My girlfriend has a 93 grand am with a Quad 4 (figured some fiero guy has to know Quad 4's heh) we cant figure out whats wrong, replaced the Ignition Module no luck, it just died on the highway a while back, we could get it started it would run for 20-30 seconds then die and now it wont even fire up, any idea's? You can hear the fuel pump when you turn on the ignition (doesnt mean it works though) I need to hook a diagnostic tool up to it but I dont have one, where can I get one and how much do they run?
Chris
[This message has been edited by Redneck (edited 03-04-2004).]
First off, check if you are getting spark. Do this by pulling off the IDI cover, take out the spark plugs from the head, put them into the plug connectors on the IDI cover, touch the end of the spark plug to the head, have someone crank the motor and watch for sparks. If your not getting sparks there, check trouble codes on the ecm using the paperclip method (should be in the haynes manual, but lmk if you need info on that). If you have spark, check for fuel pressure at the fuel rail. At the end of the fuel rail near the timing chain cover is a shrader valve. Let the pump run a few seconds, then open this valve for a sec (like a tire valve) and see if fuel comes out. If you have fuel pressure in the rail, have someone crank the engine with the spark plugs out and IDI cover off for a bit, and see if you get fuel going into the cyls (by smell). If you have spark, fuel, and no codes on the ecm, then it should start. If not, you have to dig deeper...
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12:22 AM
Redneck Junior Member
Posts: 10 From: Waterloo,Iowa,USA Registered: Feb 2004
So, you are getting spark, right? Paper clip trick (or any other wire) you ground out the A & B terminals on the ALDL connector. Its location is (as you are looking at it under the dash) should be the upper right corner on the vertical notch side. Make sense?
Things to check: -ECM -Crank Position Sensor -Ignition Module (Autozone or Advance Auto should be able to test module) -Wiring from module to ECM (make sure you have continuity from the module's huge plug to the ECM's end. Since you are getting spark, you have a good 12v & ground).
------------------ -jason '87SE '90GTZ
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07:24 AM
Redneck Junior Member
Posts: 10 From: Waterloo,Iowa,USA Registered: Feb 2004
yeah I'm not getting spark at all, sorry for the misunderstanding.
Chris
How did you test for spark? Check your wires. Make sure you are getting 12v's to the module. Make sure you have a good ground. Look on a schematic (sp?) for all the wires that connect to the module. Trace each wire and check to make sure you have continuity. Make sure the ignition module wires that go to the ECM have continuity (yeah, you'll need the volt-ohm meter for this one). If all that checks out, I would suspect the ECM, coils, hardware within the coil housing.
Perhaps the ECM isn't getting the signal that the engine is cranking/running, so it isn't telling the module to fire. Check to make sure all connectors are clean and free of corrosion.
