ScubaSteve
Member
I bought a '96 coupe a few weeks ago and I'm already having problems... The other day I drove home and parked it. The next morning the engine would crank but wouldn't fire up.
There was no indication that it was having problems performance-wise, but the SES light had come on solid and stayed on while the car was running. I bought an OBDII code reader and along with the paperclip jumper pulled all the codes. Only problem is there weren't any. I didn't think this was possible?
Throughout trying to troubleshoot the problem I've replaced the ECM, ignition module, ignition coil and TPS. The place I bought the car from says they had just replaced the water pump, seals and optispark.
I've validated that I have good fuel pressure at the rails, fuses are all good, etc. Everything else seems fine. Just no spark. I tried the troubleshooting steps I found in the Haynes manual, chiltonlibrary.com and the forums here and so far I've only found that the "C" wire on the ignition module, which is supposed to contain an AC reference current from the ECM when cranking, has no power.
The manual says to replace the ECM, but I just did... and it's the exact same behavior as with the old one. So before I throw more good money after bad, are there other things I can check? Could it be the optispark? Is there an electrical test I can perform on it without disassembling most of the front end of the engine?
Or am I better off just having it towed to the local chevy dealer and taking in the rear... err... wallet with them?
Thanks!
There was no indication that it was having problems performance-wise, but the SES light had come on solid and stayed on while the car was running. I bought an OBDII code reader and along with the paperclip jumper pulled all the codes. Only problem is there weren't any. I didn't think this was possible?
Throughout trying to troubleshoot the problem I've replaced the ECM, ignition module, ignition coil and TPS. The place I bought the car from says they had just replaced the water pump, seals and optispark.
I've validated that I have good fuel pressure at the rails, fuses are all good, etc. Everything else seems fine. Just no spark. I tried the troubleshooting steps I found in the Haynes manual, chiltonlibrary.com and the forums here and so far I've only found that the "C" wire on the ignition module, which is supposed to contain an AC reference current from the ECM when cranking, has no power.
The manual says to replace the ECM, but I just did... and it's the exact same behavior as with the old one. So before I throw more good money after bad, are there other things I can check? Could it be the optispark? Is there an electrical test I can perform on it without disassembling most of the front end of the engine?
Or am I better off just having it towed to the local chevy dealer and taking in the rear... err... wallet with them?
Thanks!
Sorry for your early problems. Tell us more about the car you bought. And just to fall back in love with the car schedule a day to go out and drive 3 or 4 hundred miles. After that the smile will be back on your face and the early problems will be forgotten.
...I wouldn't worry about it too much. I got my '88 Z51 two years ago and I'm only 28. Welcome to the forum!!!
