cranks but won't start. (Page 4/5)
Gall757 JAN 15, 09:30 AM

quote
Originally posted by 2fast288fierogt:


I bought a duralast gold distributer cap and rotor, installed them, it didn't start. I tried the starting fluid in the manifold and it still didn't start. I also bought six Autolite spark plugs but the old ones are a little rusty so I'm letting the rust buster sit and hopefully it'll help me get them out, maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm going to go pick up a duralast ignition coil and a duralast gold ignition wire set. Hopefully after all that it will start. When I was trying to start it today I think I smelled gas maybe? Not sure. I was pressing the gas to try to get it to start.




Be suspicious of the 'duralast' brand. It's not high quality stuff and sometimes it's bad when new.

Do you have a multi-meter? The next thing you should check is the ignition coil.... here is a simple test.

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 01-15-2017).]

2fast288fierogt JAN 16, 04:36 PM

quote
Originally posted by Gall757:


Be suspicious of the 'duralast' brand. It's not high quality stuff and sometimes it's bad when new.

Do you have a multi-meter? The next thing you should check is the ignition coil.... here is a simple test.






Thanks for the tip. I went ahead and bought a duralast ignition coil put it in. Now the car doesn't even crank right, it just goes RERRR RERR and then turns off. I still haven't put in the new spark plugs or the duralast gold wires. I'll work on changing those out and let you guys know if anything changes. I don't have a multi meter. Thanks again. Should I gap the spark plugs?

[This message has been edited by 2fast288fierogt (edited 01-16-2017).]

Gall757 JAN 16, 06:30 PM
Battery has probably been used a lot by now.....I hope you don't introduce new problems with all the new parts.
2fast288fierogt JAN 16, 06:45 PM
I put in the duralast wires, and I hooked up a little power pack to the battery, it usually starts my car right up. It just goes kind of like RERR REAR KSH. The KSH as it turns off. It won't let you crank it anymore than that, it turns itself off. The battery pack usually cranks the car like a champ. Maybe the next thing to buy is just a whole new battery? I'd put the spark plugs in but in not sure about the gappage, and I'd squirt the Schrader but Im not entirely sure if the Schrader is what I think the Schrader is. Is the Schrader under the passenger side of the intake manifold?
85 SE VIN 9 JAN 16, 07:15 PM
Stick with us! We'll get you through! Now it won't even crank? Sorry about that!

In my defense, I don't see how changing the coil could affect cranking. It's conceivable that changing the wires might. Is it possible that at some point you've gotten them hooked up out of order? That could explain a lot. The firing order and plug locations are easy on the Fiero, but it's still possible to get it wrong. That could cause it to crank but not start and also to not crank. The order is 1-2-3-4-5-6, starting from about four o'clock on your distributor and going clockwise. Number one cylinder is the right side of the engine facing the trunk, two is opposite on the bulkhead side of the engine, three is the middle plug facing the trunk, and so on.

Yes, the Shraeder valve it on the top right under the manifold. It looks just like a tire valve.

And what exactly is your connection to Duralast?

Could you post a picture of your distributor with and without the cap? To post pictures on the forum you download PIP, found at the bottom of this page. You may need to resize your images before posting. This can be done through your camera software, an image editor, or a downloaded image resizer.

Sometimes people, or their previous owners, have the distributor in an unusual position.
2fast288fierogt JAN 16, 09:39 PM

quote
Originally posted by 85 SE VIN 9:

Stick with us! We'll get you through! Now it won't even crank? Sorry about that!

In my defense, I don't see how changing the coil could affect cranking. It's conceivable that changing the wires might. Is it possible that at some point you've gotten them hooked up out of order? That could explain a lot. The firing order and plug locations are easy on the Fiero, but it's still possible to get it wrong. That could cause it to crank but not start and also to not crank. The order is 1-2-3-4-5-6, starting from about four o'clock on your distributor and going clockwise. Number one cylinder is the right side of the engine facing the trunk, two is opposite on the bulkhead side of the engine, three is the middle plug facing the trunk, and so on.

Yes, the Shraeder valve it on the top right under the manifold. It looks just like a tire valve.

And what exactly is your connection to Duralast?

Could you post a picture of your distributor with and without the cap? To post pictures on the forum you download PIP, found at the bottom of this page. You may need to resize your images before posting. This can be done through your camera software, an image editor, or a downloaded image resizer.

Sometimes people, or their previous owners, have the distributor in an unusual position.









thanks for the words of optimism and don't be sorry, its my fault. I should of took better care of the car. I checked the firing order just like you said, it is easy. Firing order's correct, I tried twisting off the Schrader but I couldn't twist it off with my fingers. I put the car in "on mode" and waited a few seconds then turned it back off, I did that three times. Then I put the car in "on mode" for about 10 seconds and turned it back off. After that I was trying to twist it off but I guess my fingers aren't strong enough.

no connection to duralast haha, I'm just going with the cheapest options.

thanks for showing me how to upload photos, The two photos you requested should be above.
Gall757 JAN 16, 10:06 PM
What are the red cables for?
Patrick JAN 16, 10:45 PM

quote
Originally posted by 2fast288fierogt:

I'd squirt the Schrader but Im not entirely sure if the Schrader is what I think the Schrader is. Is the Schrader under the passenger side of the intake manifold?

I tried twisting off the Schrader but I couldn't twist it off with my fingers.



Yes, it looks like a tire air valve with a cap on it. If you've got weak digits, use a set of small pliers.
2fast288fierogt JAN 18, 01:50 AM
https://youtu.be/qhVCZEknVK4

That's a quick video of me trying to start the car. In the morning I'll squirt the Schrader valve and let you guys know if I have any fuel pressure or not.

I can go to the auto parts store and buy a part tomorrow, just let me know what might help.

The red cables are a grounding system that came with the car when I purchased it.

[This message has been edited by 2fast288fierogt (edited 01-18-2017).]

Gall757 JAN 18, 09:07 AM
I don't hear a fuel pump in that video.

The red cables are a strange way to fix a grounding problem. They may be a problem.

Stop throwing cheap parts at the car and instead find out what is wrong with it. Get a multi-meter.