Hello, well car (Firebird '87 2.8 V6) died on me the other night, it just shut off basically like a blown fuse, had to cost to the side of the road.

It has new cap rotor module plugs wires
I did check the fuses

It cranks but has no fire or start?

I don't have a fuel pressure gauge, but hear the fuel pump prime, I don't smell any gas, nothing.

Ideas for no start would be great!

thanks

 

First make sure it is not out of gas. I know it sounds silly, but gas gauges have been known to be wrong.
You said it had spark so I'm assuming you checked for spark at the spark plug wires.
If it "for sure" has gas in the tank you can check for fuel pressure at the engine by covering the schrader valve with a rag and pressing a small screw on the needle to open the valve. Have some one turn on the key for a split second.
If gas soaks the rag when you turn the ignition on, it's a good sign.
It's possible that the fuel pump is running but not pumping if it is the original 20-year old pump.
Let us know if you have fuel being pumped to the engine or not and we can tell you what to check next.

 

Hello thanks, yes I put gas in the tank and had a friend test the valve, it spurrted gas, but not soaking I don't think, fuel pump is not original replaced it, well it's been about 13 years. I'm hoping it's not wasted again. Something simple would be nice. Thanks

 

What about pickup coil? That's the only other thing I can think of why it won't start. Haven't checked it, not sure how, please help, need some ideas. thanks

 

You said it has spark at the plugs so it isn't the pickup coil.
If it has spark have someone (who doesn't need their eyebrows) spray some starting fluid into the intake while it is cranking. If it starts, it's a fuel problem.

 

When you crank your engine do you see tach needle wiggle a bit. If it is completely dead than either there is no voltage supply to dizzy or pickup coil is history. You can easily check both if you have a DVM.

1) At the dizzy you have a #10 Gauge Pink wire - this is a power wire that supplies power to ign coil primary windings and ignition module inside dizzy. I do not recall if you have a small hat HEI with external coil or full size (old style HEI) in cap coil. Both work identically. Make sure that you are getting +12 with ign key on and it is fully plugged in.

2) Checking pick up coil is not that difficult but requires removing dizzy hat, disconnecting 2 pin connector from ignition module (white and green wires) and measuring resistance across the two wires. I can post pics of both, since I have both dizzy types in my garage. Do the simple checks first and dive into more involved stuff once your check off obvious stuff.

If tach needle is wiggling a bit during cranking then ignition module is functioning - check dizzy center post contact and rotor.

//RF

 

Well, lastest update...car runs with starter fluid, fires right up and runs as long as there is fluid, (after tune up and new fuel filter) and yes fuel pump seems to test good. So no Power or Fuel to fuel injectors, ECM problem? Bad ground? Fuse FJ1 FJ2 test good? Car wants to start but something is toast.
Any help would be great. thanks

 

Borrow a fuel pressure gauge from Auto Zone. It may be a problem with the fuel pressure regulator if you get flow from the pump (slight pressure) but too low to pass thru the injectors.
You'd need a "noid light" to verify the pulses from the ECM to the injectors.

 

Follow Supervisor42 suggestion and verify if injectors are firing. Also, since you have isolated your problem to a fuel system test fuel pressure. Just because FP is working (buzzing) does not equate to fuel pressure. On more than one occasion I have seen FP output hose (inside tank) ruptured from old age. This will kill fuel pressure at engine - engine will never start.

//RF

 

hello there!right now i just have the same problem excactly and i wait my mechanic at home to see what is wrong!my car is a 1992 camaro 3.1.it is just wont start!i came home 3 hours ago everything work properly and now i have the same problem with fbodygirl!!

 

well...the sparkplugs have no spark!!!what can it be?coil?distributor??

 

stelios-Z28

Start a new thread - you problem might be all together different.

//RF

 

it is exactly the same with fbodygirl's!!the same symptoms excactly!!i don't know if there is a different solution!!but my car has until now an ignition coil problem!i hope that the distributor is ok!

 

Well

If you have no start condition with no spark and no injector firing then you should check pick up coil (reluctor coil). This pick-up coil (inside dizzy) generates a pulse timing signal for ignition module. Ignition module uses this signal to control ignition coil and provides DRP signal back to ECM. ECM uses DRP to control timing and to fire injectors.

You can easily check coil resistance with DVM - if DVM reads a very low resistance or infinity - time to replace it.

//RF

 

well..the problem was inside the distributor!the ignition module was alright but the problem was to.."i dont know its name" that the module is connected to inside the distirbutor!it has no pulse!!so i need a new distributor...but...for a 3.1 motor i can't find anywere!everywere i look they have only for v8 engines!

 

For a moment I thought your location was Athens Alabama (about 60 miles to the north of me). My answer might also work for you. I don't know if Auto Zone ships internationally but it's worth a shot:
AUTOZONE.COM

 

I think you are referring to reluctor or Magnetic Pick Up that generates pulses, it is about $15, made by Wells Manufacturing - DR-132

//RF

 

thanks a ot guys!i'll give it a shot!the part that i am saying is a round with how can i say this a copper wire round of it!

 

How did you determine that the pickup coil is bad?

The coil will only produce a small voltage when the distributor is spinning then the signal is amplified and conditioned for the ECM to reference for ignition and injector timing.

 

the electrician put a gadget on the distributor with 2 wires and spin it with his hand and then told me that is has no pulse!

 

He's right, it's not an expensive part, but you'll need to remove the gear at the bottom to get the coil off.

 

yes!so because i like the "plug n play" solution i am looking for a brand new distributor,if i don't find i'll check for the specific part!what aboyt fbodygirl's car!did she find any solution?maybe she has the same problem with my car.

 

Fbodygirls problem sounds more like a fueling problem as her car will run on starting fluid, her car has spark.
My '90 had a simular problem, it turned out to be a bad injector, if one is shorted then the car will not run. you would need to check each one's resistance with a DVM, if they all look the same then it is not the problem. the trouble with this is you need to pull the top of the intake manifold off to get to the injectors. pull the wiring harness off to check the injectors.
I found this thread because I am having a simular problem but haven't quite found the answer yet.
Car died, it has spark, haven't been able to start it with starting fluid though, It still could be a fueling problem but I am leaning toword ignition. my next step is to hook up a timing light and see if it is firing at the right time, someone at my work told me that they had a simular problem on a chevy of the same age and it was an ignition modual, I suppose it could be firing at the wrong time?

 

Kuma

When you crank your engine does your tach wiggle a bit? If it is ignition module is ok - check coil, rotor contact.

//RF

 

I did not check the tach, I'll try that tomorrow, today I changed the ignition module, still did not start. I pulled a spark plug wire, should have done that befor spending the money on the module, there is spark to the wire. I had the car towed home from my work so I can work on it over the weekend, I'm going to get some starting fluid and see if I can get it to run, if I can then I'll pull the intake manifold and check resistance on the injectors.

 

Stop scratchin' where it don't itch.
Can you hear the fuel pump run in the tank at key-on?
If it has spark at the plugs and you spray it with starting fluid, you'll get something. It may be a big orange backfire that removes your eyebrows, but something...
Check the fuel pressure!

 

The first thing that I did, put a manifold pressure gauge on, it has fuel pressure.

 

Tach moves when it is cranked, it seems to read the rpm from what the starter is doing, about 200 rpm.

 

- the oil pressure sender not sending the computer a signal?
Sender signal is to gauge and has no output to ECM. Switch side of Sender provides backup power when fuel pump relay fails.

- the fuel pump not being connected to the rest of everything?
Not critical, but needs to be connected correctly.

- the vats even though I thought I pretty well covered testing it?
If the VATS wasn't working when you got it then the starter inhibit relay has been hot wired as was the fuel pump.
If the VATS is working properly and the ECM is receiving the distributor reference signal, and the ECM injector drivers are good then I would look into the ECM side of the injector wiring.

- the car hates me?
I think it hates the prevoius owner for hacking it's wiring instead of repairing it correctly. You've just been left hold the bag.

Keep us posted.