fiero stopped running!!!
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=2315
Printed Date: 25 April 2025 at 3:00am
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Topic: fiero stopped running!!!
Posted By: dmh5
Subject: fiero stopped running!!!
Date Posted: 14 February 2011 at 3:06pm
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hey i was driving home one day when out of no where my fiero died on me, its just stopped running, like it just lost all power. i havent gotten a mechanic yet, i was just hoping to possibly get some ideas of what could be wrong? i was thinking it could be the fuel pump but am not to sure. would really appreciate any ideas anyone has. thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 14 February 2011 at 3:37pm
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You're not giving us much info to go by. At least mention which engine you have. Just for clarification, when you turn the ignition key, does the engine turn over (but not start)? If you spray ether into the throttle-body, will the engine start? If it does, you have fuel problems. If it doesn't start, you may have ignition problems (ignition module, pick-up coil, ignition coil). Good info http://www.fieros.de/en/articles/ignition.html - Here . If you have the 2.8 V6, nine times out of ten, the symptoms you've described point to a failed ignition module.
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Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 15 February 2011 at 8:24pm
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sorry i have a 1987 v6 gt and im pretty sure the engine turns over when i turn the key but it doesnt start. so you think its the ignition module? will it be a big fix? |
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 15 February 2011 at 8:54pm
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It probably is ignition because those motors are known for this sort of thing. Before you go buying stuff we can help you find out for sure what is going on....K? Do this for me. Get in the car and turn it over. Watch the tachometer while doing this. Does it move? If so, does it jump around or stay nice and steady at about 2 or 300 RPM? If your ignition system is working right and your battery is charged then it should be nice and steady. The Dawg ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 15 February 2011 at 8:55pm
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I'm not saying it's necessarily anything in particular, as I don't have your Fiero in front of me. However, if it's the ignition module, I suggest you buy an AC Delco replacement. Aftermarket replacement modules are cheaper but don't seem to last very long. It's not a "big" job by any means to replace the ignition module. If it needs replacing, just make sure whomever does it applies proper heat sink compound between the module and the base of the distributor. You might want to try simply unplugging and re-plugging both ends of the cable that goes between the coil and the distributor before you do anything else. Many times it's just a corroded/poor connection at either end of this cable which prevents the ignition system from working properly.
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dmh5 wrote:Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 16 February 2011 at 9:48am
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so i currently live 4 hours away from my fiero s i gave my dad the link to this forum and he tried turning the key, but it didnt even turn, like theres a lock on it and i think the steering wheel is locked aswell, do you know how to get rid of that? |
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 16 February 2011 at 10:52am
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You mean the key wouldn't turn? Tell him to wiggle the steering wheel while he turns. The Dawg ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 16 February 2011 at 11:31am
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And also make sure he's using the "rectangular" key for the ignition and not the "oval" one. Hey, you never know!
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Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 3:34pm
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So, we gotta know... Did you get the ignition key to turn?
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Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 6:30pm
| so he didnt manage to get the key to turn yet, he thinks it might be a security lock or something as the sterring wheel wont turn either ive been trying to look online for how to make it work but i havent figured it out yet |
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 4:08pm
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Well, that is how it's supposed to work! The steering wheel will only move a fraction of an inch if the ignition key hasn't been turned.
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Posted By: kharmata
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 8:29pm
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So in order for the key to turn when the steering wheel is in a locked state, it (the steering wheel) may have to be rotated in a direction that makes if move freely away from the locked postion, for that fraction of an inch - then the key will be able to rotate. All this assuming the steering wheel is hard pressed against the internal locking mechanism of the steering column/key lock assy which can jam the key from turning. Does this make sense? |
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 9:49pm
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Yes, as long as it's the correct key which is being tried in the ignition.
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Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 24 February 2011 at 12:08am
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ok i will send all this information to him and i will try and get back to you tomorow
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Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 8:41am
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Hey, sorry about the long wait but i finally got a mechanic so check out the car, so originally he thought it was the ignition module so he bought a new one and replaced it but its still not running, so now hes just going to come back with a few wires and try and clean everything up in there. does anyone have an idea of what it could be now? |
Posted By: kharmata
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 9:24am
Don't we have a fiero club rescue party?  ------------- Kevin 08GSXR1000 |
Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 10:41am
| I wish |
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 11:26am
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Let me get this right...you put key in socket and that doesn't turn? Your steering wheel remains locked?
Tells me there's something wrong with your key or lock. If you've never replaced your key before, it's possible the key itself is worn and no longer fits the pin pattern in your lock. Maybe get a locksmith to rekey the lock and get a new key? If you are able to turn the key, then the next question is, does the engine turn when you try to start the car? Do you even have electricals? Fieros do not have power steering so in a stopped state, it is possible to turn your steering wheel, but it is difficult, especially if you've never driven a non-power steering car before. It's pretty hard to diagnose online when information is sketchy. Where are you anyways? Maybe somebody from the club has time and pop over and have a quick peak. Also, if you have a BCAA membership, they can send somebody to try and start it for you. -------------  Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 11:39am
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So the steering wheel problem has been fixed, the key
turns and the engine turns aswell, the mechanic also said that its not the fuel pump, so if its not that or the ignition module I dunno what it could be And I'm located on vancouver island |
Posted By: kharmata
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 1:05pm
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When I got my car it was dead because of a rusted out
pickup coil. ------------- Kevin 08GSXR1000 |
Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 1:35pm
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But would that cause my car to just stop running while I
was driving? Like evrything just died on me and the I just came to a slow stop |
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 2:56pm
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Hey, we're not letting you off that easy.
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What was the problem?Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 3:07pm
| not to sure the mechanic new how to make it turn, but he still doesnt know how to make is start |
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 3:09pm
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You need to tell us what the tachometer is doing while you're cranking the engine. The pointer should go up to about 200 RPM and stay there nice and steady. No jumping around. So do this and get back to us. The Dawg ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 3:25pm
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... If you're not too sure the mechanic knew how to make the key turn, who turned it?
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Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 3:49pm
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Sorry there was supposed to be a comma, the mechanic new
how to make the key turn |
Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 6:34pm
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So when we turn the key the tachometer doesn't even move,
it just stays on 0 rpm. You know what could cause this? |
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 6:48pm
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OK, you have an ignition problem. No spark or bad spark. So.....this could be a few things but if I had to guess, I would say distributor problems. Ignition module, pickup coil, rotor, cap. Check the connection between the pickup coil and the ignition module. They tend to get rusty and dirty. This connection can kill your car instantly. I can only assume your mechanic tested the power to these parts first. Tell your mechanic the above and he should be able to get it going. If you can borrow a good distributor from someone, I would just swap it out and see if that fixes the problem. Then you know to get it rebuilt. The Dawg ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 6:52pm
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I read your last post again and it occurred to me that we may not be on the same page. Are you simply turning the key "ON" or is the engine actually turning over? The engine has to be turning over for this to work. Make sure your battery is charged also. Is that what you meant? The Dawg ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
Posted By: dmh5
Date Posted: 08 March 2011 at 7:22pm
| the engine actually is turning over, the rpm just isnt moving, and the mechanic replaced the igition module a few days ago and it still didnt start so hes going to come back with coils and clean everything up tomorow |