I have a 1987 honda crx. the car will turn over on jumper cables,but it wont start up. i just replaced the coil and the distributer is new, and the spark plugs are good, but for some reason the top wire going to the coil isnt getting a charge, but the bottom one is and i dont know why. does anyone know why?
honda crx 1987
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FIRST OF ALL make sure you have 12 volts at your battery, WITHOUT having jumper cables attached. Also, if your car will not turn over under its own power, without being attached to jumper cables, you NEED to either charge your battery, or put a good battery in the vehicle. Period.
From there:
NOTE: Before beginning any troubleshooting of ignition system, verify that all fuses, fuse links and battery connections are in good order.
1. While cranking engine, hold coil wire 1/4 inch from good ground. If coil wire sparks to ground, proceed to step 2. If coil wire does not spark to ground, proceed to step 5.
2. Connect coil wire, then disconnect spark plug cable from spark plug. Crank engine while checking spark to ground. If spark occurs, problem is not in ignition system. If spark does not occur, proceed to step 3.
3. Check condition of spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor. Repair or replace as necessary.
4. On all models, check voltage between coil primary winding positive terminal and good ground with ignition switch in ON position. Battery voltage should be present.
5. If voltage is not present, check wiring from coil primary winding negative terminal to igniter. Also, check ignition coil resistance.
6. If battery voltage is present in step 5, check voltage between coil primary winding positive and negative terminal with engine cranking. Voltage should be 1-3 volts.
8. If voltage is present, check ignition coil primary and secondary winding resistance. Also, check spark plug wire resistance.
9. If battery voltage is not present, check wiring from ignition coil to igniter. If battery voltage is present, see COMPONENT TESTING.
Primary Ignition Component Testing:
1985 ALL, 1986-87 CRX HF & 1986-87 PRELUDE W/CARBURETED ENGINE
1. Turn ignition switch to OFF position, then connect ohmmeter probes across the positive and negative primary terminals of ignition coil, Fig. 5. Measure and record the coil primary resistance. Resistance will vary with coil temperature.
2. With ignition switch in the OFF position, connect ohmmeter probes to secondary winding terminal and primary positive terminal, Fig. 6. Measure and record the coil secondary resistance. Resistance will vary with coil temperature.
3. If resistance values are not within specifications, Fig. 7, ignition coil is defective.
Secondary Ignition Component Testing:
1. Inspect distributor cap for cracks or damaged terminals and carbon tracking. Replace as needed.
2. Inspect rotor for cracks or roughened surfaces. Scrape off carbon deposits and smooth rotor terminal with an oil stone or sand paper. Replace rotor if insulator contacts are burned.
3. Check ignition wires for corrosion, cracks or burned insulation, then measure ignition wire resistance using an ohmmeter. Replace wires if they are damaged or if resistance exceeds 25,000 ohms.
Ignition Module Testing:
1987 CIVIC & CRX W/CARBURETED ENGINE & 1985-86 CIVIC & CRX
1. Disconnect lead wires from igniter unit, then check voltage between blue wire and body ground and between black/yellow wire and body ground with ignition switch in On position. There should be battery voltage.
2. With lead wires disconnected, check continuity between igniter unit terminals. With ohmmeter positive probe connected to black/yellow wire and negative probe connected to blue wire, there should be no continuity and, with probes reversed, there should be continuity.
1987 CIVIC & CRX W/FUEL INJECTED ENGINE & 1988 PRELUDE W/CARBURETED ENGINE
Toyo Denso Type
1. Remove distributor.
2. Remove igniter cover and pull out igniter unit.
3. Check voltage between BLU1 terminal and body ground, then the BLK/YEL terminal and body ground with ignition switch in On position, Fig. 3. There should be battery voltage.
4. Measure resistance between GRN and BLU2 terminals on pickup coil and replace pickup coil if resistance is not 650---850 ohms at 70°F.
5. Check for continuity in both directions between A and B terminals on igniter output, Fig. 4. There should be continuity in only one direction.
6. Connect ohmmeter positive probe to terminal D and negative probe to ground, then measure resistance of igniter input. Resistance should be 450---550 ohms or greater at 70°F.
Hitachi Type
1. Remove distributor cap from housing.
2. Disconnect wires from igniter unit and check voltage between blue wire and body ground, then black/yellow wire and body ground, with ignition switch in On position. There should be battery voltage.
3. With wires disconnected, check for continuity in both directions between terminals. There should be continuity in only one direction.
Don't post back with 'car still won't start'; go test all that and come back with voltage and resistance readings if you still can't get it to start.
From there:
NOTE: Before beginning any troubleshooting of ignition system, verify that all fuses, fuse links and battery connections are in good order.
1. While cranking engine, hold coil wire 1/4 inch from good ground. If coil wire sparks to ground, proceed to step 2. If coil wire does not spark to ground, proceed to step 5.
2. Connect coil wire, then disconnect spark plug cable from spark plug. Crank engine while checking spark to ground. If spark occurs, problem is not in ignition system. If spark does not occur, proceed to step 3.
3. Check condition of spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor. Repair or replace as necessary.
4. On all models, check voltage between coil primary winding positive terminal and good ground with ignition switch in ON position. Battery voltage should be present.
5. If voltage is not present, check wiring from coil primary winding negative terminal to igniter. Also, check ignition coil resistance.
6. If battery voltage is present in step 5, check voltage between coil primary winding positive and negative terminal with engine cranking. Voltage should be 1-3 volts.
8. If voltage is present, check ignition coil primary and secondary winding resistance. Also, check spark plug wire resistance.
9. If battery voltage is not present, check wiring from ignition coil to igniter. If battery voltage is present, see COMPONENT TESTING.
Primary Ignition Component Testing:
1985 ALL, 1986-87 CRX HF & 1986-87 PRELUDE W/CARBURETED ENGINE
1. Turn ignition switch to OFF position, then connect ohmmeter probes across the positive and negative primary terminals of ignition coil, Fig. 5. Measure and record the coil primary resistance. Resistance will vary with coil temperature.
2. With ignition switch in the OFF position, connect ohmmeter probes to secondary winding terminal and primary positive terminal, Fig. 6. Measure and record the coil secondary resistance. Resistance will vary with coil temperature.
3. If resistance values are not within specifications, Fig. 7, ignition coil is defective.
Secondary Ignition Component Testing:
1. Inspect distributor cap for cracks or damaged terminals and carbon tracking. Replace as needed.
2. Inspect rotor for cracks or roughened surfaces. Scrape off carbon deposits and smooth rotor terminal with an oil stone or sand paper. Replace rotor if insulator contacts are burned.
3. Check ignition wires for corrosion, cracks or burned insulation, then measure ignition wire resistance using an ohmmeter. Replace wires if they are damaged or if resistance exceeds 25,000 ohms.
Ignition Module Testing:
1987 CIVIC & CRX W/CARBURETED ENGINE & 1985-86 CIVIC & CRX
1. Disconnect lead wires from igniter unit, then check voltage between blue wire and body ground and between black/yellow wire and body ground with ignition switch in On position. There should be battery voltage.
2. With lead wires disconnected, check continuity between igniter unit terminals. With ohmmeter positive probe connected to black/yellow wire and negative probe connected to blue wire, there should be no continuity and, with probes reversed, there should be continuity.
1987 CIVIC & CRX W/FUEL INJECTED ENGINE & 1988 PRELUDE W/CARBURETED ENGINE
Toyo Denso Type
1. Remove distributor.
2. Remove igniter cover and pull out igniter unit.
3. Check voltage between BLU1 terminal and body ground, then the BLK/YEL terminal and body ground with ignition switch in On position, Fig. 3. There should be battery voltage.
4. Measure resistance between GRN and BLU2 terminals on pickup coil and replace pickup coil if resistance is not 650---850 ohms at 70°F.
5. Check for continuity in both directions between A and B terminals on igniter output, Fig. 4. There should be continuity in only one direction.
6. Connect ohmmeter positive probe to terminal D and negative probe to ground, then measure resistance of igniter input. Resistance should be 450---550 ohms or greater at 70°F.
Hitachi Type
1. Remove distributor cap from housing.
2. Disconnect wires from igniter unit and check voltage between blue wire and body ground, then black/yellow wire and body ground, with ignition switch in On position. There should be battery voltage.
3. With wires disconnected, check for continuity in both directions between terminals. There should be continuity in only one direction.
Don't post back with 'car still won't start'; go test all that and come back with voltage and resistance readings if you still can't get it to start.
hes a mechanic 
