need help..no start!
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Joined: Jul 2004
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need more help
Okay, this is really getting to me. If you read a few posts back, you can see that I put a new distributor cap, ignition coil, and rotor in. Car started up on the first try. I drove it to the grocery store, and in the parking lot it wouldnt start. Well, i thought i flooded it, gave it some time, and it finally restarted, drove fine to the beer store, where it started just fine again. Now, got it home, the next day, NOTHING!!!!I have no clue. I has to be something electrical, but i dont know where. A side bar to this, which may be related, with the key in the ignition and the door ajar, I get no chime, like i used to. I'm wondering if maybe it is some vats issue. I'm about done....may have to blow another $100 on a tow truck to get this thing to the shop.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
If the engine cranks but won't start, when it won't start is the time to do some tests to find out the cause! Engines need spark, and at the right time, fuel and air, and in the correct ratio in order to start and run. First use your timing light to determine if it has spark and at the right time. Next, measure the fuel pressure on the shrader valve on the end of the fuel rails. Unplug an injector and clip a low power 12v lamp on the injector plug and crank the engine. The lamp should pulse during cranking showing that the ECM is pulsing the injectors. Let us know what you find.
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I thought for sure it was just a spark problem, the ignition coils connections were all nasty. But since I replaced it, and it started right up, i thought the problem was solved. Apparently not. I know i have 40psi fuel pressure. I dont have a timing light or even know how to use one. or have a 12v low power lamp. where does one get this lamp?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Nasty connections on the spark coil is a BIG sign that you may still have a poor and intermittent connection to the spark coil causing spark sometimes and sometimes not. Maybe you have a neighbor or a friend that owns a timing light. If not, Sears will sell you one for about $25. You can buy a number 194 lamp at Walmart or any auto parts place to connect across an injector plug. You will have to use two wires with clip leads on each end because the lamps wires aren't long enough to hold against the injector plug. There is also a test lamp sold at car parts places made for testing injector pulses and they come with leads to connect to the injector plug. I recommend that you open the distributor again and look at the condition of all the electrical connectors inside. Bright clean wires are required for good low resistance connections.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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So I went out to dig in things a bit this am. Pulled the dist. off and looked at everything. The only other thing I did, was back down the idle screw a bit. I had it kinda high earlier. Anyway, car started right up. So, its either some loose wire somewhere that i fixed by messing with it, or that idle was set too high and the mixtures were off enough not to let it start. If thats possible.
