89 TA - won't start
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Albuquerque, NM
Car: 94 Formula, 87 GTA
Engine: LT1, L98
Transmission: automatic
89 TA - won't start
Help, I've had this TA for 3 months and have tried everything I can think of to get it started. It was my friends car and someone tried to steal it by busting the steering column. They didn't suceed but they sure messed things up. That was over a year ago. He finally gave up and sold it to me. I thought that with my mechanical and electrical skills it would be an easy fix. WRONG!
It's a 305 TPI automatic with 89k miles on it and I personally know it ran very good before all this happened. My friend lost the keys while it was down so I tried all the different resistors - no luck. It will turn over (starter works) but not start even without any resistor hooked up. No fuel pressure so I unhooked the three terminal wiring plug by the fuel tank. No voltage coming thru. Also as a side I tried a battery and two jumper wires hooked to the fuel pump - still no pump sound, so I guess the pump went bad from sitting. Also I found (under the seat, just laying there, not connected to anything) a black box with 3 wires. On the box it says "GM security" or something similar. Would this be the VATS module, disconnected by the thief? or what? One more thing, my friend tried lots of things like different ECM, fuel pump relays, he even messed it up more is my opinion of his skills, so I don't know what to do. I thought of buying a Helms manual, but they are $150. Any thoughts. Also the security light never comes on, same with the SES light. And, although I know this is not good for the engine, I used starting fluid once just to make sure the engine would still start, it started. I know I will have to replace the fuel pump, but don't want spend the money until I can get power back to the pump.
It's a 305 TPI automatic with 89k miles on it and I personally know it ran very good before all this happened. My friend lost the keys while it was down so I tried all the different resistors - no luck. It will turn over (starter works) but not start even without any resistor hooked up. No fuel pressure so I unhooked the three terminal wiring plug by the fuel tank. No voltage coming thru. Also as a side I tried a battery and two jumper wires hooked to the fuel pump - still no pump sound, so I guess the pump went bad from sitting. Also I found (under the seat, just laying there, not connected to anything) a black box with 3 wires. On the box it says "GM security" or something similar. Would this be the VATS module, disconnected by the thief? or what? One more thing, my friend tried lots of things like different ECM, fuel pump relays, he even messed it up more is my opinion of his skills, so I don't know what to do. I thought of buying a Helms manual, but they are $150. Any thoughts. Also the security light never comes on, same with the SES light. And, although I know this is not good for the engine, I used starting fluid once just to make sure the engine would still start, it started. I know I will have to replace the fuel pump, but don't want spend the money until I can get power back to the pump.
Last edited by FireBirdDan; Nov 12, 2004 at 11:58 AM.
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You're not going to get very far without some sort of schematic and a reliable meter. Start by checking power to the ECM and fuel pump, which, oddly enough, are powered through the same 20A fuse in the engine compartment. Once you can establish power to the ECM and get a SES light with the key on / engine off, you should be a lot closer to running.
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