Yeah, but mine says resistance should be 460 - 580 ohms at 20C (68F). And I just checked my downloaded version of the Honda service manual for the F3. It says the same, 460-580. Pretty big difference between the 2.

Not 100% sure that checking the peak voltage would be necessary to find a faulty pulse generator or ICM (which you should prolly check). The Honda service manuals are more thorough than the Haynes. But I think that's because the Haynes banks on an issue showing in other areas before making you dig that deep in.

 

My mistake, i just checked the manual, as i was going from memory, and the resistance that you listed are the same as in my manual.
Do you know a procedure for testing the ICM, or is that a dealer job?

 

• number 1,4 coil: Black terminal - black/white wire. Green terminal - yellow/blue wire
• number 2,3 coil: Black terminal - black/white wire. Green terminal - blue/yellow wire

 

as does mine, but just curious if anyone knows if the choice of terminals on the coil is significant? i know that if the wires were on the wrong coil packs, then there would be no chance to start.

 

edited my post before i saw your reply, look up one

 

well,
the "new to me" CDI arrived today. plugged it in, crossed my fingers, and hit the button...same as before. so, i go back to trouble shooting. i pull the spark plug caps, plug in 4 other plugs, cranked it over, and all good spark. So, i pulled the plugs, connected them to the caps, and cranked it over again. 2 had great fire, 2 dead. so, i take one of the plugs, that is not firing, and remove it from the cap, WOW, the once dead plug is firing. so i reverse the procedure, and that plug fires as well. so, i reconnect both plugs to the caps, and try it one more time. no fire.
So, after screwing around for over a month and buying a CDI in Ebay, i throw the new plugs in the garbage, and go pick up another set. it fires almost immediately. Crisis is over.
thanks to all who assisted, and now i have a good CDI for sale. anyone need one???
thanks