Okay heres my symptoms.
Car will not start (will turn over)
Fuel pump is not coming on.
SES light does not come on at all (even when I first turn the key)
Guages do not appear to be working (temp, oil gas etc.)
but the Fuses are good.

I have no idea what is wrong. I think my Ecm may be fried or something to that effect because I lost may guages, my SES light, fuel pump. Is there only the one fuse to it?

Whoever had the car before me had a witch doctor for a mechanic theres wires all over the place that I know are not spose to be there. I think one of those wires ground out, and may have done something.

Has anyone else had this problem, these symptoms any help would be great. Have to get this done on the weekend going back to work soon (like monday soon).

 

No SES light? Check the fuel pump/ECM fuse, located on the front upper frame rail, on the passenger side, near the front of the car. It's held to the upper rail with one 9/32" screw, and will have a red wire and a orange wire coming from it. If the fuse looks good, replace it anyway, and while you're replacing it, make sure you have +12 on the red wire (with the fuse out). The red wire goes to the positive junction block on the passenger side of the radiator support, so if it doesn't have +12, your fuel system and computer won't get +12 either.

I had a bad ring terminal on that wire, stumped my mechanic... he could tell me I had no power to my fuel pump relay, and it would take him a long time to diagnose it, and he asked me what I wanted to do. I paid him for the 2 days work, he hotwired my pump relay and I made it home- found the damn intermittant ring terminal- it was actually causing my motor to backfire!

Oh- search this V6 forum for my code 54 chart, it'll help you trace all the wires involved in the 2.8 MPFI fuel system, even if you're not getting code 54.

 

well you could rip apart the dash and install a new wireing harness... THAT"LL BE FUN!... NOT.

 

Right now I have to swap in gauge for the idiot light dash I got.
I've been saving up time to do this.
My harness is ok, not butchered.
There really isn't much wiring to cut for any true reason.
Why would the person cut up the harness?
Gauges or idiot lights?
No fuel pump, what happened?
Didn't you recently drop tank?

 

I would definitely check the bulkhead as TomP suggested by the firewall. Mine deteriorated with battery acid and on the way home in a snowstorm it let go. The car got me home but it was definitely a harrowing effort. Simple way to check would be put the key in the on position and wiggle the wires at the bulkhead connector. If the fuel pump primes, that bulkhead needs replacing.

 

check relays/fusible links.
check all connectors/wiring
Karl, don't forget to get sending units for gauges

 

I just installed the oil sensor with the latest oil change.
I'm leaking oil a bit.
I'll probably end up removing the oil filter housing & reinstall one day.
Onto the yard to get a regualr 85 Firebird bulk connection for the idiot lite dash.
I have the gauge connector bulk head.
I want to know exactly what wires to swap to install the guage set up & make it work.
I'll just duplicate the wiring I got.

NEED I make an extra wire to make the factory indash tach work?
Or does GM supply that already?
I really assume they do (in the factory wiring).

 

Thank-you guys.
I am printing this off right now, and I am going to look at this tomorrow.

Tom, if those fuses blow will the Fuel Pump stop coming on too?


Ked the car was running fine after I dropped and replaced the tank. I was going to get her insured, but first a test run, after a 5 minute drive the car konked out and the guages died, and there I was uninsured luckily only 200 feet from my Driveway. But the Fuel pump was still strong when I put it back together. So I am hoping its just the fuse Tom was talking about.

 

SOME HOW
you broke a ground for "XYX" connection.
The bulk head is a good start.
DUMB QUESTION!!!
You are far up north.
RUST
Could this be the sudden cause, rust causing poor contact for ground?
Only you know that answer.
ME?
I work on rust free stuff here in SoCal.
BUT
My 1974 Corvette came from Iowa (frame has "rustproof" tar on it!)
My 1967 Camaro Convertible came from Philly PA.
But restored & drag raced it's life in the 1970's til I got it in 1983 (in Venice, CA-across from Rydell High School in the movie, "Grease" & same school used in "Rebel Without a Cause" w/James Dean). That's very rust free (THANK G0D!!), too!

 

Sorry to leave you guys hanging.
Tom the fuse was gone. So the SES light was back...but then wheres that fuel pump.
The wire under the carpet that runs to the FP is broke inside. Lucky for me I have a Mechanic Dad So he hard wired a new wire into my fuse panel. (see Ked no reason to replace all parts)
I would have posted this sooner but I have been working and getting my car running, helping my father with a few problems on his vehicles, oh yes the the biggest time taker the G/F.

 

Way EXCELLENT for the quck simple (for you) fix.
Girlfriends are always worth the effort.
Well.......
Then she NO LONGER is your girlfriend