Does anyone have an idea what this could be?

1990 crx dx 1.5

Tonight, after getting off of work I got in my car and turned the key and nothing happened. Everytime I turned to ignition I would hear a faint hum noise. Its happened before and usually eventually It'll turn over and the engine would fire up. but this time it wouldn't. I could only guess that the starter is going..

I checked under the passenger-side floorboard at the ecu and its throwing engine code 8 (TDC). From what I hear, when this engine throws that code, the problem is with the sensor located inside the dizzy and that its unrepairable ( or extremely difficult) so it should just be replaced.

I looked up the prices and holy smokes, friggin 150-200$ for a replacement (excluding shipping)

Before I decide on committing to a new one, I'd really like to know to some degree on what the issue really is.

I saw a few forums that say how to test the dizzy but it didn't really explain in depth about what wires to test and what-not.

so what can i test? and where?
what are some practical divide and conquer steps i can take to locate the issue?
could it possibly not even be the dizzy?


Also if it helps...

around the same time that this problem was happening intermittently, my blinkers went all weird.
sometimes they would stick. sometimes the wouldn't work, sometimes they'd blink really slowly. just coincidence?


thanks in advance for your help guys!

 

Well I wouldnt jump on that dizzy just yet. Even if the TDC was fried you should still be able to crank/turn over the motor. The hum reminds me of a bad starter.

 

I tested the starter and its throwing out 9 volts as i crank the car. As for now, its working. like i said hit or miss.
So is it possible its going out intermittently or do the starters usually just instantly die out?

 

this needs to be covered in a sticky or something, cause alot of people dont get what a starter does..

ALL A STARTER DOES IS CRANK THE MOTOR.. NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS.. IT WILL NOT AFFECT SPARK, DRIVEABLITY, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.. THE DISTRIBUTOR AND STARTER HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH EACHOTHER...

Sooooo, if your car isnt even trying to spin the engine, then you have a problem with the starting system.. if it cranks the motor, but doesnt actually start it, then its NOT the starter, and that can be ruled out COMPLETELY

 

sounds like a bad starter ground, or tranny ground. happened to me i ended up running a extra ground wire from the frame to the starter.

 

scary caps

 

check grounds, pull the starter and get it tested.

 

X2!!

 

this happened to me in my 89 si crx with a b18a in it. i went thru 2 starters, all new grounds, all new relays, and still nothing. as a last thing i replaced the ignition switch and it cranked right over. may not be your solution but its another idea