Can I get some help?

i just bought an 89 civic hb a couple of weeks ago. The problem is the car will be going along and it will sputter and jerk a couple of times and then die, but the engine will start right back up. That is until today. I was driving home from work and the car gave one big sputter and then died 1/2 mile down the road and won't start at all. It turns over but won't fire up. Any ideas???

my first guess will be the rotor. pull off the distributor cap and see if the rotor underneath it is loose at all. the screw that holds it in is known to come out. if not that then maybe something to do with your timing.

Is it getting fuel or spark?
Did the check engine light come on?
Have you checked the ECU for codes?

Could be lots of things

If it is the rotor, make sure to use thread lock on the screw if not replacing. New rotor from Honda will come with a new screw & thread lock applied.

Thanks for the help. This morning I went over to the car and pulled off the dist cap to check the rotor and the screw was still tight so I cleaned up the dist cap and around the rotor with a rag and put it back together then gave it another try and the sum bitch fired right up. I have no clue what I did but it worked. Thanks again for the ideas.