I thought it was the fuel punp ,but it still goes into warm-up mode when you turn the key on(the buzzing sound). Only problem is that there is no fuel pressure at the shrader valve on the fuel rail. The car still cranks,but won't turn over.

Any other things I should check like timing chain or distributor maybe.

This is on a 85 tpi trans am

Spray some propane into the air inlet.
Open the throttle and crank it over. If it starts, you know the fuel pump or regulator or computer is pouched.


Assuming you have spark,
It will probabily start right up.

Don't forget the fuel filter as a possible cause. No fuel pressure is a problem, so I'd suggest a gauge to test the actual pressure instead of trying to estimate by venting the Schrader valve.

Checked the fuel pressure w/ a gauge and I'm getting 42psi. I don't think anything is wrong with the fuel pump. Has to be something else.

Any other guesses here?

If you have 42 PSIG at the rail, check for distributor motion during cranking. If the distributor is moving, check for spark. If you have spark, check the injector pulses with either an injector tester or an oscilloscope. If you have injector pulses and ignition, check the timing.

Thanks for the help Vader and everyone else.

I checked the coil tonight and it's fine. the distributor is moving during cranking. I took off my hypertech coil and put the ac-delco back on and still nothing. I believe the fault still lies in the spark somewhere.

Are you getting any fire to the plugs? Check ignition module..Pick-up coil...plug wires..firing order.....

I had the same problem with mine. I tried everything from the fuel pump, vats, neutral safety switch to the wires, I gave up trying everything so I just sent the car to a mechanic and he noticed that when he jumped the starter the car went into reverse! Turns out that the shifter cables were out of place I think? I'll find out tomorrow.

I tested the plugs and I'm not getting any spark. I know the coil is fine so it must be the module or something else under the rotor.

IT STILL WON'T START!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the stuff I have checked
1. fuel pump is fine(42psi at the rails)
2. coil is fine
3. replaced the ignition module(still won't start)
4. It's not the timing chain
5. It can't be the timing cause the car was running fine before it died.


Is there anything else that can go wrong in a distributor???Anything else I need to check?

Don't know how to check the injectors. Never done that kind of work before.

please help ASAP

The pick-up coil may be bad. The bad news is you have to pull the distributor to change it.
When mine went bad, It came apart in pieces..it got very crispy. Have you ever had one apart before?

The only parts that I know of are the top parts. Never had to take out a distributor before. Is there something I should check to make sure it is the pick-up coil?

Give me all the details.

Thanks for the help guys.

Have an 89 Iroc with same problem. The car will crank over and I'm getting fuel but no spark out of the distributor. The spark is getting nto the distributor but not out. I've replaced the rotor, ignition module, and cap but still nothing.