No Start, No Spark When Cold, Intermittent
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 175
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From: Niagara Falls
Car: 1988 Firebird Formula WS6
Engine: 305 tpi lb9
Transmission: 5 speed
Axle/Gears: 3.45
No Start, No Spark When Cold, Intermittent
I finished putting my engine back together after some minor changes (ported/gasket matched the heads, lower intake, runners, plenumn, installed a holley afpr, new bosch gen III 22 lb injectors, 1.52 r rockers comp cams, and replaced the leaking intake gasket. Started up great in the garage and filled my coolant let it warm up and then changed the oil and filter. Started up and ran beautifull and had great response so I took it for a quick spin since its not insured and didnt want to get pulled over. Anyway it ran great so i parked it outside in my buddies driveway so he can pull his mustang back in the garage.
Had someone drop me off so I could pick the car up and they took off. I get in and the damn thing wont start on this 20 degree F day, after how great it was running yesterday from inside the garage that was about 60 deg. i was so mad. I popped the hood and started wiggling wires cuz this used to happen before and i would unplug the coil and plug it back in and it would fire up. well no luck this time so i cranked it till the battery was weak since its cold out that didnt take very long. Called someone to pick me up and returned later with my other car and tools and another coil.
I verified there was no spark using a timing light hooked to the coil wire with the trigger zip tied aimed at the windshield. Figured now is a good time to install my blaster coil. wired it up and still no spark. now im checking fuses and cant find anything wrong. verified all other wiring to my MSD box.
Finally after 20 minutes of dickin around now that its windy and snowing and my buddy isnt home to let me in the garage, i pull the distributor cap off and the pick up coil is plugged in to the module but i gave it a good wiggle and pushed it on harder anyways and reinstalled the cap. Now I get it the car and it fires up so fast my and ran great even tho it was loaded up with fuel. I think this has been my intermittant starting problem on my few other occasions on cold morning starts in the fall that I could never verify since it would eventually fire up. I think im going to go back on a warmer day and put a little solder on the connections from the pick up coil leads to the ignition module since the distributor is newer and there isnt any corrosion on the terminals. They must contract when they are cold and loose connection with the leads to the pick up coil therefore the coil wont fire. Hope this helps anyone chasing an intermittant no start that is spark related.
Had someone drop me off so I could pick the car up and they took off. I get in and the damn thing wont start on this 20 degree F day, after how great it was running yesterday from inside the garage that was about 60 deg. i was so mad. I popped the hood and started wiggling wires cuz this used to happen before and i would unplug the coil and plug it back in and it would fire up. well no luck this time so i cranked it till the battery was weak since its cold out that didnt take very long. Called someone to pick me up and returned later with my other car and tools and another coil.
I verified there was no spark using a timing light hooked to the coil wire with the trigger zip tied aimed at the windshield. Figured now is a good time to install my blaster coil. wired it up and still no spark. now im checking fuses and cant find anything wrong. verified all other wiring to my MSD box.
Finally after 20 minutes of dickin around now that its windy and snowing and my buddy isnt home to let me in the garage, i pull the distributor cap off and the pick up coil is plugged in to the module but i gave it a good wiggle and pushed it on harder anyways and reinstalled the cap. Now I get it the car and it fires up so fast my and ran great even tho it was loaded up with fuel. I think this has been my intermittant starting problem on my few other occasions on cold morning starts in the fall that I could never verify since it would eventually fire up. I think im going to go back on a warmer day and put a little solder on the connections from the pick up coil leads to the ignition module since the distributor is newer and there isnt any corrosion on the terminals. They must contract when they are cold and loose connection with the leads to the pick up coil therefore the coil wont fire. Hope this helps anyone chasing an intermittant no start that is spark related.
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