I pretty much said most already. I couldn't get a spark, banged on the thing trying to put a tap in the stripped rotor screw. Before I went all the way, I tried to start it just 'cause, and it lit right up. It ran great. The past few mornings when it's been cool and humid, I've tried to start it, and it won't. Today, in the warm afternoon, I tried to start it, and it wouldn't. Until I smacked the dist cap on the side with just an open hand (not hard), and then it fired right up and ran great. Why is my car possessed? oh yeah- it's a b181b1 engine in a 95 civic ex. Integra twin cam, non vtec, 1.8, also 1995 vintage. Mileage maybe 70k?
You don't need a new distributor if you can still start it by just smacking it. 
Something inside it though? I was going to change the rotor just because I had a new one sitting around, but I don't think anything's wrong with it now.
Cap is new, as are plugs and wires. I thought maybe the coil could die intermittently, but a smack wouldn't help that. I don't think. Don't see how. A nasty connection on the ignitor? It's now starting in the cool, wet morning, the rain, the hot afternoon. Seems fine. But deep down I know, if I go driving around, somewhere I'll turn it off, and a smack just won't do it. And I'll probably have groceries that need to be refrigerated. Maybe tomorrow, maybe three months from now, but it will happen. Think I'll start the long process tomorrow. Or open up the distributor.
I would start tugging on wires, sounds like an intermittent disconnecting wire somewhere? Bare spot?
I've gone through a lot of them, but there's always more. Like the connectors to the dizzy, and the stuff around there generally. Can't hurt. See, I just went through a lot of wiring over a perceived ignition problem that was just my neutral safety switch (Doh!).Then, the no-spark problem, and my distributor obsession.
James_S
New Reader
10/1/14 7:19 a.m.
You said that you have all the wires but is there, even a slight, possibility that one of the new wires is bad? Broken or disconnected in the middle? I know it's a long shot but it all sounds just so like wires issue.
Get it running and do a wiggle test?
Have you looked at your ground wires? My first thought with any intermittant electrical issue is a bad ground somewhere.
There are ways to test whats going on in the dizzy and determin exactly what part has failed.. I don't think you have access to a lab scope, and now how to do current ramp and signal testing with it..
That being said most hondas will either fail to have spark because of a bad ignitor, or the coil arcs threw the body to the dizzy housing.
You were so right. I know which wires to wiggle that make a difference. They all seem and look good, as far as I can see. And of course, if it mattered, I can tell what part of the distributor those wires control. But it's probably the connecter getting old. Anyways, the car is running great now. I have my little go kart back. I've been driving and old-school style Cherokee, so a 95 Civic with stiff shocks does feel like a go kart now. Thanks you guys.
In reply to TRoglodyte:
The wires in the connector that occasionally need a wiggle, are definately to the ignitor. Hats off to crazy Canadian reader. Next-belts, then clutch.
Oops- props to crazycanadian
The wires in the connector that occasionally need a wiggle, are definately to the ignitor. Hats off to crazy Canadian reader. Next-belts, then clutch.
