i drive a 1990 integra ls. I was on my way home from gandy last night and as im coming down 5th ave my car jerks forward a little and then turns off. i coast to the side of the road to give it a minute to cool down and try to start it up again. I tried to start it and the starter just spins freely and it never catches on start up. my friend told me that it isn't spinning the flyweel so that may mean my ignitor has gone bad. any help would be appreciated

 

when you say the starter spins freely, do you mean you hear:

1) an outrageously fast spinning electrical motor, small sound

or

2) you car sounds like its cranking over, but there is no compression

this sounds more like a snapped timing belt/skipped tooth than anything. and ive never heard of a starter that spins but doesnt extend (to reach the flywheel teeth).

but for your sake, i hope you are right...

 

could be possible, it happened to my starter in my maxima...

 

oh, def possible. i completely agree there, just not nearly as common on hondas as timing belt issues...

how many miles since the belt was changed?

 

haha yea about that timing belt i haven't changed the belt yet but it has 160,xxx miles on it. but it sounds like an outrageously fast spinning electrical motor.

 

YOU havent changed it yet, or IT HASNT been changed....

could the previous owner (if any) have done it?

cuz if its been 160k, and that was the original, i would almost guarantee thats what it was. but, if you pop the valve cover and the belt is still tight and timed correctly, then go buy a new starter.

 

thnx ima work on it tmr for a little bit. i'll post what i turn up