Car won't start -- no spark at coil
05-10-2005, 07:21 PM
#1
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Car: '89 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: LO3 5.0L TBI V8
Transmission: 700R4 Automatic
Car won't start -- no spark at coil
Whew. Picked up an '89 Firebird from a friend for cheap. The car was a daily driver until he got a new vehicle, and has been sitting for two years without being started once. Car is equipped with a 305 TBI. So far I've changed :
Battery + Terminals
Fuseable Links
Fuel Pump Relay
Fuel Pump Fuse
Spark Plugs + Wires
Ignition Coil
Ignition Control Module + Wire that runs between ICM and coil
Distributor Cap
Rotor Button
Starter
I plugged a spark tester to the coil wire and I don't have any spark at the coil. I've changed damn near everything, and I'm worried that the ECM is fried. Is there anything else that I need to be looking at to determine why there isn't any spark at the coil? Any advice is appreciated!
Battery + Terminals
Fuseable Links
Fuel Pump Relay
Fuel Pump Fuse
Spark Plugs + Wires
Ignition Coil
Ignition Control Module + Wire that runs between ICM and coil
Distributor Cap
Rotor Button
Starter
I plugged a spark tester to the coil wire and I don't have any spark at the coil. I've changed damn near everything, and I'm worried that the ECM is fried. Is there anything else that I need to be looking at to determine why there isn't any spark at the coil? Any advice is appreciated!
05-12-2005, 11:57 AM
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Car: '89 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: LO3 5.0L TBI V8
Transmission: 700R4 Automatic
I don't think there is anything wrong with the VATS... the security light comes on for a second or two then it goes out after I turn the key. The engine is turning over, it just won't start.
05-12-2005, 12:35 PM
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Car: 84 Z28HO
Engine: 350 summit block
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 10bolt
Run a wire directly from the battery to the distributor, and then crank it over. If still no spark, then there is something wrong with the dist.
Nevermind, I forgot about those new-fangled distributors. I don't know if you can hook those up directly like the old style HEI. You can try putting a volt-meter on the power connector for the distributor and check for voltage that way.
Nevermind, I forgot about those new-fangled distributors. I don't know if you can hook those up directly like the old style HEI. You can try putting a volt-meter on the power connector for the distributor and check for voltage that way.
Last edited by Zed'er; 05-12-2005 at 12:39 PM.
05-13-2005, 08:06 PM
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I'll bet your car that if you check the wiring harness where it enters the connector at the fuel pump relay you will find that the insulation on the wires has shrunk and several leads are shorting out. You need to unravel the factory tape job. This happened to me and caused my distributor module AND CM to get fried. After retaping the wires, my car still didn't get any spark. That's when I ended up replacing both units. Module $40, ECM $80 at Autozone. I also had intermittant problems with the car dying for no reason at all before it went dead completely.
Good Luck let me know if that was the problem. I have also discovered this on other 89 VIN E Birds, so it may be typical of a lot of them.
Good Luck let me know if that was the problem. I have also discovered this on other 89 VIN E Birds, so it may be typical of a lot of them.
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