I'll be happy

I'll keep you posted.