Hello all, I've been lurking this forum and several other sources for answers and ideas, and I'm pretty much at wit's end.

I've been DD'ing my 89 2.8 RS for a few years. It's not in the best of shape but I've been able to keep it alive up until now. The car died on the way to work one day a few months ago; I started it back up and continued driving. It then died again and refused to start. Since then I have gotten it to sputter or start very randomly (and seldomly), but it inevitably dies. This marks the longest time I've went without getting it to start at all.

The situation: I've replaced all plug wires and the coil wire - replaced dist cap and rotor button - checked battery and its pos/neg terminal connections and those are fine - did a basic test of ignition coil and ICM (in addition to taking them both to an auto parts store for good measure) and they're both fine. I've taken the distributor out and replaced the pickup coil. (Bit of nagging doubt here, is there any way that I could have installed the pickup coil "wrong"? It's connected to the ICM just the way it was and is seated with its cover and clip, etc...) and I'm pretty sure that even if the timing was off due to my admittedly imprecise reinstallation of the distributor, there should be SOME spark at SOME point.

The starter turns over just fine, there is power to other sources, and I have also replaced the spark plugs. At this point all I can guess is that, while my individual parts may be good, their connections may have some kind of issue that isn't visually obvious. The problem here is that I'm not sure what to do about that, and my car's wiring is also a mess. (blame the original owner!) Does anyone have any ideas?

 

Did you check your fuel pressure. Usually when a car sputters and dies its either fuel related 99% of the time.

Check your fuel pressure and get back to us.

Also if u dont have access to a FP testers, spray some ether or starting fluid into the intake boot by the air filter. A small amount (1 to 2 second squirt from the can) will be enough. Then try to start it. It may start up and die. If so it may be your fuel pump, fuel pump relay, wiring associated with the Fuel system.

Also, you can check the schrader valve on the fuel rail, (looks like a tire valve cap) open it and then press the valve in the middle to see if fuel sprays out. BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET FUEL IN YOUR EYE AND HAVE SOME RAGS AROUND IT TO SOAK UP EXCESS.

If the system is ok, it will SPRAY out violently. IF its not it may be from nothing is there to a little flow barley coming out.

 

Yes sir, have tried starter fluid. Car didn't seem to care. The fuel pump can be heard priming as well.

I don't know if this counts, but when examining the plugs, they smelled VERY gassy, and I could also smell gasoline when cranking the engine with a plug out. Ugh, I'm sure there's a nice little puddle of gas at the bottom by now, with all this cranking. But nevertheless it refuses to spark...

 

Sometimes the ignition module will test good but it isn't. The coil could also be testing OK but not be working, just a thought.

 

Ah, then put in a new set of plugs. Get the cheapo autolites. Like a dollar each. Fuel soaked plugs have a tendancy to not start until they get heat cycled. But they are prone to the issue again.

What i would be concerned about is what caused the original die out.

OH btw with the pickups, you really cant goof that to bad. Did you put the dizzy back in the right place? aka pointing to number 1?

If so, try turning the dizzy back an forth to advance and retard the timing to see if the car tries to start. I am saying this based on the assumption that you removed the dizzy to do the pickup?

Also did you check to see if you have spark at the coil?

 

With the intermittent, random firing, it really DOES sound like an ICM issue. I remember running tests with a buddy and we suddenly got it to run, for no apparent reason. So maybe I should just slap in a new ICM anyway?


@TwinTurboROC: True, the plugs could be pretty fouled. But I'm also unable to get a spark with a spark tester. And actually no, I haven't checked spark at the coil, only with the plug wires. I'll do that ASAP.

Yep, I removed the dizzy completely and made a few clumsy reference points to re install. It is roughly in the same position it was before removing, but the plug wires should still spark regardless right?

As for the original breakdown, I'm not sure. It may or may not be worth mentioning that while looking over the car on that first breakdown, I noticed the oil was very low. I guess I had forgotten that it tends to burn oil and hadn't checked the level in a little while. I've added new oil since. The car has also had overheat issues recently, which I've somewhat rectified. The only remaining issue in that respect is a missing air dam (no highway driving for me) and leaky water pump gasket.

 

You can check the coil the same way you checked the plugs. It is possible you have a bad ICM like you said. Try turngin the dizzy to see if it tries to putter alive. Thats at least free.

 

No spark from the coil. Since I've replaced the pickup, that must mean that the problem is in between the ign coil and ICM? I'll also mess with the dizzy (I have a feeling I'll be on these forums again for timing adjustments if I ever get this no spark fixed...)

 

There you go. Progress. Can you borrow a coil to test? There are some test you could do, but only if you have a graphing DVOM or a scope. I would have both part retested.

 

Well guys, I'm excited to say that she's now combusting! I dropped a new ICM in there and it seems to be consistently sparking. Now the problem is timing, as I thought. It's very hesitant to run and sounds like it's trying to backfire. I know there's alot of stuff out there on setting the timing so I'll start searching.

I'm kind of bummed that the ICM and Coil are so problematic and difficult to truly diagnose. Plus I can't help but wonder if I really needed to replace the pickup and screw with the dizzy, but oh well. One less problem later on.

Thanks for your help and ideas.

 

A new pickup in these old dizzys make a huge difference. Most ppl ignore it because there pretty tough until the crap out. They will keep sending a signal, the car will run, but it'll never be perfectly smooth. I ALWAYS do a new pickup if im keeping the stock dizzy when i get a new thirdgen.