I have an 85 V6 sport coupe, with around 84,xxx miles. I acquired it from my mother in law who had it sitting in her garage for about 9 years. After doing some basic work such as oil change, drained fuel, blew out fuel lines, changed fuel filter. It was running after doing those few basic things, then I had to replace the radiator, hoses, cooling fan, thermostat. Had it running after changing those items, and it was running well for about 20 mins, top rad hose wasn't getting hot, bottom was very hot. Cooling fan did not turn on, engine just shut down, and now it won't fire back up. When cranking it sounds like it's trying to fire, and sometimes makes a bit of backfire noise. Then there is a weird smoke thar looks as if it's coming from the backside of the engine, electrical maybe? I Have basic mechanical knowledge, and have been working on vehicles off and on for quite a few years, just haven't gotten into one of these before..

 

Sounds like T-Stat never opened

 

I thought the same, I pulled the tsat out and tested it in hot water, and it worked correctly at the temp it is for. So not sure what that was about..

 

Is your waterpump working? Can you see coolant flowing when cap is off and cool, engine running?
Just say'n, but if your stat OPENED, the hose would be HOT.
IDK, think'n

Was thinking..........were you getting any exhaust out the back as in from the tail pipes? From sitting so long, you MAY have critter remains packed in the exhaust system right up to the Cat Con.

"Then there is a weird smoke thar looks as if it's coming from the backside of the engine"

THAT could be rodent/critter burn'n

 

Yes plenty of exhaust coming out of tailpipe, the smoke only has been now that it's not starting, while I'm attempting to start it.

 

gotcha

 

Maybe the starter is smoking. I did that earlier this year after a rebuild. LOTS of smoke. ended up replacing it in fear that I had shortened it's life tremendously.

 

Pulled all the plugs and they were wet, pulled dist cap and there was rust and the connector from the pickup coil to the icm was melted.. And the connections had corrosion on them.. Somehow moisture got into the dist.? There is also a ring of rust under the cap probably from the dist. Spinning? How do I go about replacing the pickup coil, would that be reason for not getting spark possibly?

 

Replace the whole distributor. Moisture inside the dizzy usually means the vents in the dizzy baseplate are clogged.