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Car will not start

Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 1984 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
  • 5.0L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 175,000 MILES
Hello,

I drove to work like normal, parked the car and 5 minutes later it cut off. I got it towed home and my first thought was my fuel pump went out. But I am smelling gas and seeing it from the carburetor. The spark plugs and wires are only 2 months old. So I went and changed the distributor, rotor, coil pack and ignition module. All new and car still not starting. It will turn over but will not start. Anything you can think of will help.
Thank you
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 12:15 PM

65 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

Make sure the pink wire going to the cap has power with the key in the on position.

Beyond that, there is a pick up coil in the distributor that was a common failure. I attached a picture of the pick up coil.

The distributor has to be removed, the gear pin removed the gear removed from the shaft. Then remove the shaft and you can remove the pick up coil.

Also, does the rotor turn when you crank it?

Roy
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 1:30 PM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
Yes, the rotor does rotate when I try to crank it.

This pink wire you mentioned, where is it located? And about the pick up coil, that's what connects to the ignition module right? Just to be sure I'm looking at the pic correctly.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
Thank you by the way.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You are welcome.

The pink wire is the power wire to the distributor cap. Check that for power with the key on.

Yes, that is the piece that attaches to the module.

Roy
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Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 AT 4:12 AM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
So if I get no power from the pink wire what would I need to do? And I really do appreciate all the help.
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Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 AT 9:59 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
That comes from the ignition switch.

I attached the wiring for the ignition switch and the location of the switch.

Roy
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Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
I believe the pink wire is getting power I checked it with my meter and the red light came on. I am going to check the pickup coil and go from there. I appreciate it thank you will let you know my results.
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Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
Hey, I'm back man. I didn't change everything I can think of. I don't know how to change the pickup coil. I can't get my distributor off so I don't know what's going on. I didn't change like I said everything I can think of and only thing is doing is turning over. I'm lost man.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 1:21 PM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
Sorry meant I have changed everything that I can think of except the pickup coil I can't get my distributor off to change it.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 1:22 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You need to remove it to get to the coil. Soak it down and keep trying.

Roy
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
Thanks, but my question is, how do I remove it when I look it up it says it just pulls right out but don't see that happening.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 3:41 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Due to the age, it is stuck in the block.

Mark the position with a paint stick and when you remove the lock down bolt, try twisting it first to release the o-ring, then lift it up.

Roy
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 4:01 PM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
Thank you again appreciate it.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2020 AT 4:28 PM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
Hello again, so I just unplug each spark plug wire one by one and tested it against the ground of the car and I got a little arc from each wire each wire gave me a arc so I'm guessing I'm getting fire. Because I got to arc from each wire. I'm lost; I just changed my fuel pump filter or at least I was thinking I was changing it. Took it off and seen it was never a filter in there that goes to the carburetor. Could that be the problem I'm having me not having a fuel pump filter?
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 5:41 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
There is a filter inside the carburetor.

Remove the line from the inlet to the carburetor. It is a 5/8 line.

Then remove the fitting from the carburetor. It should be either a 15/16 or 1 inch open end wrench. There will be a filter behind that fitting with a spring. It could be stone or a paper filter.

Roy
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
Yes that's what I did. And it wasn't one in there at all. I just put one in there.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 5:49 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, it sounds like you do not have enough spark. There should be a crisp spark for it to fire the spark plugs.

Roy
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 6:03 PM
Tiny
RJANDIANNA
  • MEMBER
  • 33 POSTS
Okay, back to square one then.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 6:18 PM
Tiny
4DRTOM
  • MECHANIC
  • 467 POSTS
Hello RJANDIANNA I am Tom,

So you have an old one here with an actual carburetor and you saw it leaking? Is that been handled or are you still seeing it leak? You might be flooded by now too. You should pull a spark plug and see if its wet. If it is wet pull them all and let them dry out, crank the engine over a bit with the plugs out. So your showing spark but not blue?Or is it orange? You have to get to the bottom of the leak and smell from the very beginning. If the float stuck that would happen, tap the side of the carburetor with the handle of a screw driver lightly tap the side of the carburetor right before you have the clean, dry, plugs back in the car and your gong for the first start after confirming the plugs are good. If they are dry Let us know.
Tom
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 8:37 PM

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