1988 Cadillac Deville Car will not start.

CADILLAC_OWNER

MEMBER
1988 CADILLAC DEVILLE
V8
FWD
AUTOMATIC
138,000 MILES

I started the car and it was idiling and then it suddenly shut off. When I tried starting the car again, it would crank but would not start. I then checked the fuel pump, spark plugs, spark plug wires, compression, all of the normal car not starting tips and tricks. Fuel pressure was also good, Nothing works. I had no choice but to take it to a mechanic and he said that it seems that the car had jumped time (I think that maybe he said this to get it out of his way but who knows) and in short said that the car was junk. Any thing that anyone can dish out would be most appreciated because I am stumped.

5 Replies

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

How much fuel pressure does it have? Should be 9-12 psi
Has spark?
Need to get a noid light and test for injector pulse at the connector for fuel injector
How much compression does it have?

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Thursday, March 12th, 2009 AT 8:05 AM

CADILLAC_OWNER

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I am unsure how much compression it has, I just know that the mechanic that I had taken the car to said that the compression was good and that it had just jumped time. I took my car else where and they said that it could either be the timing chain jumped, or the timing gear is missing some teeth, or possibly a faulty distributor. Any truth to any of this?

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Thursday, March 12th, 2009 AT 2:03 PM

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

If it had jumped time, the compression woul dbe either higher or lower than what is normal depending on if the cam is now advanced (more low end compression) or retarded (less low end compression) Find #1 top dead center, and see if the rotor is pointing to the correct spot in the cap, if not then it may have jumped

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+1

Thursday, March 12th, 2009 AT 3:29 PM

CADILLAC_OWNER

MEMBER
3 POSTS

If the car did in fact jump time does that make it worthless or can it be fixed economically smart, not exceeding a healthy budget?

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Friday, March 13th, 2009 AT 1:18 AM

FACTORYJACK

MECHANIC
4,159 POSTS

If it jumped time, as Jack said, compression would not be good, at least not on all cylinders. It is possible that the roll pin for the distributor gear sheared, and spark timing is lost. You did not mention that it had spark. Pull a plug wire from plug end, stick a phillips screw driver in the end and hold it close to a good ground point(front bank exhaust manifold/p/s bracket, etc.), Or use a spark tester. Spark should jump a small gap(1/4" or so), do not stray too far from ground or you will become the ground and know real quick if it has spark. Next would be the finding #1 TDC and checking rotor position. If it is confirmed to have jumped time, given the condition of the car, the price to repair can exceed the value of the car.