How To Test The Ignition Coils (2002-2005 2.4L Honda CR-V)

TEST 2: Swapping Ignition Coils

What we need to do now that you've confirmed that you've got a non-sparking ignition coil, is to make sure that that ignition coil's connector is providing power, Ground, and its activation signal.

We can easily check for these 3 things by connecting a good (sparking) ignition coil to the non-sparking ignition coil's electrical connector.

Once connected (to the non-sparking coil's electrical connector) the good ignition coil should spark while your Honda CR-V's 2.4L engine is cranked. If it sparks, then we can confidently conclude that power, Ground, and the activation signal are present (at the connector).

You don't have to run out and buy one, we'll just swap it with any one of the ignition coils on your 2.4L Honda CR-V that did spark in TEST 1

These are the test steps:

1. 1

   Disconnect and remove the ignition coil that did not spark.

2. 2

   Remove one of the other ignition coil from its place. This coil should be one that sparked when tested in TEST 1.

3. 3

   Connect the good ignition coil to the non-sparking ignition coil's electrical connector.
   
   Next, connect the HEI spark tester to this ignition coil.
   
   Ground the HEI spark tester with a jump start cable directly on the battery negative (-) terminal.

4. 4

   Place the non-sparking ignition coil in the location of the good one, connect it to the electrical connector, and bolt it down.

5. 5

   Have your helper crank the engine when everything is set up.

6. 6

   The good ignition coil should spark.

Let's take a look at your test results:

CASE 1: The ignition coil sparked. This test result confirms that the non-sparking ignition coil's electrical connector is providing power, Ground, and the activation signal.

You can conclude that the non-sparking ignition coil is defective and needs to be replaced.

CASE 2: The ignition coil DID NOT spark. This tells you that the non-sparking ignition coil's electrical connector is not providing power or Ground or the activation signal.

The next step for you is to:

• Check that the ignition coil is being fed with power (10 to 12 Volts).
• That the PCM is providing an activation signal (known as the IC (Ignition Control) Signal).
• That the ignition coil is being fed Ground.

Although these specific tests are beyond the scope of this article, you now have an idea of what direction your diagnostic/troubleshooting needs to go in.

More 2.4L Honda CR-V Tutorials

You can find a complete list of tutorials here: Honda 2.4L Index Of Articles.

Here's a sample of the tutorials you'll find there:

• How To Test For A Blown Head Gasket (2.4L Honda CR-V).
• How To Test The TPS (2002-2004 2.4L Honda CR-V).
• How To Test Engine Compression (2002-2009 2.4L Honda CR-V).
• How To Test The MAP Sensor (2002-2004 2.4L Honda CR-V).