Car won't start, No Spark, Have Injector Pulse---listen to this, Brad

[Steve Wood]

Several months ago, someone wrote to me that his car would not start.  He said he had no spark but had injector pulse.  Said he had been thru the trouble tree on my site and everything checked out.

I had him go thru the usual stuff, try different modules, crank sensors, trace every wire back to the ecm, try a different ecm, etc.  This has been going on for several months now.  I told him more than once that except for having an injector pulse, it seemed like the cam sensor was bad.  Several times, I asked him if the wheel was turning on the cam sensor when cranking.  Asked him to verify the wheel was pinned and not broken loose.

The other day, he said he put a scope on the cam sensor and the voltage was not changing when he cranked it...now how did he miss that when he used a meter and went thru the trouble tree.  Tree also tells you to verify the wheel is turning...said he remembered me telling him to check the wheel but he guessed he overlooked it.

So you gotta wonder how you can have injector pulse if the cam sensor is not turning....... I know I told him to put a noid lite on it and to check the voltage drop on the sensor output when cranking it..thought maybe the cap was bad even tho he said he had pulse.

Anyway, the oil pump is locked up and the roll pin in the gear is sheared off.  Pump is probably crammed with nylon or worse.

This problem should have been diagnosed in about 30 minutes if you are like me and don't know where your noid lights are..but just using a voltmeter would have done the same in five.

Makes me want to cry.

[xpander343]

wonder if most people's problems are them just skipping trouble shooting steps

[Scoobum]

1. People don't/won't listen
2. People won't/don't read/follow directions
3. I quit working on Buicks 2 to 3 years ago for the above 2 reasons
4. I send all these guys to Dan...and let him deal with the headaches
5. I work on Dans car and mine...and that's it.
6. Steve Wood has forgotten more about these cars than most will ever learn. If you don't wanna listen to him...and do the checks he asks...then you aren't interested in correcting the issue(s) you have with your TR.
7. This one kills me. I see peoples sigs where they've spent a small fortune on cool guy parts for they're TR...but can't justify spending a couple of bucks on PL...but ask for help with tuning...or they hit the track and guess on their fueling.
8. On more than one occasion I've told the guy to sell his TR...and buy a car with a carb and distributor.
9. My top picks of people who know their shit. Steve Wood...Bison.. .PACECARTA...D usty Bradford.
10. I need a drink.

[Shimy87]

I fall into 7&10, and 6 is right on the money!!!

[Steve Wood]

Not sure I am in those guys class, but, I do tend to understand how they work.  I started trying to figure this car out in the summer...Kept saying check the cam sensor even tho it has injector pulse...still don't know how this was possible, and somehow, I'm pretty sure it's not...but anyway, the mystery is solved...now he has to figure out what's up with the oil pump.

[Scoobum]

Dan and I have seen more than our fair share of clogged oil screens...and a 1/4 inch of gray bearing material on the bottom of the pan has been pretty common. The guys are out beating on these engines and paying no attention to KR. Pounds the rod bearings into tinfoil pretty quick.

[Recap]

All I can say is listen to Steve.  He helped me get my GN going and I cant thank him enough.  It would probably be still sitting or in someone elses garage if not for his help.  Thanks again for your help and patience.  I owe you several!

[Steve Wood]

It's a great feeling when they fire up! Some times I get as big kick out of it as the owner

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[TexasT]

Mine won't start. Injector pulse good according to noid light have spark by the plug out and connected to wire laid on vC making spark. I got 11v to the relay on the fender but when I jump the connector to the alternator the hot wire relay clicks but the pump didn't run. I have a new relay to try . thinking it might be pump or relay. Any thoughts?

[good2win22]

Ground for the relay?

[Steve Wood]

Put power to the fuel pump test connector...do es it run? If not, long jumper to the back of the car directly to the pump- does it run?

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[williambavila]

I guess its time to did the car out of the back yard and see why it wont start. 

[Steve Wood]

You just feel like driving me crazy!

[TexasT]

I jumped at alternator yesterday. Relay at back clicks. I couldnt hear the one under the hood click and have another to try after work.  I will hit it with a long wire at the back. Only had 8volts on the middle connector of the three connector at the back. Had 11v at the fender relay. Gonna bring the trailer andtake it home after work. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Steve Wood]

8 volts says there is either a bad ground or a bad relay, I think....

I don't like the aftermarket hot wires with the relay at the back...I would rather have it all together under the hood for troubleshootin g

I tend to do gorilla troubleshootin g.  Jump straight to the worst potential problem so I can get mad fast when I find the pump is bad, or merely aggravated when the problem is in the middle