Distributor problem (noise, etc) on '92 Civic EX

[Barwick]

A few weeks ago my distributor started making a kinda squeaking noise.. kinda hard to describe I guess.. basically something rubbing on something. My '90 RX-7 was supposed to be running in a few days so I just left it alone.. It went away and no problems.. started doing it again a few days ago and went kinda quiet again until now the engine misfires and the check engine light comes on.. now it's in "limp home" mode and won't go over 3500 RPM, and totally misfires HORRIBLY when it's not in "limp home" mode (when it first fires up it's in "normal mode" and doesn't even want to run at all, then when it goes into limp mode it runs decent, idles real low (almost stalls) and won't go past 3500).

Anyone have any ideas on what this could be? I pulled the distributor cap and looked at the cap connections, they're a little worn out on two of 'em, so I tried to shake the distributor rotor, and it kinda jiggles a little bit, could this be the problem?

[Rice-Rocketeer]

Oh geez, I edited your 2nd post instead of "quoting" it. Sorry about that

But what I was gonna say is: Why dont you just rebuild your distributor guts? Then just tighten down the rotor when you reassemble everything.

[Barwick]

dang then I guess I have to rewrite my 2nd post again..

"PLEASE won't someone come on here and NOT talk about the 'single wiper mod' and 'putting a swingset on your trunklid'"?

Anyhow.. I'd rebuild it but I don't have the faintest idea what part is causing the problem, nor can I get any of the parts by themselves, nor can I find some sort of rebuild kit.

[Rice-Rocketeer]

Just goto AutoZone or Honda and ask them for the parts you need. Even if that doesn't solve *all* your problems, if the connections are as bad as you say they are, it'll prevent future ones.

[Barwick]

yeah only problem with that is they want like $360 for the distributor. I got one from a junkyard for $100

[pric]

Same problem happened to me I bought my 92 hb si at a used car lot in 96 with 86K miles and in 99 It had 140K miles and the noise almost sounded like the belts execpt on the wrong side. I called the local honda dealership they told me to bring it in. Before I got there the same thing happened to me the car died. I had to get towed in the service rep told me they had a recall on the accord's dist. but he had never heard of a civic going bad like that. he told me $365 for a new dist. plus labor I had no choice at the time I needed the car. He calls me back at work and informs me that his parts supv. could not believe that the civic dist. chewed up like that and told me that they were sorry that it had happened and that they would replace it for free and just charged me labor I got a new dist. and only paid $60 and I didn't even buy the car from them and because of that they got a customer for life. The car now has 241K miles onit and no problems. knock on wood.

[Barwick]

changed the distributor, seems to have fixed the problem.

[Rice-Rocketeer]

Glad we could help. I don't generally reccomend junkyard distributors. U could get onw with the same problems as yours. Like getting a used clutch.

[Cashis EG8]

Same thing happened to me a few months back. It turned out to be a bad bearing. Replaced distributor housing, cap, and rotor - brand new OEM Honda parts for under $200.