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No spark on an '89 Formula--what else to check?

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Old Dec 11, 2009 | 05:05 PM
  #1  
dixiebandit69's Avatar
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From: The ******* of Texas
Car: '89 Firebird Formula
Engine: TBI 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt, 3.42s, Torsen diff.
No spark on an '89 Formula--what else to check?

For the last few days I haven't been able to get my '89 Firebird Formula to start. It will crank and the injectors will fire, but there is no spark. So far, I have checked:
Ignition coil, all readings are within specs.
Pickup coil, good and not grounding out.
Ignition module is good.
Cap, rotor and plugs are only a couple hundred miles old.
Wires are used MSD and the car was running with those before.
Ignition module is recieving power at the two pronged plug on the left.
The car has an MSD 6AL box that has power and ground.
I checked all the fuses under the dash, and none are blown.
Car has a TBIchips.com custom chip that eliminated the VATS system.
I am out of ideas and appreciate any help. Is there anything else I need to check?
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Old Dec 12, 2009 | 06:11 PM
  #2  
Firehawk1990's Avatar
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9
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From: elkhart,in
Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Limited Slip/Positraction
Re: No spark on an '89 Formula--what else to check?

what motor do you have if you have the 305 tpi there is a ground wire for the st on the back of the left head check to see if that is connected
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Old Dec 13, 2009 | 10:38 AM
  #3  
dixiebandit69's Avatar
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: The ******* of Texas
Car: '89 Firebird Formula
Engine: TBI 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt, 3.42s, Torsen diff.
Re: No spark on an '89 Formula--what else to check?

It's a 305 TBI.
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Old Dec 13, 2009 | 04:25 PM
  #4  
rgarcia63's Avatar
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Houston, Texas
Car: 88' IROCZ
Engine: 388 TPI Motown 350 Race block
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77
Re: No spark on an '89 Formula--what else to check?

Where did you check for spark?
Checking power to the ignitiom module is not enough, have it tested.
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Old Dec 14, 2009 | 12:08 PM
  #5  
dixiebandit69's Avatar
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 397
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From: The ******* of Texas
Car: '89 Firebird Formula
Engine: TBI 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt, 3.42s, Torsen diff.
Re: No spark on an '89 Formula--what else to check?

UPDATE/ RESPONSE:
I eliminated the MSD module and wired the coil in the factory fashion. No spark.
I replaced the TBIchips.com custom chip with the factory chip. No spark.
I swapped ECMs with a '92 Camaro RS with TBI that I had laying around (and was running fine before it got wrecked). No spark.
I forgot to mention in the initial post that the ignition switch (on the steering column) is new (about 200 miles old).
I am completely out of ideas and cannot for the life of me figure out why this thing won't start.
Oh, and in response to rgarcia63's post, I did have the ignition module checked; I took it to O'Reilly's and Advance Auto parts, and the module came out good every time, so I put it back on with the proper amount of dielectric grease.
Thank you everyone.

Last edited by dixiebandit69; Dec 14, 2009 at 12:15 PM.
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Old Dec 14, 2009 | 02:04 PM
  #6  
Firehawk1990's Avatar
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9
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From: elkhart,in
Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Limited Slip/Positraction
Re: No spark on an '89 Formula--what else to check?

check the pick up coil
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Old Dec 15, 2009 | 03:11 PM
  #7  
dixiebandit69's Avatar
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 397
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From: The ******* of Texas
Car: '89 Firebird Formula
Engine: TBI 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt, 3.42s, Torsen diff.
Re: No spark on an '89 Formula--what else to check?

UPDATE: PROBLEM SOLVED
Problem: Bad distributor
Not the pickup coil, but the actual magnetic triggering device inside the distributor was bad. I put in a new one, and it cranked right up.
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