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ignition problem

Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Technical Topics Forum
Forum Name: Technical Questions and Discussions
Forum Description: Got a technical question about your fiero? ask it here.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=646
Printed Date: 08 May 2025 at 12:14pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: ignition problem
Posted By: marcelvdgn
Subject: ignition problem
Date Posted: 23 May 2008 at 9:49pm

My car is still down

wont be able to attend

     Marcel



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Marcel 86SE V6 Auto
85SE V6 Auto
85 2m4
soon to be sleeper 3.8sc 5 speed



Replies:
Posted By: marcelvdgn
Date Posted: 25 May 2008 at 10:41pm

dave there is something else goin onwith the car

ive changed out everthing one at a time with the same results..... no spark.......new ignit coil, module, cap rotor. even put in a n old distributor from my 87, checked coils on running engines etc. im pissed.  cars fuel charges up and cranks over and can even smell the raw fuel coming thru exhaust.

ill start measuring voltages and resistance etc.  im thinking that no battery voltage is coming from the ignition switch to the coil while the key is in on or start. also thinking the alarm is interfering.

anyway of hotwiring the ignition to start?????? by pass the alarm any thief out there just kiddin

any suggestions.

i may take out the ecm and swap my 87 or 88 ecm in. do you forsee any problem with this swap?????? Capt Dave or Dr John??

just realized this should be in tech section....sry M



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Marcel 86SE V6 Auto
85SE V6 Auto
85 2m4
soon to be sleeper 3.8sc 5 speed


Posted By: marcelvdgn
Date Posted: 25 May 2008 at 11:08pm

Started last week with the primary coil connecter coming loose while driving hard, managed to determine that problem and changed out the connector with a replacement part from Blair.

Drove great for the next few days,,,,, went to dinner, car sat for about two hours, Started fine, drove two blocks when car dies on King george at 72nd in the left turn lane.

At first thought i was out of gas, put five litres in, still no start!!!!! Pulled coil hi ten wire off and cranked,,,, no spark. towed home  by bcaa.

Since, ive changed, ign module, coil, complete distributor/ still nothing

checked wires and connectors from coil to distibutor and ok

can the tachometer filter/lead cause a short or open curcuit and shut the engine down???

i believe there is an open circuit or a short in the wires supplying the coil, or ign module, or ecm, or alarm

no codes have shown up either........im stumped

Any help from the experts appreciated........Marcel



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Marcel 86SE V6 Auto
85SE V6 Auto
85 2m4
soon to be sleeper 3.8sc 5 speed


Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 25 May 2008 at 11:31pm

Well to answer a few questions, you can interchange any ECM from 85-88 so long as you change the entire ECM and Prom as a unit.  The 85 uses a unique Prom-ECM combo.  However as a unit it can be plugged into any V6 Fiero and is actually considered an upgrade to an 86-88 Fiero.

You can interchange Auto-Standard chips on the 86-88 ECMs to make up a proper setup.

 

A few things to check.  When you turn the ignition ON, do you get a steady check engine light like normal.  If it is OFF you need to check the main ECM power lead located at the large connector by the battery. 

Also check the 2 stud connector near the battery by the junction block.  Just to get it out of the way, I would remove the 2 nuts, and grab a wire wheel and clean them up or use sand paper.  Then put the connector back on and spin the nuts back on.  Check the car to see if it will start. 

Then pull the center console back off and unplug and replug in the large white connector that goes between the lighter socket area and the ECM.    I fought a random ignition miss in my 4.9 V8 for 2 years replacing every part of the ignition system only to find that, it was that damn plug was loose.  Every time my elbow leaned down on the center console the engine would start to miss or even cut out all together. 

Oh and if you have not checked all the fuses under the dash, now might be a good time to check them.  Fuses can corrode with age and cause all sorts of issues.  Pull them out and replace them.  If they are really dirty, you can go in and ask your wife for a metal nail file.  Then take it out to the garage trim it down to the same width of a fuse plug and use it to clean the fuse plug in the fuse box.

        I know this is a lot of info and suggestions.  However this is the steps I go through when I need diagnose a no start condition on one of the Fiero's I maintain.  (that number has recently risen to 6 daily drivers) 



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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 25 May 2008 at 11:32pm
I did some post moving and swapping.

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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: marcelvdgn
Date Posted: 25 May 2008 at 11:40pm

so i see ....thanks

check engine light is on steady at start also gives code twelve in diag. mode. all fuses in block were pulled and visually inspected. ill check resistances tomorrow as well as cleaning terminals. any thought about tachometer lead/filter effecting things?

ill check that console connection as well, thanks



-------------
Marcel 86SE V6 Auto
85SE V6 Auto
85 2m4
soon to be sleeper 3.8sc 5 speed


Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 6:16am
Turn on the key - you should have +12 at the pink wire at the coil.  Should also have +12 at the pink wire on the 2 pin connector going into the distributor. I've seen internal breaks on the harness where it leaves the coil.

And yes - if your tach filter shorted to ground it would take out the ignition system.



Posted By: marcelvdgn
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 10:59pm

well i want to thank all for the suggestions....... long story short. it was the distributor pickup coil.

upon visual inspection in the distributor nothing looked odd. it even measured  the right resistance (760ohms) when not connected to the ignition circuit. but when connected was a dead short to the distributor housing. when removed the thing just crumbed to pcs.

$18 bucks at lordco and about an hour to rebuilb distributor and RnR.

So..... im happy its running. i had been without a running fiero for over a week......was having  withdrawl symptoms. Still have to adjust the timing, but im pretty close to my original markings

M



-------------
Marcel 86SE V6 Auto
85SE V6 Auto
85 2m4
soon to be sleeper 3.8sc 5 speed


Posted By: Bassman
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 7:29pm
Marcel, I need to do the same soon...when you do rebuild your, maybe we can hook up as I have no idea and could use some advise:)

-------------
Brian (Bassman)

86 GT Fastback 3.2L

2013 Mazda3 Sport GS SkyActive

[IMG]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u243/Bassman68/BassmanSignature.png">


Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 9:38pm
Well maybe we will have to do a tech session on these.  Why dont you two decide on a date that works for the both of you like This Sunday and we can have both of you over here and we can do it.

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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Bassman
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 9:42pm

May be awhile for me...July tech session...lol

Planning to it the races this Sunday that I posted, then the bosses for a BBQ, then to bed as I am up at 5am on Monday:(...Saturday would be better in the morning around 10am?



-------------
Brian (Bassman)

86 GT Fastback 3.2L

2013 Mazda3 Sport GS SkyActive

[IMG]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u243/Bassman68/BassmanSignature.png">


Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 10:02pm
Well Brian swing by and we will take care of it when you have a spare afternoon to take a look into it.

-------------
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Bassman
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 10:26pm
Cheers:)...I need some sleep, up at 5am, just over tired...lol

-------------
Brian (Bassman)

86 GT Fastback 3.2L

2013 Mazda3 Sport GS SkyActive

[IMG]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u243/Bassman68/BassmanSignature.png">


Posted By: marcelvdgn
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 10:55pm
Well i rebuilt the 86 distrbutor already and its back in the car.... but i have to do the 87 as it measures as an open circuit. ill pick up the parts and can be done on the next tech  session. its pretty easy once you're over the fear factor

-------------
Marcel 86SE V6 Auto
85SE V6 Auto
85 2m4
soon to be sleeper 3.8sc 5 speed


Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 02 June 2008 at 10:21pm
  Well has is the car running with the new dist rebuild.  ????

-------------
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: marcelvdgn
Date Posted: 02 June 2008 at 10:49pm

You bet.... ive put a whole tank of gas worth of kms on it, and its running pretty good. i can smoothly and easily get to 5500rpm. i also posted some of my best gas mileage .

M

 



-------------
Marcel 86SE V6 Auto
85SE V6 Auto
85 2m4
soon to be sleeper 3.8sc 5 speed



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