Re: '93 civic, engine cuts out while driving on highway ?

Jim Yanik <jyanik@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
news:Xns99E6730552E23jyanikkuanet@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 

> Tegger <tegger@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in 
> news:Xns99E654BA948D6tegger@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
>  
>> 
>> Like jim says, it's possible. Apparently the igniter controls its own
>> dwell by sensing back EMF as the coil charges up. 
> 
> From the pictures of an igniter you posted awhile back,the igniter has
> a control IC that measures the emitter current



"Emitter current"... What's the difference between that and "back EMF"?



> while the coil is
> charging up.I believe there's a resistor printed on the ceramic
> substrate that is the current sensing resistor.



I remember this being mentioned way back while we were discussing the 
igniter pages before I made those pages up. Thanks for the reminder.



> 
>> I guess if the coil 
>> ends up oversaturated, the excessive backwash HT voltage thus
>> generated may serve to damage the igniter.
>>
> 
> There should be a catch or snubber diode to prevent back EMF from
> damaging the igniter,it may be integral with the switching
> transistor;they do the same for TV flyback HV supplies.(they also use
> current sensing to control coil current,lots of switching power
> supplies also use it.) 
> 



So then maybe the OP's igniter simply suffered a random failure.

I've got 295,300 miles and seventeen years on my original igniter.
Borrowed time?


-- 
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/