I need some help...

[skeetimer]

My Vette needs your help...

I was driving my Vette the other day and when I was at a friends house I tried to start it and it wouldn't start. Everything is cranking but nothing is firing up. I did a spark test to see if the ignition system was working...no spark. I have replaced the plug, coil, distributor cap, and rotor. The wires are newish and I checked them and they are all okay. The module in the distributor was tested and was okay. Still no spark. Any Ideas?

 

[cruzer99]

Check for bad ground in the fuse panel under the dash on the drivers side. I had a similar problem a few months ago and started checking fuses. In the process of removing and installing the fuses (none were bad), I moved the the fuse panel around enough to get a ground connection again and it started. I believe there is a main ground that comes in on the back side of the panel, check it and all of the other connections. Because of the glass body, ground connection problems are a big issue.

 

[Stingray6974]

Skeetimer, when cranking the engine is the tach moving? When you changed the cap did you change the ground strap to the new cap?

Mike

 

[skeetimer]

Yes the tach moves and yes I moved the little ground metal piece that goes under the coil if that is what you mean. I checked the terminals for power and they all indicated that there was power going in.

 

[Stingray6974]

Yep, that's the piece I mean. Ok you have primary signal. Now check and see if the injectors are pulsing and squirting fuel.

Mike

 

[skeetimer]

Yup they do that. I have also checked to make sure the rotor turns it does that.

 

[Stingray6974]

Double check yourself and make sure you don't have any spark. If you do have spark now then the plugs are gas fouled and will need to be changed. If still no spark unplug the tach lead from the distributor, the brown connector beside the white power connector, and check for spark again. If still no spark you either have a defective coil or a bad module. Also check the orange wire in the battery compartment going to the ECM for any breaks.

Mike

P.S. Don't trust module testers. I proof them wrong all the time.

 

[skeetimer]

I got it fixed. The pick up inside the distributor was bad. I replaced that and it works now. Now I have to adjust the timing. But it fires up now. Thanks for your help everybody.

 

[Rich80]

Mine was the module. I'll have to remember this thread about the pickups......