86 gt fastback 2.8 4 speed Hey everyone I got a big problem now. Went outside today to put new ignition wires on and I think I got it all crossed wired or at least one wire is I think. I did it by the firing order 123456 going in a clockwise motion and now all the sudden the car wants to jerk hesitate just really sluggish and takes for ever to catch up speed. I also noticed that when I let up off the clutch slowly go where it starts to catch the tac is jumping back in forth anyone know what could of happened computer service light also flashes code 33 and 44.

This thread might help you figure out whether you've got the wires mixed up on the distributor. Just remember that when you go to plug in the other end of the wires to the spark plugs, that number 1 cylinder is on the passenger side closest to rear of the car, #3 is the middle one closest to the rear and #5 is the rear one closest to the transmission. The bank closest to the cabin is the even bank with #2 closest to the passenger etc.

www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/102161.html

On my car when I first started doing no.1 wire was on the side with the fire wall also 3, and 5 are as well and 2,4,6 wires are on the back side running along where the cruise control is and everything else

Hmmm... that reminds me... if someone has removed and replaced the distributor (not just the cap), then all bets are off unless they reinstalled it in the same orientation as it was done from the factory. The thing with the Fiero distributor is that it can be installed any number of ways which will throw off the orientation of the wires relative to the cap. You're probably going to have to rotate the engine by hand until the timing mark on the harmonic damper lines up with timing tab on the timing cover. Just be sure to use the widest groove on the damper as your reference point. Once you've done this, there's a 50/50 chance you're actually at #1 TDC on the firing stroke or #4 TDC on the firing stroke. So, to get a good idea which one it is, take off the distributor cap and see which post it was pointing to. If your wires are correct, then the rotor under the cap will be pointing either at the post for #4 or #1. If it's pointing at anything else, then you've definitely mixed up the wires. There's still no definitive way to tell whether you are at TDC #4 or #1 unless you have a compression gauge or take off one of the valve covers though, but there's a good chance that they're very close to where they should go, so maybe you can figure out which way you messed them up.

One thing for sure, the cylinder numbers are definitely the way I described them above... ie: 1,3, & 5 are closest to the cruise control solenoid with 1 being at the pulley end of the engine.

all i can say is good luck.. this happened to me when i 1st changed my distributpr cap. and insteaf of doin it 1 by 1 i pulled em all off and i sat there for hours tryn to figure it out.. finally got it running but two wires was reversed and it would pop and barely move and wouldnt go up a hill

Hey very sorry for the mixing I found a firing order diagram on google that shows that the odd number cylinders are the ones closest to the cruise solenoid I'm gonna try hooking them up that way with the finger way with my bro to see If we can get it on the compressoin stroke like that and hook up the ignition wires to the plugs and try starting it. I was thinking it was like a small block chevy with the odds on the left of block and the evens on the right of the block But it is totally opposite on the 6 cyls

Just remember that you're looking at a FWD engine from the opposite side you normally do. That's what messed me up the first time I did it.

Well being as I can screw anything up and crossing wires is super easy, I do the wires one at a time. No help now, but maybe it will help in the future. It's no harder to do it this way.

Since you don't know where number 1 is on your distributor, and you don't have a compression tester, pull all the wires from your distributor except for the coil wire. Next, take one of the wires and put it onto the number 1 plug, just above the alternator. Attach your timing light, aim it at the crankshaft pulley and have someone crank the engine.

If you don't see the timing mark in the flash, pull the wire from the distributor cap and move one location clockwise, repeat. Keep doing this until you see your timing mark. That will put you on number 1, then you can wire from there.

Keep in mind that this method could also indicate your number 4 cylinder, so if the car won't run properly after installing all the wire, simply swap the wires 180 degrees on the distributor.

Looking back on things I've read here, for God's sake, don't suggest that PK insert a finger into the spark plug hole while cranking the engine. I'm afraid his next thread will be "Spent the day in the ER".

Lol no I won't do that I'll use my thumb for that one I always do it that way on my trans am but i can get a timing light from my buddy down the street and well go from there

If you haven't moved the distributor (loosened the hold down bolt) it doesn't need to be timed. It just needs the plug wires on correctly. Do the thumb and you don't need a light

You can also buy a whistle instead of the finger, it screws into the spark plug hole and whistles as the piston goes up the cylinder bore.

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: If you haven't moved the distributor (loosened the hold down bolt) it doesn't need to be timed. It just needs the plug wires on correctly. Do the thumb and you don't need a light

What I was suggesting was a means of locating the number 1 terminal on the distributor relative to the timing mark. Whether the distributor has been moved or not, when the wires have all been mixed up and you don't know precisely which terminal was being used for number 1, this will find it.

Remove the distributor cap and hand rotate the engine till the widest timing mark is at 10* btc on the scale.
At this time the rotor will be either at cylinder 1 or cylinder 4 top of the firing sequence. Start on the assumption that is at # 1, replace the cap and wire it as such. Attempt to start the engine. If it starts your done, if it is sluggish or is misfiring badly the wiring order is 180* out. Move each wire to the opposite terminal on the cap and you should be good to go.

[This message has been edited by Indiana_resto_guy (edited 12-30-2010).]

you prolly installed plug wire 1 on #2 cap location or wire 1 on #6 cap location so they are all off.

quote Originally posted by pontiacfierokid1985: ... big problem

It's only six wires! Think about it! Don't make a mountain out of a molehill. There is enough good advice in this thread to guide you; just go slowly and methodically.

quote Originally posted by Marvin McInnis: It's only six wires! Think about it! Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.

It CAN seem like a big deal the first time you do it but youre right. It's really not that big of a problem to fix especially if you didn't move the distributor.

quote Originally posted by marc-alan: You can also buy a whistle instead of the finger, it screws into the spark plug hole and whistles as the piston goes up the cylinder bore.

Sticking a cork in the plug hole is more fun, just stay out of the way.

Yea I know just wanna say thank you to everyone helping me out on this prob but I got it to run did the finger technique and got the number 1 cyl on tdc and the mark right on the 0 tab on the cover saw the rotor pointing towards number 1 when I pulled the cap off that told me that it was all timed and good hooked up my ignition wires going in clockwise 123456 and it fired right up no tac jumping or anything thanks again everyone

[This message has been edited by pontiacfierokid1985 (edited 12-30-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Bloozberry: Hmmm... that reminds me... if someone has removed and replaced the distributor (not just the cap), then all bets are off unless they reinstalled it in the same orientation as it was done from the factory. The thing with the Fiero distributor is that it can be installed any number of ways which will throw off the orientation of the wires relative to the cap. You're probably going to have to rotate the engine by hand until the timing mark on the harmonic damper lines up with timing tab on the timing cover. Just be sure to use the widest groove on the damper as your reference point. Once you've done this, there's a 50/50 chance you're actually at #1 TDC on the firing stroke or #4 TDC on the firing stroke. So, to get a good idea which one it is, take off the distributor cap and see which post it was pointing to. If your wires are correct, then the rotor under the cap will be pointing either at the post for #4 or #1. If it's pointing at anything else, then you've definitely mixed up the wires. There's still no definitive way to tell whether you are at TDC #4 or #1 unless you have a compression gauge or take off one of the valve covers though, but there's a good chance that they're very close to where they should go, so maybe you can figure out which way you messed them up. One thing for sure, the cylinder numbers are definitely the way I described them above... ie: 1,3, & 5 are closest to the cruise control solenoid with 1 being at the pulley end of the engine.

Not entirely true pull number one spark plug place six inch extension into plug hole turn motor over until extension rises up and marks line up. That will be TDC on number one. Good luck hope this helps

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quote Originally posted by Four_hundred_86: That will be TDC on number one.

... or on number four.

quote Originally posted by Four_hundred_86: Not entirely true ...

I beg to differ. Cylinders 1 and 4 both arrive at TDC at the same time... except that one of them is at TDC at the end of the compression stroke, and the other will be TDC at the end of the exhaust stroke. Regardless, both pistons will push the rod in your example out of the spark plug hole at the same time.

Sometimes you get them in order but not all the way on. I know new plug wires can be VERY tight fitting . Use special lube on the boot to make it easier. Also makes it easy to remove when you change plugs.

quote Originally posted by Bloozberry: I beg to differ. Cylinders 1 and 4 both arrive at TDC at the same time... except that one of them is at TDC at the end of the compression stroke, and the other will be TDC at the end of the exhaust stroke. Regardless, both pistons will push the rod in your example out of the spark plug hole at the same time.

I've got a screw in compression gauge. So I was able to screw in the compression gauge, turn the crank clockwise and see when the gauge started to react. Then going forward till the timing marks lined up got me to where I needed to be. It was on a 4.3l S10 but same thing.

But I agree with everyone that you need to make sure it's on the compression stroke not the exhaust stroke. To figure out when you are 10* b tdc, but not know which tdc, and then have to still guess and if it doesn't work try again is way too frustrating. Do it right the first time and then snug that dist down and you KNOW it is in the right place to start. If it doesn't start leave the dist adjustment alone and fix what ever is wrong. Once that is fixed then your engine will start. Playing around with the distributor and not having any idea where it should be is for people who need to be frusted.