So my friend has an 86 firebird with the 2.8 six cylinder in it
hes had some problems with it, got the fuel pump replaced, and now it wont start.
the fuel pump is working, you can here it run when you turn the key, and the car will turn over all day, but it wont fire up.
not sure exactly whats up, but the plugs are getting power and stuff, so yeah
anyway im really tired but hed really appreciate your help
thanks

 

obviously check starter, check how much voltage is on the battery and double check the plugs wire and distributor after that not sure. fresh fuel if the car sat for a few months or more

let us know

 

Took the starter off and the alternator (for the hell of it)
got em both checked turns out the starters good and the alternator was bad
got the alternator replaced and put everything back in
charged the battery and tried to start it, but nothing happens
you can hear the starter engage but it doesnt turn at all

 

uh might sound obvious but is the crank seized?

 

Take off the flywheel cover, get an eyeball on the flexplate/flywheel and watch what happens when the starter clicks. Its possible your hitting a tooth end on with the pinion.

I bet its cold outside get the battery inside a garage on a trickle charger overnight. All that crankings worn it out.

Try backing the starter bolts down a 1/8 turn, might just be too tight to get the pinion to engage... if so get a shim in there.

After all that cranking, hows the plugs look?

Checked your firing order?

Sure the cap and rotor are in good shape? How bout plug wires?

Theres gas in the car right? Really.... You have some gas in the tank? Go get another fresh gallon and put it in.

Distributor module, then pickup coil are the next logical steps after all that.

ECM and injector fuses are OK?

 

Havent really been able to do much the past couple of days cuz the ground is soaked and the jack just sinks into the mud,
but as far a sthe rotor and the wires, we checked them, and plus he got a tune up (so all that stuff is new anyway) a couple weeks before the car died on him anyway.

 

you really shouldnt jack a car in the dirt. you could really injure or kill ur self if ur under that car. not tryign to be your mother just sending soem friendly info. hope thigns work out with the car. and just make a check list what you checked and what is left to check. goodluck

 

A siezed water pump, AC compressor or air pump can also keep the starter from spinning the engine. If the starter in engaging correctly and doesn't need to be shimmed take the belts off see what happenes. If it don't turn over look for a V8

 

So weve figured out the engine is not seized, the fuel pump is good and the starter is not the problem
the engine turns over, and weve even tried some starting fluid, but nothing happens still
what could be the problem
sounds like ignition to me, but i can pinpoint it exactly

 

so he got the fuel pump replaced because it was bad... now it still doesnt start hmmm... what other parts can we throw at this thing....oh yes a alt. and then how about you check spark... or you can just buy a new dissy, and coil... that might fix it.. or a really easy way to solve this would be to spray lots and lots of starting fluid into it might get it running