Wont turn over

[kramer2125]

Hey fellas,

I know you all must be tired of nOOb Fbody owners complaining about misfires and inop engine problems. I've learned a lot about our cars since i've been involved with this forum. I've checked all the posts that others, with my problem, have submitted. So finally, i submit to you my problem.

She won't turn over! I turn the ignition, and the engine chugs and chugs but doesn't vroom to life. I've checked the schrader valve, and i have fuel pressure in the rails. I just replaced the plugs, wires and coils, so i SHOULD have spark. The battery is new as well.

Soon, i'm getting a fuel pressure gauge, and a compression tester. So i'll see if that narrows the problem a bit.

Any advice?

[HBHRacing]

see if you actualy do have spark. "Should" will only get you a headache. Make sure of that first, then see what you ahve for pressure and go from there

[Ian]

Exactly. Actually check to see if you are getting spark. Many methods of this, but one involves a screwdriver inserted into the end of a plug wire, and put near something metal thats grounded. Thats the only thing i can think of, that you dont have spark

[majeskyb]

Or you can do what my Dad like to do. Pull the spark plug and hold the tip while getting somebody to crank the engine :D

[98Camaro3.8]

So the engine does turn over, right? It just doesn't fire. You're on the right track to finding the problem. I would first check to see if it has spark, then check the fuel pressure.

[kramer2125]

Ok, so it was the coils. When the engine cranks, no sparks between any of the prongs on the coils. I got them off ebay for 30 bucks shipped, STUPID STUPID STUPID. Now that i have the old ones in...

When you look at your engine bay from the very front of the car,
and your ignition coils are all lined up, what order do the prongs
(for the plug wires) go in cylinder number? I guess what i'm asking is
"does the first prong go to the first cylinder?" basically what order they
go
in. I got coils with no cylinder number marking on them.

Much appreciated

[98Camaro3.8]

http://home.cfl.rr.com/mkaprocki/Camaro/Coils.jpg
6 is at the front. ;)

[kramer2125]

Thanks for the diagram, very helpful lol.
When i turn the key to start the car, there are no sparks between the prongs on the coils. There were sparks before. I tried the "screwdriver in plug wire" method, and it didn't jump out. The spark didn't even ark to the hammer i had sitting right next to the screwdriver. Some things to keep in mind:

I just bolted on the magnaflow, and i have a small leak (the size of a pencil eraser) on the long pipe that goes from the S pipe to the pipe that straddles the rear end. The s pipe is also bolted to the cat. There might be a leak there.

The o2 sensor that goes in behind the cat on my 99 a4 is plugged in, but is suspended "hanging in the breaze". I understand it needs to be grounded, so a coat hanger is what is keeping it from scraping the ground.

Back to the ignition. Could it be my ICM? Maybe the crank sensor or camshaft sensor? Once again, she's cranking, but not roaring to life after one or two chugs.

I'm trying to get it running so i can sell it.

Thanks again

[BLLDOGG]

i dont think you need to move on just yet. find out why its not sparking. thats probably going to be the only problem

[FunkZ]

Originally posted by kramer2125:
there are no sparks between the prongs on the coils

Spark from one coil post to another? Don't think you want that to happen.

Pull one ignition wire off at the spark plug. Stick a screwdriver in the end of it so that it's touching the metal clip inside the boot. Hold the screwdriver by the plastic handle and bring the metal shaft close to something else metal on the engine, such as a valve cover or accessory bracket. By close I mean 1/4" away. While you're holding that small gap, have someone else hop in and turn the key, cranking the motor over. Watch for spark across the gap. If you don't see a spark, check another wire, one off a different coil, not the same one. If you get spark on a different coil, you may just have a bad coil, or one of the ICM terminals might have gotten bent or broken off. Check to make sure all the wire harness plugs are tight in the ICM.

To be honest it sounds like you just got the firing order out of sync when you replaced the coils. Trace each of the wires out to make sure each goes to the correct cylinder.

[kramer2125]

If all of the plug wires were removed, the ignition turned, would enough of the sparking between all 6 prongs, kill the coils?

[Razzer]

Go to autozone and buy a spark testor its much safer and only like 15$. That is how you check for spark, not a screw driver that could f***in kill you. Put the battery on a battery charger overnight and try to start the car to see if it starts, if it doesn't check the starter, if not go to the dealer to have them diagnose the problem.

[kramer2125]

The wiring harness that goes into the back of the ICM.... where does it connect? PCM maybe?

[Ian]

Dude, sparks will not jump between the posts of the coils if the wires are off, i dunno where you got that idea.

Did you put a plug in the wire yet and see if theres spark? If not, possibly the ICM.

[kramer2125]

They did before. You'd think that'd ruin the coils though. When its up and running i'll send you a pic. Honest to god! I'm putting the new wires on tomorow. I'll let ya'll know