1988 Chevy Cavalier won't start

Tiny
CAVYZ24
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 247,932 MILES
I have an 1988 cavy Z 24, It has over 247,000 miles.
this car has not been driven much in the last 3 years.
A few months ago I started the car, left run for 1/2 hr or so then went to drive it and it died.I could'nt get it to restart. The following weekend it started right up, so I left it run for 20 min. It died and would'nt restart. Knowing the gas was old I drained the tank, and replaced the fuel filter. I got the same results the next weekend. This weekend it won't start at all.I borrowed a pressure gage to check the fuel pump Gas flows nicely with line disconected and I have 41psi at the fuel rail. I removed the coil packs and control module took them to AutoZone for testing, one of the coil packs was a bad [secondairy was open] The rest tested fine. After replacing coil packs and control mod. It still won't start. I have check for spark with both an tester and grounding a spark plug. I have double checked the wire harness connections [make sure I plugged them back in, also if anything else was unplugged, and the only code I get from the computer is 12. Although I don't drive this car daily { I have a company car] I'm not allowed to drive company car for pleasure trips. And this problem is testing me.
Saturday, July 12th, 2008 AT 6:28 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Still no spark? Replace the crank sensor
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Saturday, July 12th, 2008 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
CAVYZ24
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
When I check for spark I do see spark in the tester, although I addmit I haven;t checked each wire. Could it be possable the control mod "test" OK but still malfuntions? What part dose the crank censor play into? Is thiis an Electronic Timing deal? Timing being off would do the same thing on older cars. [See spark but wont run]
Thanx for your help I realy appreciate it.
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Sunday, July 13th, 2008 AT 11:36 AM
Tiny
CAVYZ24
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
OK, replaced the crank sensor, Still won't start. I rented a noid light tester to check injetors [if I new what I was renting. I would've made my own from my srap pile]I do not have voltage at my injetors. Is it poss. The main computer shut down when the coil pack went bad? If so how do I reset the computer?
Just disconnect the battery overnight?
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Sunday, July 13th, 2008 AT 3:14 PM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Use a test light and see if there is 12v at the connector. If no voltage then its a bad fuse or broken wire, if there is power there then there is no pulse ground from the computer. Also make sure the check engine light comes on with the key in the run position. Get back to me and I will either give you schematics in area you need or next step in diagnosis.
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Monday, July 14th, 2008 AT 3:34 PM
Tiny
CAVYZ24
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I do get 12V at each connector.. Decided to Ohm the injectors.5 of them have 12 Ohms one had 0 Ohms. With the connector for the "bad" injector left off the rest on. The car started. Yea without the intake plemum on. So I'm off to the parts store to buy new injector. Who knew one bad injector could cause this much head ache!
Thanks for all your help and support. This is a top notch web site!
Thak you so much. Mark
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Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
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Awesome, we love happy endings
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Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 AT 6:44 PM

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