I'm sitting here at work thinking about this.

Do you think that posibly my Distributor is toasted.

That would cause a no spark condition.

Is there a way I can check this?


I'm tring to think of things, since I have to wait until Saturday to get the ECM.

Any Ideas on this one?

 

I thought ya changed that man , anyway , Distributor caps can be strange .Sometimes , you can have a minor crack in it , and the car wont start .The last time my distributor cap was changed , it broke all to pieces when it was taken off .But before this the car was running .Just running real bad .Have you changed your distributor module ? .....I thought you tested or changed all that already man ? ..goodluck ...

 

I changed the cap, I'm wondering if the distributor itself is bad...

 

i had the same thing happen... grab ahold of the distributor and see if u can turn it a little.. if there is play then the bushings in the dist are shot, and that dist needs to be rebuilt.

 

How much is that?

 

I just played with the Distributor a little and it seem to have a little play in all directions.

I'm guessing that my distributor is probably gone.

I'm gonna try and start the car with w cap off, and see if the rotor is spinning...

 

How Hard is it to replace the Distributor...

 

Pulling out a distributer is a piece of cake.

1: Remove the cap making sure you know what order the wires go.
2: Make a note of where the rotor is pointing so you can put in that same spot when you put it back.
3:Remove all the wires attached.
4:Remove the 15mm bolt on the block for the hold-down at the base of the distributer.
5: Pull up and out.

Make sure that when you put it back in the rotor is pointing exactly where it was when you took it off or your car will not start later.

You might want to first check to see if the hold-down bolt is tight, if not it would make your timming very erratic and the car will run crappy if at all.


Dale

 

ignition module can be tested. free, do it.

pick up coil can die. check the two wires coming off it. are they separated from the windings?

is there power going to the distributor? use volt meter & chilton/haynes to troubleshoot.

 

I recently posted a message on how to rebuild the distributor, and included costs.

 

Did you change the pick-up coil and the ignition coil? The pick-up coil is the black thing at the bottom of the inside of the distributor. I'll tell you something, i know what your going through, i swaped my intake for an edelbrock intake, also i got rid of my CC-Distributor for a vacuum advance distributor, and a non-CC carb. Now my car won't start. so i know how you feel.

 

Are you getting spark at the plugs? I thought you said you were. if you are the distrib's fine.


ok you have a 90/91 camaro. You have the VATS system. When you go to start the car does the yellow security light come on? If not then the VATS has a problem, If it does then the system is working(has a complete circuit and you did not cut anything by mistake).

 

Nope not getting spark,

And yes the yellow security light does come on.

I don't think it's the vats system, but maybe.

I though that when the Vats was engauged that it cause the whole system to not start/turnover...

 

The system CAN control both. But if that light comes on and does not flash the system is fine. It's if it does not come on, or comes on and does a series of flashes it has a prob.

So you can turn over? but will not start or what?

If you CAN turn over but no spark check each Ignition system componet at every junction.
Book says No Spark do this
1. Check BATT power at coil terminal with key in the on position.
2. Dissconnect the coil lead from the distributor, and connect Ignition tester to check for spark.(Light built with 2 prongs as decribed in another part of this thread)
3. IF there is spark check the distributor cap&rotor
4. IF NO spark check ignition COIL resistance AND PICK UP COIL(500-1500 OHMS) for a short or open circuit. You have replaced the Ignition Module so thats hopefully not the prob.
5. If you have continuity between the Distrib BODY and the PICK UP COIL you have a short in the PICK UP COIL.

Thas all the book says, other then that it says to go to repair shop, DAMN BASTARDS do not realize people CAN fix thier own cars.....

Hope this helps man. Eventually we'll get this thing licked....

 

I'll need this info later, I got the same problem- no spark. So ttt.

 

IF you did not replace that pick up coil, that's a BIG problem.
Is the Metal Magnetic ring in one piece, not cracked in half?
IF ya got VATS, that's a bad problem, until bypassed or checked for proper operation.
The FINAL-
You live in a a CORROSIVE SALT WATER/AIR ENVIRONMENT, and your wires are corroded to the point of not passing spark. I know of this problem by once living at the Pacific Ocean in Marina Del Rey & Santa Monica. Things corrode, quicker.
IF this guy has the right tools to figure out problem, GO WATCH AND LEARN.
You have not done bad in your problem solving. Pay the guy for the education. You get to buy a nice Camaro and drive it in Hawaii for the cost of the repair bill.

 

You can probably rule VATS out because it disables the starter among other things.

 

HAS YOUR CAR BEEN FIXED YET?
WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?
This one has me curious