Car cranking, but not starting(Now with spark!)

[ST1G]

Yea. I'm just throwing out things that could cause it. Have you switched out main and fuel relays if the distributor is getting spark but not sending it to the plugs you may have moisture. When you can take a screw driver and see if the coil is sparking it should since it has power.

I live in the desert, It's about as dry as can be in the winter. I don't think it's moisture, The car has been sitting in a warm garage for almost a week. And I've never had moisture problems in the past.

I've switched out the main relay, and fuel pump relays with known working relays (high beams, horn). But I'll attack a lack of fuel problem next if that's the case, for it's a battle to get spark.

When I pulled the distributor I used electrical cleaner and made sure everything was dry. I put a dab of electrical contact grease on the connectors. Should keep the moisture off.

I have two e30s, so if the new ECU/DME doesn't work, and a new crank position sensor doesn't do anything I'm going to swap the cap, rotor, wires, and distributor from my running car.

I really just don't know at this point if the distributor is getting signal. Is there a way to check this?

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Yea. I'm just throwing out things that could cause it. Have you switched out main and fuel relays if the distributor is getting spark but not sending it to the plugs you may have moisture. When you can take a screw driver and see if the coil is sparking it should since it has power.

[ST1G]

Are you getting spark to the distributor? I know you said none comes from the plugs but if you are getting spark into the distributor but not out then I suspect the problem would be solved. Have you pulled the fuel send line and cranked it to get fuel out? Is the fuel pump engaging? Bad fuel pump relay? Idk I'm just gonna start throwing out shit I checked when the m30 didn't spark.

Well step one is spark, step two is fuel.

I know the distributor is getting power, I don't know if it's shooting spark or not. It's the ECU that controls that. So I'm thinking bad sensor, or bad ECU.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Are you getting spark to the distributor? I know you said none comes from the plugs but if you are getting spark into the distributor but not out then I suspect the problem would be solved. Have you pulled the fuel send line and cranked it to get fuel out? Is the fuel pump engaging? Bad fuel pump relay? Idk I'm just gonna start throwing out shit I checked when the m30 didn't spark.

[ST1G]

BUMP

I've got the car home and into the garage to troubleshoot.

I started by checking for spark, there is none in cylinder one plug (I didn't check any others)

So, I checked resistance and voltage and found the following.

Wires: All had no resistance
Coil: Correct resistance between pin 15 (positive) and pin 1 (negative) And between pin 15 and the voltage sender pin (center). I'm getting 11.5v of power at the coil with the key turned to on.
Cap: Cap had just enough resistance to show continuity between the pin's
Rotor: Had the correct resistance (1086 Ohm)

So, I'm Thinking the last thing in the mix is the ECU or the Position sensor? Did I miss something?

[ST1G]

Did you check for spark? I was having a similar issue, turned out to be my CPS ground. Not sure the difference between the early and late cars, but it's worth a shot?

So, that's what I'm worried about, It could be lots of things.

Judging by the condition of the spark plugs I got a new fuel filter I'm going to be putting on.

I need to drag it back to my house so I can really trouble shoot it at night when I'm home from work/school.

I will then start to check for spark and fuel.

[HennaE30]

Did you check for spark? I was having a similar issue, turned out to be my CPS ground. Not sure the difference between the early and late cars, but it's worth a shot?

[ST1G]

Did you test known working relays?

Nope. I don't have any relays and would need to pick some up, or pull from non vital parts of the car like horn & headlights.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Did you test known working relays?




(EDIT: I'm tossing out easy to check stuff first, but you will be getting to checking sensors and harness with an electrical tester and well placed harness wiggles)

[ST1G]

Cleaned plug, greased plug, no start. Same issue, with no change. Can the connector only go back on only one way?

Hmm. Not sure what to try next. I was really hoping that was it.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Thats it!

[ST1G]

Because it's intermittent im saying it sounds like c191.

And this is the connector I am cleaning and re-seating?


EDIT: Also the plugs were not wet after lots of cranking and removing them. More to support the connector I guess.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Because it's intermittent im saying it sounds like c191.

[ST1G]

Open it up, clean it with some spray electrical contact cleaner, let it dry and get some fresh dielectric grease onto the pins and connectors.

Okay cool, I'll snag some of that on the way over there.

It seems like it's something intermittent, like a loose connection. Do you have any other suggestions?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Open it up, clean it with some spray electrical contact cleaner, let it dry and get some fresh dielectric grease onto the pins and connectors.