"Grumpy AuContraire" > wrote
> Recently, my '83 Honda Civic FE refused to start.
>
> A squirt of starting fluid in the carb did nothing.
> Hence, my attention
> turned to ignition failure.
>
> Changing the distributor did not fix it.
>
> Changing the coil did not fix it.

Please clarify: Was it the original OEM coil you changed,
and then below, you say you put this same, original OEM coil
back in?

> Cleaning the (NGK) plugs barely allowed it to start. Once
> warmed up, it
> would run and start OK.
>
> Yesterday, I replaced the new coil wire with the old
> original OEM coil
> wire and............. Started right up as it did this
> morning!

Is the new coil aftermarket?

So you think the cause was... ?