Soo im new to working on cars so please try to work with me guys. so I have 305 rs 1990. I drove to my buddy's house, hung out with him for 30 minutes then I go to my car and try to start it but it won't start, it does crank though. Talk to my friend and we think oh alternator because the gauge said the car was getting overcharged. So replace the alternator and get the battery checked. Battery is dead so replaced the battery. Still wouldn't start ok let's check to see if there's spark. Really weak spark, ok let's try the cap and rotor just replaced and while I did that I noticed the firing order was way off so I fixed that. Tried to start the car and for a quick second it sounded like it was about to actually start then went back to just cranking. Me and my friend decided **** it the batteries probably dying because it's been a couple weeks and it's cold as **** we'll try to start it tomorrow when it's warmer, and then I left.
TLDR car cranks but wont start already replaced
alternator
battery
cap and rotor
replaced the spark plugs maybe a month and a half ago so doubt those are bad.

 

What do you mean when you say "I noticed th firing order was way off so I fixed that"? If the firing order was way off, how did it run before? How did you fix it? Weak spark could be the pick-up coil, the ICM or the ignition coil. You'll need to check those items with an ohm meter or in the case of the ICM, have it checked at an auto parts store that has the equipment to do so. HTH!

 

Ok so when I first got the car the firing order was 12346578 or something like that only two wires were switched over. So I put it in the proper order, or at least I hope the proper order, 18436572. OK so use a multimeter to check the ohm on the two coils and take the ICM to auto parts store to check it?

 

Here is the firing order for a sbc. Easy way to test pickup coil is to watch your tach while you are cranking. If it does not bounce during cranking then the ECM is not receiving a pulse signal. It can cause a weak spark symptom, but most noticeably the fuel injectors will not pulse without that signal.

 

Ok I'm so stupid. So spark is fine and it's a fuel problem, so I'm guessing the fuel pump is bad or one of the lines got clogged. It started when we sprayed some starting fluid in it. Soo anyone want to help throw out the probable cause? Because I was planning on just getting a fuel pump and a jack and then seeing if the fuel pump fixed it and if not taking the fuel pump back because right now I'm really strapped for cash. Also what kind of pump does it have? Can't really find it or get under to see if it's mechanical or electrical...

 

Have you tried to blink out trouble codes ? Sounds like it could be a vats issue.

 

I have not, how would I go about doing that?

 

http://check-engine-light-codes.blog...-self.html?m=1

I'm guessing code 53 might show.
There are a few ways to deal with it. Bypassing the cylinder reader.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...able-vats.html
Having your prom reprogrammed.
Or a hz modulator.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/GM-VATS-or-PASSkey-II-Bypass-Module-For-LS1-and-LT1-/281813159375?hash=item419d5f8dcf%3Ag%3AsysAAOSwN81WEYiu&_trkparms=pageci%253Ada8d74f9-d542-11e6-b780-74dbd1802334%257Cparentrq%253A7bb817351590a5e2a5616384ffba3fb8%257Ciid%253A1

 

Oh ok cool, well I shall check that out tomorrow morning can't really get to my buddies house at the moment

 

have you checked a few simple things like fuses, fuel filter, etc? it should have an electric fuelpump in the tank. can you hear it turn on/prime? might try banging on the bottom of the tank to see if it starts working again. usually a sign of a bad pump.

 

I checked the fuses couldn't find any that were burnt, fuel filter was done not that long ago. Didn't hear it priming.