ignition problem

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

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) 

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

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

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