Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

AMATURE MISTAKE!!!.. needs expert advise

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-04-2004, 10:57 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tuffshizit24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Greenville, Wis
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1988 pontiac firebird
Engine: formual 305
AMATURE MISTAKE!!!.. needs expert advise

In the process of taking off my distributor to take out my ignition module i must have made a mistake because after putting it back on the car will not start... when i crank the engine it almost starts but lets out a couple bang bangs...!!!! it could also be that i did not put on the distributor caps in the exact order they were beforehand... would this make the difference?? or could i have scrwed something else up?????????????????? replies much appreciated!!!
Old 08-04-2004, 11:14 AM
  #2  
Junior Member
 
Coop91SRS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: KY
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: L03
Transmission: 5-SPD
I suppose you could have it in backwards/reversed.. but I dont really recall what that'll make the engine do.. been so long since I did it.
Old 08-04-2004, 11:22 AM
  #3  
Senior Member

 
swerve-driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." -RIPHST
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991 RS
Engine: 383TBI Fastburns and 2"TB
Transmission: T56 held up by Spohnstuff
Re: AMATURE MISTAKE!!!.. needs expert advise

Originally posted by tuffshizit24
it could also be that i did not put on the distributor caps in the exact order they were beforehand... would this make the difference??
Yes- this could make a difference- too many distributor caps on one engine can mean bad things! And if they are in the wrong order.......look out!

Do a search on this site for the firing order for a small block chevy.
Then ensure the plug wires are on the distributor in the correct order.
If the car still won't start, it is time to do another search about how to set your distributor back into the block with the #1 piston in the TDC position and blah blah blah-

All this stuff has been covered numerous times in other posts- the search feature is very useful and the information you need is already covered-
Best-
S-D
Old 08-04-2004, 11:29 AM
  #4  
Supreme Member

 
kevinc's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 2,963
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Car: 1982 Z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
Re: AMATURE MISTAKE!!!.. needs expert advise

Originally posted by tuffshizit24
In the process of taking off my distributor to take out my ignition module i must have made a mistake because after putting it back on the car will not start... when i crank the engine it almost starts but lets out a couple bang bangs...!!!! it could also be that i did not put on the distributor caps in the exact order they were beforehand... would this make the difference?? or could i have scrwed something else up?????????????????? replies much appreciated!!!
Did you remove the entire distributor from the engine, or just remove the cap?

If you didn't put the spark plug wires back onto the cap in the exact position they came from, that is bad.
Old 08-04-2004, 11:36 AM
  #5  
Member

iTrader: (1)
 
377Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 2007 Volvo S60R, 2005 Audi A4
Engine: 300HP 2.5L I5, 200HP 2.0L I4
Transmission: TF-80SC, Getrag 6 speed
Axle/Gears: 3.33:1, 3.54:1
I'd pull the driver side valve cover & #1 spark plug, turn the motor over by hand until the #1 piston is at the top after the intake valve closes. Then take the cap and distributor (off the car at this point), find the #1 terminal, (the cap is indexed to go on in one position only), & make sure when the distributor goes in the rotor is pointing towards where the #1 terminal should be when the cap gets installed (you can use a paint pen or sharpie to mark the housing where the #1 terminal should be). Also, I'd pay attention to where the module plugs will end up so they wouldn't be smushed against the firewall, & that your not off by one tooth or something.
Old 08-04-2004, 02:22 PM
  #6  
Supreme Member

 
ljnowell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Before you take off the valve cover, try to pull the #1 plug and stick your finger over the hole. Bump it till it puffs air, then turn it ovver to TDC.
Old 08-04-2004, 08:45 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member
 
THEGENERAL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Staunton,illinois
Posts: 3,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1966 impala , 1998 sebring vert,1978 buick regal turbo, 1991 chevy silverado 3/4ton 4x4 lifted
Engine: 283, 2.5,3.8 turbo 350
Transmission: powerglide,auto overdrive, th350,4L80
Re: Re: AMATURE MISTAKE!!!.. needs expert advise

Originally posted by swerve-driver
Yes- this could make a difference- too many distributor caps on one engine can mean bad things! And if they are in the wrong order.......look out!

Do a search on this site for the firing order for a small block chevy.
Then ensure the plug wires are on the distributor in the correct order.
If the car still won't start, it is time to do another search about how to set your distributor back into the block with the #1 piston in the TDC position and blah blah blah-

All this stuff has been covered numerous times in other posts- the search feature is very useful and the information you need is already covered-
Best-
S-D
one too many caps...LMAO
Attached Thumbnails AMATURE MISTAKE!!!.. needs expert advise-chevyfire.gif  
Old 08-04-2004, 09:11 PM
  #8  
Banned
 
Lonestar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MI
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1985 Firebird
Engine: 327
Transmission: TH350
Just as ljnowell said, pull the #1 plug, put your finger over the hole and have someone bump the starter over in short bursts until your finger gets popped off the hole. Then look at your harmonic balancer and turn it to 0 deg int the shortest path possible.
Now look at where your rotor is pointing and make sure it is pointing to the plug wire on the cap that goes to the #1 plug. Then be sure that you follow the firing order that has been provided (1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2).
Old 08-04-2004, 10:16 PM
  #9  
Supreme Member
 
THEGENERAL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Staunton,illinois
Posts: 3,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1966 impala , 1998 sebring vert,1978 buick regal turbo, 1991 chevy silverado 3/4ton 4x4 lifted
Engine: 283, 2.5,3.8 turbo 350
Transmission: powerglide,auto overdrive, th350,4L80
yes and thats all there is to it .....let us know if it fixes it ...


by the way why did you take the distributor out to change the module?
Old 08-04-2004, 11:43 PM
  #10  
Supreme Member
 
jamesbob02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 92 Z28
Engine: 357 TPI (L98)
Transmission: 700R4
Also make sure you hooked the pickup wire into the module correctly. I did it wrong before and couldn't get the car to start.
Old 08-05-2004, 12:38 AM
  #11  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tuffshizit24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Greenville, Wis
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1988 pontiac firebird
Engine: formual 305
thanx alot ya'll... am trying a few of your suggestions..... get back to you with results!
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Elephantismo
Electronics
14
02-13-2019 12:51 AM
djmarch
Tech / General Engine
29
10-02-2015 10:41 PM
ASE doc
Body
4
09-22-2015 03:13 PM
carid
Sponsored Vendors
0
09-10-2015 09:33 AM



Quick Reply: AMATURE MISTAKE!!!.. needs expert advise



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:27 AM.