Just bought an '86 for $350 at a wrecking yard on an Army post in Germany. Or course, the car needs some work but the price makes it more than feasible. IT ran OK before but now that I have paid for it, it won't start. This is my third third-gen F/B and I have never had this problem before and it is pissing me off. Here's what I know so far.

1. Trouble codes 2-2, 3-4, & 4-4. TPS signal, lean 02, low MAF voltage. I think that 3-4 & 4-4 are related. The ducting between the MAF sensor and the throttle body was missing some clamps so that there were gaping holes. I tightened up the air ducting and it sill doesn't start.

2. It has a spark.

3. Fuel pump works. I cracked the line and turned the ignition and 3-4 oz of fuel came out. I really need to buy a good fuel preassure gauge.

4. Checked the distributor. The contacts looked OK but the magneto was rusted. I think the magneto is used to fire the injectors so I filed some of the rust off. Still no luck.

What am I missing? I know these cars have tendency to run crappy but I've never heard of one not starting. Does anyone know of any sources of information on this car's engine management system?

Simplistically, it can only be one of three things; fuel, ignition, or engine management. Which one do you think it falls under?

Pat

 

Do you KNOW its getting spark? or you just think. The ignition modulator is a source of many probs. It goes bad and its just about the last thing people check. If you ARE positively getting spark, check timing. If theres alot of miles on the clock go to 12-13* with the ESC disconnected(Wire that goes to distrib-Brown w/Black stripe?on passanger strut tower) Check the plugs to see if they are screwy.

 

the "magneto" you speak of is called a "Pick Up Coil"

Do a search on "Rebuilding Dist" by Ked85 and do everything he tells you to. That might not get you car running, but once it runs, it would run a LOT better. You'd be surprised

If it is you modular, like CHC stated above, i would recomend replacing it with a Holley Module that you can purchase from www.summitracing.com for $60 (which is the same price for an AC Delco Stock Replacement) so you might as well go High performance. I love Mine

Have you checked your Vacuum lately? Thats what might be cuasing my current problem with mine. Vacuum cuases some funny things.

Pull each spark plu wire off (One at a time) and hold them cloase to the metal , have a friend crank the engine. Watch to see if a spark crosses the gap beteen the wire and the car. Bo this at night when it would be easier to see. The spark should be blue. I do not know why, but mine is Purple ????

Have you down a tune-up yet? That would have been the first thing i would have done! do a search for "Major tune-up" by TomP and do everything on his list. It covers a lot more than any garage would do for you

Do all this and let us know your outcome

 

Change the spark plugs first, READ HERE: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=114151

Simple/cheap things first!

 

You have so many issues.
Let's make it simple.
Fuel Pressure is correct.
You need a gauge.
Spark
IT MUST BE LIGHTENING BRIGHT WHITE
Any hint of blue & you have ignition failure.
You can get running after weak spark is cured.
Fuel pressure will allow it to start, yet not run, nor run strong.
Once you get any decent idle, start looking for all vacuum leaks.
5/16" windshield wiper hose is the magic number (for repairing thin plastic lines) & 1/2" heater hose is the magic clue for the hose by the base of the distributor driver side.
You may have to give in & yank the engine to get a decent ride.
How do you guys get parts there?

 

Parts are definitely an issue here. I plan to get the majority of my parts off of other wrecked F-bodies to be found on other instalations. The pickings are scarce but ridiculously cheap. We have an auto parts store on post for the simple stuff.

But anyways, today I am doing the tune-up and if that don't work, I will tow it home. I can't help thinking its something extremely simple. It usually is.

I can't wait to get this thing on the Autobahn.

 

I bought mine for 400 bux a week ago, it wouldnt run. I put some cheap plugs in it, and a brass dist cap, jumped the bat, and fired right off. I have now replaced the sp wires. SOOOOO much diff. Give it a GOOD tune up and see if that helps. Hell, it prob needs it anyway.

 

opps my bad, i had it backwards but i still have strange spark, its white, then purple, then white then purple ....

 

I saw the color of the weak ignition system.
Then I saw spark color, after I rebuilt/swapped new everything ignition electrical.
It was a steady lightening bright white.
I certainly did not want to touch it! RAPID in travel, too.
One also must accept the level of surrounding light as you observe color of spark.
Night time/total darkness is best time to observe.

 

Still awaiting parts, unfortunately. The gist of your comments are to replace the plugs which is definitely on the agenda. What I can't figure out is why it ran last week and didn't this week.

This is totally off the subject but I was in Luxembourg this weekend and woke up to the sound of high-pitched revving engines. I looked out the window into the parking lot to see that it had been converted into a mini race-course with Ferarri's of all ages zooming by. I quickly threw on some pants to investigate. IT WAS THE COOLEST THING I"D EVER SEEN!!!! For 10 euro, you coud take a ride in a Ferarri! Even better, it was a charity fundraiser. They drove you through town and the end was the mini race-course through the parking lot. They had everything..... F40's, Testarosa's (my fave), Maranello's, Magnum PI (348 gts, I think).

Alas, I couldn't bring myself to ride in one. Too humbling. My '83 TA will always be my favorite car in the world.

 

THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO WAKE UP!!

Why start and then no start?
Age & wear and it's finally dead.
IT'll happen like that.
As I said, earlier, one may have to pull whole engine & such, just to get a good ride.
You can hunt, but, in the end, the long path to fixing old cars is a crooked windy road.
This happened to my Wife, 7 months pregnant, rainy day, intersection.
Car died while idling.
Couldn't start up again.
Total ignition fialure. Hunted searched used all these tools.
I saw spark.
I rebuilt everything.
Then final straw, swapped/used old coil from my 2.8 truck with 100,000+ miles on it (and already 10 years old).
Started right up, Firebird idled like a well tuned orchestra.
Then eventually had problems from using the new modular I had swapped in....
My car died while on the freeway three times.
Eventually replaced that defective modular (but it worked....)
no problems since.
A very crooked path to reliability.
PS Car battery suddenly died on me last night.....
I'm just replacing battery, as it is 3+ years old......
Eventually you narrow down the old worn/wearing down varibles...
Beats a new car payment & new car insurance!

 

man do I miss living in Germany, my step dad was stationed in Geissen and boy was it fun there.

Lots of stuff to see over there and the gummies, you haven't had gummies until you had the German gummies umm and yager schnitzel, fresh brotchen, and SPEZI man why did you have to mention Germany when I am Hungry ???

Boy would I love to take my baby on the Autobahn i miss going to school in a bus thats doing 120kph hehehe

I loved being able to walk down the streets and just casually seeing a Lambergini drive by (only time I ever say one in person)

One good thing about Germany is HOW popular the public transportation is. It is widley used and you can get on a bus ang go anywhere though being on the bus is another story...

Us americans can learn alot from Germany, Like how the
Autobahn works, public transportation, and how the German toilets use less water (had to though the lastone in )

 

Ditto's to everything except for the toilets. What's the old saying? Brush after you flush? It gets kind of old after a while.

 

ha, brush after you flush, thats a good one... quess it never got up to "way up There" as Geisen...

 

Us americans can learn alot from Germany, Like how the Autobahn works,


Actually...
Eishenhower designed the American Highway system after the German Autobahn
Or as Adolph Hilter called it
The Blitzkrig...
Hilter designed the Autobahn for ease of moving weapons of war over the land, fast, direct, easy.

Eisnehower worked in the WPA of the 1930's, designing & building the Alaska Highway, as a "weapon" in case we were invaded from the far north west (across Alaska Bering Straight).
Eisenhower, during WW2 used that Alaska highway road building knowledge to effectively knock out/down the highway of Hilter, to lessen chances of a German supremacy in European war Theatre.

Eisenhower used that knowledge of the WW2 & Hitler Highway and the Alaska Highway and created the American Highway System during his first term of office (52-56).

PS Ever wonder why underpasses are "just so tall?"
So ICBM & bombs could be carried, on flat bed trucks and never have to "go around" due to a low underpass.
Every underpass had to have/be a certain minumum.

Sorry, no cure for the Hunger!

 

Yes, and this is true of combat equipment as well. With the infrastucture already in place, combat vehicles such as the M1 tank had to be designed to be moved via existing infrstructure such as C5 transport planes, existing railcars, overpasses, bridges. These factors had a significant effect on the overall design of the M1.

On a similar note, the Russians built their railways using a wider gauge to safeguard against enemy invasions. In this way, their enemies could not use their own infrastructure against them. If you read about the German advance to Stalingrad, never do you hear about rail being used to support the German main effort which was starved of supplies and subsisted mostly on what they could scrounge locally.

 

I Just discovered something yesterday to help ya.
COOL ON THE RUSSIAN WAR INFO.
My 1985 Firebird alternator was shot.
I swapped it with fresh rebuilt.
My car started right up, like brand new.
Idled smooth as my 21 month old Son butt
Shot outta the hole like I had a 3.4 under there.
IF you have the AC package you need a 105 amp item.
IF you get less amp, you're in trouble.
Swap alternators & fresh charged battery.
See what happens.
These MPFI cars need pure top electrical output for great performance.
AND ZERO VACUUM LEAKS!

 

I know this is going to be expensive. I'm writing this at a hotel in Nurenberg, logged onto a "free" ISP in Spain. But I just had to pass on that I got my car started and it was the plugs! It fired right up. I never would have believed it but it was that simple. Sounds like a beast because the CAT is rusted out -- don't think I'll be needing one here anyways. Man, it's been a while. Felt like I was Captain Stubing piloting the Love Boat. But I can definitely get used to it. Thanks for all the input and support. I will keep you posted.

Patrick

 

Glad to hear it started up okay! Pat, if I were you, I would get the GM Service Manual. That's the best source of information on the f-bodies.

Oh, the website is: http://www.helminc.com

 

PLEASE GO TO THE Nerburgering Race track so I can feel the vibes....
SO MANY in my past media fed images of race starts there......

GO GOING ON THE START UP!!!
glad it was "simple...."
Now to start your Russian Dating Service.....