Hi everybody i'm new to this site.I just bought a 89 gta that was in need of a tune-up.2 plug wires were melted on the manifold so i decided to change plugs and wires.I did drivers side last night ( side with melted wires) and car idled down nice and revved up with no bog.So i did pass. side today,i then pulled the centre coil wire off and pulled the core right out of the cap.So i went and bought new cap and rotor and this brings me to my problem.The car fired and ran real rough so i shut it off and found i had 2 wires crossed.So i fixed this and now it just turns over and backfires but won't fire.I pulled off #1 plug wire and used an old plug to see if i have spark and I do.So i need help to get my car started i know it is probably something minor or stupid but any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

welcome to 3rd gen
it sounds like you fireing order is still off 18436572 should be right if i remember right. your #1 is the front d-side on the cap it should be off to the bot right, id say 4 or 5 o'clock. the best thing to do is TDC the #1 piston.

 

So if i have firing order right and its not at top daed centre it won't start?The old owner must of been screwing with the timing because distributor is loose,so how do i determine which is #1 on cap?Where should the plugs in the back be pointing?

 

Looking at my distributor, the number 1 plug wire is on the driver's side of the dist. closest to the front of the motor(As GTAfan said). Moving counterclockwise, should go #2, #7, #5, #6, #3, #4 and #8. However, the travel of the distributor housing when adjusting timing is limited by the length of the ignition wires that plug into it.

I have the cheapo Haynes manual as well as the official service manual for my car, and the cheapo manual does a pretty good job of painting the picture of how the distributor is set-up in relation to plug wire location and the like. You may want to check that out to be more certain.

I have found that my car will start with timing off by 20-25 degrees or so. It may be hard, but they can start that far off. If you're sure you have the firing order correct, with the help of a light can get the right timing done pretty easily. Even if it does not initially start. You will be able to tell within the first second of cranking whether or not you have everything correct or not. Especially if it is way-off. Not that I have experience hooking my wires up wrong... Not me. And it never involved a beer or 6...

 

Thanks guys for your help ,a buudy of mine came over and i had firing order right but distrbutor was off by 1/4 turn.She runs good now but it still starts hard.Doesn't fire up right away.What could this be?

 

Your timing could still be slightly off, if I am not mistaken if you have the timing a little too far advanced or retarded it will cause hard starts. I know i've been there when i was fine tuning my car, i had it a little too far advanced and the car ran good but it would sometimes crank for a few seconds before it would start so i backed off on the timing a little bit and it starts right up. What i would do is loosen the distributor bolt, start the car and disconnect the wire for the distributor, the EST i believe, and turn the distibutor a little bit back and forth until you feel the motor sounds like it is running smoothly then turn the car off, tighten the bolt and reconnect the wire and try starting it and see if that helps at all, if you get it right it should fire right up.

 

Yes, camarors is right. If you want to be precise, use a light and base timing is 6 degrees BTDC, at least that's what GM says.

 

Thanks guys i'll get her timed this week-end!