'84 Won't Start
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 381
Likes: 3
'84 Won't Start
Not much of a mechanic, so I was hoping for some advice.
My '84 has set for two years, started right up though.
After a couple trips to the store, went to go again, and engine just turns over and won't start.
I went ahead and replaced fuel pump and fuel filter, but same thing.
I haven't checked to see if I'm getting a spark, any advice on that in particular ?
So is there anything I should be looking at that is a common failure ?
I've had the '84 since '89 and it's always ran great with no misfires.
My '84 has set for two years, started right up though.
After a couple trips to the store, went to go again, and engine just turns over and won't start.
I went ahead and replaced fuel pump and fuel filter, but same thing.
I haven't checked to see if I'm getting a spark, any advice on that in particular ?
So is there anything I should be looking at that is a common failure ?
I've had the '84 since '89 and it's always ran great with no misfires.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
Take the air cleaner off and see if fuel is squirting out the throttle bodies when you crank the motor. If not, figure why the fuel pump may not be running, (fuse, wiring). If you have fuel, most likely you don't have spark. The fact that the car ran means that the fuel, although old must still be ok unless you have hit a water layer at the bottom of the tank.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Use a timing light during cranking to see if you have spark. Pull a spark plug wire and bring a grounded wire close to the spark plug boot and during cranking you should see a snappy at least 1/2" spark. Weak spark may allow the timing light to work but won't start the engine.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Check for 12v on the pink wire (color on my 87) on the distributor. Check with an ohmeter for ground on the blk/red wire (color on my 87). Check for pulses on the ppl/white wire during cranking (color on my 87), no pulses then pickup coil or spark module is defective. Look at the condition of the rotor and the inside of the distributor cap for carbon tracks. The rotor has a hemispherical dimple in its center and sometimes there will be a carbon track through the rotor at the dimple. Most common failure would be the spark module inside the distributor which can be removed and tested at some parts stores. Same goes for the spark coil. We have a member that doesn't believe in store testers, but it is a start. Besides this part is only about $25 and you might consider just replacing it. Another possibility is a defective pickup coil which is in the bottom of the distributor and can be checked with an ohmeter for continuity.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 381
Likes: 3
Well I did something dumb. I tried the shotgun aproach, and replaced the distributor control module, distributor cap and rotor and coil.
That didn't change anything.
I then discovered that the 14 gauge red/pink wire that goes into the distributor is not hot even with the key on. Doesn't that come from the battery, and should always be hot ?
That didn't change anything.
I then discovered that the 14 gauge red/pink wire that goes into the distributor is not hot even with the key on. Doesn't that come from the battery, and should always be hot ?
Last edited by DansVette; Jan 30, 2011 at 09:27 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The first thing in my suggestions was to check for 12v on the distributor pink wire. For the life of me I don't understand why people ask for help and then don't follow the suggestions.
The pink wire is NOT hot all the time, it has 12v on it from the ignition switch in the run to start positions. The ignition switch gets power through the red wire from the large terminal on the starter motor and through the firewall connector on 84's. You either have a defective wire going to the ignition switch, or a defective ignition switch, or a bad wire coming from the ignition switch through the firewall connector to the distributor. It would be best for you to take a 12v lamp, ground one wire and use the other wire to see if you have 12v (lamp lights) on both sides of the firewall connector on the red wire from the starter and then on the ignition switch input and with the ign sw in run, see if you have 12v on the ign sw output and on both sides of the firewall connector and out to the pink wire on the distributor.
The pink wire is NOT hot all the time, it has 12v on it from the ignition switch in the run to start positions. The ignition switch gets power through the red wire from the large terminal on the starter motor and through the firewall connector on 84's. You either have a defective wire going to the ignition switch, or a defective ignition switch, or a bad wire coming from the ignition switch through the firewall connector to the distributor. It would be best for you to take a 12v lamp, ground one wire and use the other wire to see if you have 12v (lamp lights) on both sides of the firewall connector on the red wire from the starter and then on the ignition switch input and with the ign sw in run, see if you have 12v on the ign sw output and on both sides of the firewall connector and out to the pink wire on the distributor.