Vagitarian

Hey guys, I just picked up my car and it has a JDM dohc zc engine. The only code the car is throwing is a # 8 TDC - top dead centre sensor.

The engine seems to run fine but Id assume this may be affecting performance. Can anyone help me with what I should check first?? I have a spare D16a6 thats pretty complete if I can simply try some part swapping.

Any help diagnosing this would be appreciated!! I searched but couldnt even locate the sensor on the engine etc

Thanks guys

miguey310

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=top+dead+centre+sensor

Vagitarian

Your so funny buddy, I googled it for our chassis, couldnt find any info on how to test/diagnose

Appreciate any help

4drEF

You would want the distributor from the 88/89 Integra and not the A6.
It's C3 and C4 on the ECU if you can trace it out to the plug on the distributor.

Maybe you have them wired backwards?
C3 should be orange/blue going to orange/blue at TDC sensor.
C4 should be white/blue going to white/blue at TDC sensor.

Vagitarian

Sounds like I need to learn wiring diagnostics and ecu pinouts!!

I just bought the car and the engine is a disgusting mess, it had a valve cover leak seemingly its entire life and is literally caked 1/2" thick on some spots, Ive given it 3-4 passes with engine cleaner and its almost presentable so I can possibly determine wire colours hah

So you think it may be a wire problem? As far as I know the car is bone stock, but will the harness connection for the TDC sensor be outside of the distributor?

Im a little new at wiring diagnostics etc, but Im eager to learn and appreciate the info so far 4drEF thank you

BigbamaBen

It plugs into the plug by your exhaust manifold unless the last guy said screw it and cut it

jlicrx

TDC sensor that gives code 8 is inside the distributor - as 4drEF said, first check the orange/blue and white/blue wires at the distributor connector to make sure you have continuity to the ECU - could also be a bad distributor

Vagitarian

I went and looked on my lunch break, and could not locate any orange/blue near the distributor, I think I seen a white blue at the back with the 2 plugs.

From this pic I just took of my engine can you guys tell me where to look?

Vagitarian

and IF there is continuity from these 2 wires, to the ECU. Do I need a new distributor? I found a thread that said this part is not replaceable.

Would this code be affecting performance??

Vagitarian

bump

jlicrx

the distributor has 2 connectors - one is round and has 2 wires - unless someone has switched connectors, the other one should be rectangular with 5 wires in a 6 pin connector (one pin is empty) - it appears from your picture that your distributor is aftermarket and may not have the same wire colors coming out of the distributor to the connector as the factory colors - some aftermarket distributors also do not have the wires in the correct locations at the connector to match the engine harness, which may be part of your problem - look at the connector on the engine harness where the distributor plugs in - you should see the white with blue stripe and orange with blue stripe wires at these pin locations:

Vagitarian

Ok I dont really know how to show/explain this, but its definetely an aftermarket dist as none of the colors are the same. And some were so gosh darn similar I just took some pictures, and labelled them like a 5 year old lol





I hope those help

Im pretty sure I need to check continuity to help myself/you help me out anyfarther but Ive never pulled the ecu in this car and my brother borrowed my multimeter so I can do that tonight after work for sure.

Do I simply disconnect the ecu and find these wires on the harness and probe there pins and the pins at the distributor ?? Or is there more to it

4drEF

That's it!

Vagitarian

Ok thanks, Ill pull the ecu after work and find the orange/blue and white /blue beside eachother and do that

spcmn24

I had this problem with my EF, granted it was not that motor. There was great debate on if that sensor was located in the distributor or somewhere else, i dont remember where exactly. I just replaced the dizzy and it went away.

Vagitarian

I did have continuity at both c3 and c4 from the distributor harness to the ecu. Cool test, never knew my multimeter had that function.

Where do I go from here?

The car seemingly runs fine, but Ive had it since I bought it (only a week ago) would it be hurting the cars performance at all?

Id like to get that darn CEL light to go out, hopefully without changing the dist

jlicrx

try switching the orange/blue and white/blue wires at the distributor connector - a lot of aftermarket distributors have these wires switched inside the distributor

Vagitarian

how would I do that?

Vagitarian

bump for page 2

4drEF

fail

Vagitarian

anychance you know how to swap the connectors 4drEF? Im assuming I may have to de-pin them on the distributor harness and swap both of those wires?

I cant find any info on HOW to depin and reinstall though, Im stumped

DumpdEJ6

You can switch them at the dizzy or at the ecu, the end result should be the same. And de-pinning is easy as hell, just unplug the connector, get a very small blade screwdriver or a dental pick type thing and depress the little plastic spring on the front of the connector, (in the hole where the pin is) then pull the wire out the back. Swap them around and slide them back in and they sort of *click* in once you get them far enough in.

It should take you like 2 minutes, its super easy.

Vagitarian

So now that I have my car back. I would like to attempt to de-pin these wires from the distributor side. There will be no ill affects right?

I haent really driven the car since I bought it, but it runs great, I dont want to have to buy another dizzy after this depinning attempt

juba_x

So if everything checks out and u have a known good ecu can the sensor still be bad if it ohms in the range? I got a similar code. Code 4. Had a code 8 before replaced the dizzy with a oem one from a biddya week later get code 4.

Mr2boost

have the same code being thrown on my rex