Honda Repair: 90 Accord cranks but wont start, spark test, impass

Question
hi ryan,

my sister's '90 accord ex sputtered to a sudden stop the other day and i've been trying to figure out what the problem is.  was going to try to do a spark test but can't figure out a way to do it safely since the connection to the coil is integrated within the distributor cap.  therefore, i just use my timing light and am not getting anything for any of the four wires.  as a result, i started trying to test the coil but have come to an impass.  the manual i have states that the coil should have a resistance reading of 0.6-0.8 from the primary posts and 12,800-19,000 from the secondary(spring).  i have to multimeters one is digital and the other is analog.  the digital meter reads 0.9 from the primary and 21,000 from the secondary and the analog reads 0.5 from the primary and 10,000 from the secondary.  alittle confusing as you might guess and maybe a good reason to only have one multimeter.

in any event, it looks like the coil might be bad but before i replace it i was wondering if there is a simple way to test the ignitor.  the manual i have states there should be the following wires in order from left to right: yellow/green, black/yellow, yellow/white, and blue wire.  unfortunately, i have the following wires: yellow/green, black/yellow, yellow, and green.  the black/yellow wire has battery voltage, the yellow has nothing, the green has 0.04 voltage and the yellow/green has nothing. i would like to test the resistance between the ignitor and the ignition switch via the yellow/green wire but i can't seem to find the ignition switch in the manual or on the car.  also i believe the ecu connects the to the ignitor via the green wire but can seem to find the location of the ecu in the manual either.

now i know what you're going to say first "get a new manual" but as i mentioned in the beginning this is my sister's car. anyway, if you have any other ideas, suggestions or answers to my testing questions i would appreciate it.

thank you in advance,

Lance Smith

Answer
Get a new Manuel...lol j/k instead if guessing on the fact its the coil try some cheap fixes...get new plug wires and a new cap and rotor for the distributor.  hell even if its not the problem you prolly need new ones anyways.  But this does sound like it can be the points on the cap & rotor.  Coils are VERY VERY hard to burn out...and when it did burn out it would be like a melt down thing.

Do do a SAFE spark test take any plug out...then ground the plug to the head of the engine and have someone crank the engine over...you wont get zapped or anything so long as your touching the rubber.  you will see the spark jump from the plug to the prongs.  

Let me know if you have anymore questions