HELP

[mystang]

Need help with diagnosis. 1984 cross fire

Little back story, I have replaced every single gasket or seal on this engine except the head gaskets. I have had everything apart and have put it back together. Good news is the engine dosent leak anymore, bad news is when I try to time the engine. with ETC disconnected at 6 degrees BTC, the car idles up to aroud 1200 to 1500 rpm. If I advance to ATC it will idle down, but I am not able to see the timing mark? ;help Also after a few minutes the headers start to glow cherry red no matter how i set the timing.

Secondly, it smells a bit rich and check engine light is on. after pulling the codes i have the normal #12, then #14 (Engine coolant Temp (ECT) sensor- Circuit low or open circuit. #33 (Map sensor signal voltage ouf of range, high) I believe that the headers are glowing because of alot of fuel in the exhaust, and the map sensor "issue" could be part of it? Also #42 (Electronic spark timing (EST) Circuit grounded or ignitinon control (IC) circuit grounded or faulty bypass line. (Is #42 not expected when you have to pull the bypass line loose to do the timing?)



I have not had a chance to check map sensor or incoming voltages. The coolant sensor could be messed up when I was cleaning the lower intake manifold . but the map that one has me thrown for a loop as i have the vaccum line plugged into the manifold and I even replaced the vac line, but changed it back to the old one after the codes?

Is there a fuse for this item or items.

 

[vette079]

Looking at your previous post about the plastic part, could that have to do with this problem, or have you fixed that?

If not, I would fix that air diverter solenoid first.

 

[mystang]

Well the car was running before without these problems, and the diverter valve was also messed up with no problems. I also made sure that all the connections are infact connected to the corresponding sensors.

Also the Coolant temp was reading fine on the instrument cluster (would go up to 203 and drop back dow to 190's) has 193 or 195 thermostat I forget which one it is. But then the check engine light is telling me coolant sensor is reading high?

How many coolant sensors/switches are there. I know of one for the radiator fan on the passenger side hear or right below it, on the front of the lower intake manifold. Is there one I am missing. I know there is what appears to be on the passenger side of the radiator with a male "spade" connector on it but it never had a connector on it since I have had the car. Also when I look online for the "coolant temp. sensor" at autzone it is a two wire connection, but the one on the pass side on the engine is one wire as well as the one on the front of the lower intake manifold.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Need help with diagnosis. 1984 cross fire

Little back story, I have replaced every single gasket or seal on this engine except the head gaskets. I have had everything apart and have put it back together. Good news is the engine dosent leak anymore, bad news is when I try to time the engine. with ETC disconnected at 6 degrees BTC, the car idles up to aroud 1200 to 1500 rpm. If I advance to ATC it will idle down, but I am not able to see the timing mark? ;help Also after a few minutes the headers start to glow cherry red no matter how i set the timing.

First of all, you've got "advance" and "retard" mixed-up. When you move the distributor such that the spark at #1 comes "ATC" (or "after top center") you are retarding the spark not advancing it...actually, you're retarding it a lot. Running the engine so far retarded is why the exhaust is red. Now, that the exhaust glows no matter where you set the spark, indicates the possibility that the timing mark on the balancer is incorrect or the timing chain has slipped or the engine might be running quite lean.

So....you need to address all those issues.

Secondly, it smells a bit rich and check engine light is on. after pulling the codes i have the normal #12, then #14 (Engine coolant Temp (ECT) sensor- Circuit low or open circuit. #33 (Map sensor signal voltage ouf of range, high) I believe that the headers are glowing because of alot of fuel in the exhaust, and the map sensor "issue" could be part of it? Also #42 (Electronic spark timing (EST) Circuit grounded or ignitinon control (IC) circuit grounded or faulty bypass line. (Is #42 not expected when you have to pull the bypass line loose to do the timing?)

Multiple codes should be addressed in sequence according to number. You can get a starting point for slolutions to all of them. With so many problems existing at once, assuming you can either guess, use trial-and-error or rely on various opinions here on the CAC to help you acomplish repairs, are all bad assumptions. If you don't already have it, buy the Factory Service Manual and use it to diagnose the codes.

With a 13 and 33 set, it is possible that the idle speed could be affected.

Also, 42 will set when the ign. timing connector has been pulled but 42 also sets when there is a problem with EST, which there could be.



I have not had a chance to check map sensor or incoming voltages. The coolant sensor could be messed up when I was cleaning the lower intake manifold . but the map that one has me thrown for a loop as i have the vaccum line plugged into the manifold and I even replaced the vac line, but changed it back to the old one after the codes?

Is there a fuse for this item or items.[/QUOTE]

 

[mystang]

First of all, you've got "advance" and "retard" mixed-up. When you move the distributor such that the spark at #1 comes "ATC" (or "after top center") you are retarding the spark not advancing it...actually, you're retarding it a lot. Running the engine so far retarded is why the exhaust is red. Now, that the exhaust glows no matter where you set the spark, indicates the possibility that the timing mark on the balancer is incorrect or the timing chain has slipped or the engine might be running quite lean.

quote]

When I turn the distributor towards 6 degreeson the side that says Before on the timing mark on the timing cover, the engine idle increases. when I turn the distibutor to the other side of 0 "advance" the idle decreases. Either way I turn it the headers glow red. which to me would mean fuel not timing. also the car smells rich. what is interesting is it idles better then before as well as sounds that it is running better then before.

I also replaced the timing chain with the timing marks pointed at each other. (crank dot pointed up cam "arrow" pointed down) with the way the crank shaft is keyed and the way the cam has a dowel on it is almost impossible for you to replace the chain incorreclty if I am not mistaken and still have the dots pointing at each other.

 

[Hib Halverson]

When I turn the distributor towards 6 degreeson the side that says Before on the timing mark on the timing cover, the engine idle increases. when I turn the distibutor to the other side of 0 "advance" the idle decreases. Either way I turn it the headers glow red. which to me would mean fuel not timing. also the car smells rich. what is interesting is it idles better then before as well as sounds that it is running better then before.

(snip)

Good luck with your diagnosis and service work. I'd be interested if, once you get the car repaired, to have you post what it took to acomplish that.