pr1689

Ok, I'm pretty confused here. I had recently rebuilt the engine and it's been running just fine! Today, I hope in the car after driving home to head out on another errand. She started up, I put it in drive and started driving. I got about 60FT and she died. Then when trying to start her back up, she started and then died like 2 seconds after starting. Now, she tries to start and just won't.

I put on a fuel pressure tester and it sits at 43lb's with the key in the on position as well as when I try to start the car. It has spark and air. I tried disconnecting the MAF but that didn't make any difference, I also tried disconnecting the TPS and IAC, and still no difference. Once when trying to start it, I pushed the accelerator all the way to the floor and it backfired so I obviously haven't done that again.

Any ideas on what it can be? I have maybe 2200 miles on a completely rebuilt engine.

Thanks,

Pat Rogers

87zjeff

iTrader: (4)

could be ignition control module. i had one go bad a couple months ago. even had good spark when i cranked the motor. autozone and some other places can test them.

pr1689

Thanks for the reply! I had put a brand new one from Chevy in when I was rebuilding the engine. I wonder if that is the problem too, because it is actually seeming like the timing is way off or not firing properly. I will pull it and see if that is the problem.

Thanks,

Pat

Randy82WS7

i agree, most likely the ignition module

or crank sensor/trigger if so equipped :P

if its not the module then check wires to and from the distributor and to and from the ignition coil for a break inside the insulation, ive seen one break before and therefore not allow 12v to the coil



good luck

pr1689

Thanks everyone for the replies. I will take a look at all of those and see what goes. I'll repost my findings as soon as I can.

Thanks,

Pat

pr1689

Ok. Well I pulled the Ignition control module and had it tested. It was bad, so I replaced it. Well it still acts the same way.

I am curious if maybe my MSD-6A is bad or something, like maybe burning that module out or something along those lines. Or maybe that new module was bad. I'm getting spark as the car is trying to start, but just won't keep going.

Or is it possible that there is another bad component that got fried?

Anyone have any additional ideas or thoughts?

Thanks,

Pat

Toehead

Im not sure how the MSD is wired up, but try pulling the advance and see if it runs.

pr1689

I pulled the advance and it still acted the same way. I am assuming you meant the timing advance wire up by the firewall -- correct?

Thanks,

Pat

Toehead

Ya. The module will still spark while cranking even with no advance signal. The timing override pin (est) only becomes five volts in run, not crank. The timing is fixed at base timing unless the 5 volt override is applied.


I was just wondering whether or not the computer was sending an advance signal. Since it acts the same I guess that the computer is fine.

pr1689

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks for the suggestion. If the ESC module is bad, what would the symptoms be? Similar to mine?

Thanks,

Pat

Toehead

Im not sure about the ESC knock sensor module... I've never had a car with one before. Mine are all too old!!!

pushing the pedal to the floor activates "flood clear mode".

pr1689

Yeah, but when I do that, it backfires, sounds like a gunshot when it happens. It won't do it each time, but most of the time.

I am also wondering if its not the pickup coil going bad?

Thanks,

Pat

Toehead

IT would be interesting to see. Any reading on your tach while cranking? I would think a weak pickup coil would show up on the tach...

My car is a berli, so it has the dash off while cranking.... im not sure about normal camaro's.

pr1689

That's a good question! I really don't know the answer to that, so I'll go try and post back. :-)

Thanks,

Pat

pr1689

The tach doesn't show anything while trying to start the car.

Anyone have additional ideas??

Thanks,

Pat

pr1689

bump...

pizza_guy

If your tach doesn't show anything while cranking, my bet is your not getting an rpm signal from the dizzy. I know thats not super helpful, but at least its a direction to try.

pr1689

Would you tend to think that it would be the pickup coil then? Its an 86 IROCZ, so I can't ever remember if the tach would show anything before or not. It always started immediately.

Thanks,

Pat

pizza_guy

You could test the pickup without removing the dizzy. Measure the resistance between the two connectors. Should get about 750 to 1000 ohms. Also check for resistance between each contact and the dizzy's base. They should both read infinte, otherwise, there is a short to ground.

Pickup coils rarley go bad. From your initial description, my bet is either the igntion module, or something with your MSD box/installation. Even if the knock sensor was sending a maximum knocking signal, the engine would still run.

You could try bypassing your MSD box, installing a known good module, and go from there.

pr1689

Ok, I bypassed the MSD and have the same issue. I tested the pickup coil and it tested ok. I then took the ignition control module in to have tested and it tested good.

What are the chances the coil is bad? I have an ACCEL Super Coil. How do I test to make sure it is good?

Thanks,

Pat

Toehead

There should be some resistance specs for it. i don't know the specs for the accell coils. However, I have heard of people having trouble with them...

pr1689

Well, I found the problem. Its not good.

when I kept pulling the distributor cap off, I noticed the bug was always pointing in the same direction. The first couple of times, I figured coincidence, but the 3rd and 4th time, I knew something was not good.

I was able to move the bug a fair amount back and forth, so I had my son crank it over while I watch to see if the bug moved. It didn't.

I pulled the distributor and found the gear was mangled. All the teeth that were left were sharp and the others were worn out.

I had put in a zz4 cam, and everything is roller. I picked up from the Chevy Dealer a melonized dizzy gear and put it on. It was supposed to be the one to be used with the ZZ4 cam. I now have to wonder if they didn't give me the right part.

Now I'm concerned about all the metal that may have been floating through the engine. I use a 2 quart oil filter on the car, so I'm hoping that it caught most everything if not everything.

What could cause this? Did I have the distributor clamped down too hard? Is it just the wrong damn gear? What steps should I take now? For instance, is just replacing the dizzy gear and changing the oil going to be ok? I can't tell if the teeth on the cam shaft are worn down or not, so that is another concern.

What is everyone's advice? Has this happened to anyone else before??

Thanks,

Pat

pr1689

bump....

pr1689

bump.... Anyone have any ideas or advice on what to do next??

Thanks,

Pat

pr1689

bump again.... Does anyone have any ideas as to why my distributor gear was all ate up? Will changing the oil suffice or is my engine now shot since the gear has been ate up?

What do I need to do different to keep this from happening again? I did use a melonized dizzy gear, and am ready to put another one on and reinstall the dizzy. I know that cam walking could cause this, but when I installed the zz4 cam, I also used the cam retainer plate. Should I also have used a button? I didn't think it was necessary if using the retainer plate.

Thanks for all and any advice.

Pat

pr1689

bump....anyone??

Toehead

Wow, sorry to hear that man


This is not my department. I'll let one of the guys more experienced with this type of failure say their part.

Good luck man.

pr1689

Hey, thanks a bunch for all your replies and help. I do appreciate it. I just wish it had been one of those things rather than what it is! Ha!

All I can do now is grin and bear it I guess. I am tempted to just drain the oil, put on a new filter, start it, and then change it again immediately. Maybe do that a couple or 3 times. I am more concerned about what caused it to eat the dizzy gear though. Hopefully someone will reply.

Thanks again for all your help!

Pat

87zjeff

iTrader: (4)

i've had my cam eat a couple of dizzy gears in the 10 years since i rebuilt my motor. i would have to assume that they gave you either the wrong gear or a bad one. or you have some kind of mis-alignmentdue to bad teeth on either the cam gear or the distributor gear. possibly a bent distributor shaft. just ideas for things to check on.
new aftermaket cams are usually so hard that it is not to likely the cam is damaged. i'm still using the same one i installed 10 ears ago.

CBR1000RR

iTrader: (1)

Maybe the oil pump is starting to lock up??? You could take a screw driver or oil pump priming tool and spin the pump with the dizzy out and see how it feels. Just my two cents.