The ignition coil on your Accord controls the voltage that the spark plugs need to effectively keep the engine running. Without the ignition coil functioning properly, your engine may not run at all. Other symptoms of a bad ignition coil include backfiring and extremely rough idling. On the 1990 Honda Accord the ignition coil mounts within the distributor housing. With a few tools and careful notation, the repair can be done at home in 30 minutes or less.
Raise the hood on your Accord and then disconnect the negative battery cable from its post using a socket wrench.
Wrap the lead terminal at the end of the cable with electrical tape completely. Push the negative cable down onto the side of the battery to assure it won’t accidentally make contact with the battery during the repair.
Locate the distributor cap mounted on the Accord’s engine by following any one of the spark plug wires away from the engine to its connecting point. Do not disconnect any of the spark plug wires from the distributor cap; you don’t have to for this repair.
Draw a line on the left and right side of the two screws holding the distributor cap in place with white correction fluid. The lines will help you align the cap back into its original position once you’re ready to reinstall it.
Remove the two screws holding the distributor cap with a Phillips screwdriver and then place both of the screws in your pocket.
Pull the distributor cap off slowly. Be very careful, because the spark plug wires are still attached to the cap.
Remove the rotor, but first note its position. The rotor should pop right off. If your entire distributor has been replaced before and you had an aftermarket one installed, the rotor may have a single screw holding it in place. If so, remove the screw from the rotor and then take the rotor off.
Identify the ignition coil now that the distributor cap and rotor are removed. The ignition coil has two small wires connected to the left side of it. The coil resembles a square and has a small nipple sticking out of it on the top right side.
Label the two wires connected to the ignition coil clearly with white painter’s tape. It’s highly critical that you don’t mix the wires up during re-installation.
Remove the two screws holding the wires in place on the coil with your Phillips screwdriver. Place the screws in your pocket and tuck both wires to the side so they’re out of the way.
Remove the two securing screws on the left and right of the ignition coil and then carefully slide the coil out of its mounting position. Place the two screws in your pocket as well to reuse during installation.
Install the new ignition coil on your 1990 Honda Accord by simply reversing the removal steps. Remember to check any notations that you made to assure a successful repair.
