tnkc1009

Ok so this car has been at two different shops for going on 3 weeks now, story goes car died one day had it towed home, all it would do is turn over but no starting, i changed the ignition module and the rotor did nothing, someone told me to try and turn the dizzy a little bit to see if it maybe jumped off time a little. dizzy was very loose . then I changed the fuel pump and finally the car started but extremely rough, spitting and back firing black smoke coming out of the exhaust. would run for a minute and then stall out
One mechanic told me he couldn't figure it out
the new mech changed the mass air flow but it did not help, now he was telling me maybe the ecm any suggestions would be a great help
thanks
tom
Also I am in port charlotte fl if there is a mechanic around that knows these cars in this area please let me know.

lunaticinaZ

If the dizzy was loose then I would set the base timing first and then go from there.

tnkc1009

Thanks for the reply I will let the mechanic know of all the suggestions.

camaronewbie

You should save yourself the trouble, and ditch the "mechanic"! Buy yourself a $15 timing light, and do it yourself. These "mechanics" don't know squat about our cars, never did even in the day. MAF replacement was just plain stupid - everyone thinks every issue with a MAF car is either the MAF or the ECM, when in reality neither rarely 'go bad'.

As mentioned, get that timing set - You need to disconnectt he EST wire - it's brown with a black stripe, exits the large harness near the pass strut tower, has a connector to disconnect, then re-enters same harness about 3 inches from where it exited. Then turn the dist tiny bits at a time one direction and then another, no more than 1/8th total position change, until you can get the car to run without stalling - than grab that $15 light, and slowly move the distributor until the timing mark on the balancer lines up with the correct setting on the timing tab, then lock the distributor down there, shut off car, and reconnect the EST wire.

Then, change the fuel filter, and see how it does.

These "mechanics" will cause you more problems and end up with more money in their pockets than you could spend on a complete garage full of tools! Not trying to demean any good mechanics out there (if such exists), but rarely does anyone that gets paid to turn wrenches anymore these days actually knows what the hell they are doing.

ASE doc

Camaronewbie, buddy, oooh, burn. I am one of those mechanics. Sad to say though, you're mostly correct. The big problem I see with techs these days is they can't admit they don't know. Cars today, even our 20some year old cars, are fairly complex. There is alot to know about them. Rather than put the time into research and truly understand them, most guys just assume. This is why, even as a long standing member of the profession, of all the mechanicsI personally know, there are a few that I would recommend. And yes, we do like money. So when you go to a shop, expect to pay. LOL

lunaticinaZ

Before I used the timing light on a car that will barely run and then stall. I would bring the engine to TDC and then make sure the dizzy is pointing at the #1 plug on the cap . If not then correct that. Then you can disconnect the est wire and use the timing light if the car will idle by its self

tnkc1009

I was thinking of doing that, having it towed back home Thats what I thought it was this whole time. Just re-adjust the timing
Thanks
Tom

tnkc1009

Ok so the newest update out of the mechanic is now not the ecm anymore now the timing "MIGHT have jumped" maybe the timing chain is loose or too worn to grab the gear. Does this sound like a possibility to anyone. I already told him not to do it he est. to check it would run me 500 bucks.
Thanks for the help
Tom