When I first started having problems the car had very little or no spark. I replaced the pickup coil, ignition module, distributor cap and rotor, coil, spark plug wires and the plugs. Now I have a really strong spark but the car still will not start. There is gas going to the engine because when I pull the spark plugs they smell like gas. The thing is this all started happening out of nowhere. I didn't drive the car for a week and the next weekend it didn't start and it was working fine before. Any suggestions on what to look at next.

 

any chance ur timming is way off?

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- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

I was thinking that also, but I don't have access to a timing light to check. I guess I will need to buy one unless there are any other suggestions.

 

Everything you are saying is so familiar! I tried everything to get my camaro going! Finially had to get it towed to a shop and found out it was the main computer chip. the gas smell and fowling was happening because the computer was sending wierd signals to the engine.
Good Luck

 

Justin,

You have good spark;

You have fuel (maybe too much?);

You have cranking;

You need two more things - compression and timing.

Remove, clean, and dry all your spark plugs. Plugs that are wet with raw fuel tend to ground out the spark rather than create one. Crank the engine a few revs with all the plugs removed to make sure the raw fuel is purged.

Make sure there is compression. You can do this when all the plugs are removed and have a helper crank the engine while you hold a finger over one of the plug holes. You should feel a definite pressure pulse when that cylinder is on the compression stroke.

Reinstall the dry plugs and try again.

Get a timing light, or check the static time of the engine so that you are at least close.
A slipped timing chain can cause a lack of compression and incorrect timing of the spark. Obviously, you timing chain isn't broken or you would get no spark at all.

If you have an EST bypass connector on your engine, disconnect it for starting and troubleshooting. The EST can affect the ignition timing, so removing that variable can be helpful.

What engine/fuel system do you have? '87 TPI 305?

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Later,
Vader
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If you want to beat the World, it might reach up and pull you down...
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K, I just tried to check to see if there were any codes stored in the ECM and nothing came up. Not even the code 12. Is there any way to check if it is the actual ECM or the plug in chip??
It is an 87 350 TPI.