1990 distributor help!!!!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,598
Likes: 0
From: indianapolis indiana
1990 distributor help!!!!
okay this has been going on for severl months and i am stumped. i have a 1990 l98 with hei distributor. the car will not start. i have tried a complete distributor and still the same so have went back to the old one with all new internals.... coil pick up, coil, modual, condensor cap and rotor all new. there is correct voltage at the battery terminal of the distributor when the ignition on. i got a spark testor and there is a very small spark (10 1/8th in on the scale that says it should be 30-34 1/2-3/4 in) coil tests ok as well as the modual still. only thing i can see that is diffrent is the condensor of the replacement distributor i bought was a old school looking tube unit as well as the new one i bought. but the one that was in the car looks is a red chip type. i dont see how this could be the problem as when parts stores look it up they all hand me the round tube type. so........... i am lost and missing races every weekend 
any ideas what next?
any ideas what next?
Last edited by excessive81; Jul 25, 2008 at 12:24 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Read this , for 86 but same basic spark system.
Pg 5 has fault finding chart.
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Ig...System-EST.pdf
Last edited by rodj; Jul 25, 2008 at 09:04 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
May be time to look outside dist if same results with spare one..
Can you smell fuel out exh when cranking?
'90 has CCM; data link to the ECM .Runs a self check on non engine functions.If it sees a fault it may throw a code or for some systems cuts the injector driver meaning no fuel.
Fault with the airbags (SIR ) for instance will shut it down.For instance bad earth on SIR motion sensors is common problem .
Do you have any codes stored?
Can you smell fuel out exh when cranking?
'90 has CCM; data link to the ECM .Runs a self check on non engine functions.If it sees a fault it may throw a code or for some systems cuts the injector driver meaning no fuel.
Fault with the airbags (SIR ) for instance will shut it down.For instance bad earth on SIR motion sensors is common problem .
Do you have any codes stored?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
May be time to look outside dist if same results with spare one..
Can you smell fuel out exh when cranking?
'90 has CCM; data link to the ECM .Runs a self check on non engine functions.If it sees a fault it may throw a code or for some systems cuts the injector driver meaning no fuel.
Fault with the airbags (SIR ) for instance will shut it down.For instance bad earth on SIR motion sensors is common problem .
Do you have any codes stored?
Can you smell fuel out exh when cranking?
'90 has CCM; data link to the ECM .Runs a self check on non engine functions.If it sees a fault it may throw a code or for some systems cuts the injector driver meaning no fuel.
Fault with the airbags (SIR ) for instance will shut it down.For instance bad earth on SIR motion sensors is common problem .
Do you have any codes stored?
Don't worry about the "tube" style condensor I've got one just like like it and it works fine. You say you have spark - right. When you crank the car watch the RPM gage in the car if it moves when the car is being cranked look for problems elsewhere....you may need to crank it for more that 30 seconds.
Good Luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Just for grins, disconnect the battery for 3 minutes, and see what happens when you reconnect it. (It should start, not blow up)
If that doesn't fix things, try putting in a paper clip in a+b of the ALDL connector.
I had reset the computer just plugging in the paper clip and watching it go through 12 12 12 12 then bing! it reset.
If that doesn't fix things, try putting in a paper clip in a+b of the ALDL connector.
I had reset the computer just plugging in the paper clip and watching it go through 12 12 12 12 then bing! it reset.
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