1988 Chevy Celebrity WON'T START

Tiny
CTARCHER
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 65,000 MILES
MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HWY, AS THOUGH YOU HAD TRUNED THE KEY OFF. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I AM NOT GETTING ANY FUEL FROM THE INJECTOR. YOU CAN POUR FUEL IN THE TB AND IT WILL RUN A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE REPLACED THE INJECTOR, FUEL PUMP, PUMP RELAY, FUEL FILTER, AND THE ECM. I HAVE CHECKED ALL THE GROUNDS THAT I COULD FIND. I AM STILL NOT GETTING ANY GAS TO THE TB FROM THE INJECTOR.
Monday, April 21st, 2008 AT 6:33 PM

31 Replies

Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,386 POSTS
Are you getting gas to the injectors?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

if not check for voltage at fuel pump with key on and cranking, if nothing check the relay, if its good and no gas is coming out pump is bad.

next to check the injectors throw a noid light to the wiring connectors and crank the engine, it should flash, if not you have no injector pulse. let me know what you find.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, April 21st, 2008 AT 8:14 PM
Tiny
CTARCHER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The fuel pump is running when you first turn on the ignition, and I am pretty sure that I am getting gas to the injector as when the old injector was in the car, the plastic was broken-the reason for replacement, I jumpered the ground side and it sprayed fuel. Is a noid light just a 12v light that you connect to the injector connector? I suspect that I might not be getting any pulses. Is the pulses sent from the same module that fires the spark plugs, and can it be replaced seperately from the coils to the spark plug?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Friday, April 25th, 2008 AT 12:27 PM
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,386 POSTS
I dont know if your model has a crank shaft sensor on the account of the age of the vehicle.

The injectors should have constant 12v with the key on. When the engine is cranking or running the computer groudns out the harness causing the pulse to happen.

It collects this information from the crank and cam position sensor, MAF sensor, coolant temp sensor, iat sensor, and o2 sensors.

A noid light is a solenoid light

not a regular 12v light, use a noid light.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 25th, 2008 AT 4:40 PM
Tiny
CTARCHER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Where can I get this noid light, from a autoparts store or is this a dealer item. I have never heard of a noid light, but I am old school, carb, dist, and spark plugs.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Friday, April 25th, 2008 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,386 POSTS
A noid light can be bought or rented at any autopart store just about.

Be sure you have a volt meter also.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 25th, 2008 AT 6:49 PM
Tiny
CTARCHER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I got the noid light and hooked it up. I did not get any flashes when I cranked the engine.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 10th, 2008 AT 3:52 PM
Tiny
CTARCHER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I got the noid light and hooked it up. No flashes when the engine is being cranked.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 10th, 2008 AT 4:06 PM
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,386 POSTS
Next check for power with the key on, should be constant positive.

There should be no ground untill the engine is cranked, should flash not stay lit.

If you have the + with key on but no ground suspect a bad crank or cam position sensor or ecm.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 10th, 2008 AT 5:46 PM
Tiny
DIETDEW37
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 154,000 MILES
Engine Performance problem
1988 Chevy Celebrity 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 154000 miles

i have an 88 chevy celebrity that wont start it has sat for 2 years. We got it to start drove it for a day then it hasnt started since. We have changed the fuel filter put 2 new computers in it. We are getting fuel to the rail but still wont start will start and stay running with gas being sprayed in the breather tube have any idea what is causeing this?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the fuel pressure if its within specs and injection pulses
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JBUSS7399
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
Engine Performance problem
1988 Chevy Celebrity 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 160000 miles

MY 1988 CLEBRITY TURNS OVER BUT WONT START.
IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY SPARK AND IVE ALREADY CANGED THE IGNITION MODULE. IT STILL HAS NO SPARK WHAT ELSE COULD I DO TO FIND A SOULUTION TO MY PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Take a test ligkt to coil check for power then place light on the other trem. Crank Does light blink? If so coil
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SCRIZZLELTD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 134,000 MILES
Engine Mechanical problem
1988 Chevy Celebrity 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 134000 miles

hey my aunts 1988 chevy celebrity 4 cyl died on me the other day when I stopped at a red light, I went to start it but it didnt start. So I then added gas to its carborator and it started up n I reved it up and then dropped it in to 2nd, and drove it in to the parking lot. Then it died. Went to start it again and it didnt start, so I added gas to the carborator and it started up when I put my foot on the gas pedal. Then when I went to put it in to drive it stalled n wouldnt start, it wont start with out having gas put in the carborator. What could be the issue? I had the fuel pump fuel filter and fuel injector replaced all at the same time about 3 or 4 months ago. I just need help to figure this out. Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Hello, when you first turn the key on, no crank, can you hear the pump run for a couple of seconds? Check fuel pressure, use a gage.

There is a prime connector, underhood, driverside, firewall, between the master cylinder and fender. Shows to be gray wire with electrical connector, nothing plugged into it. It should be in plain site. Use a jumper wire, run voltage to the connector, the pump should run, you don't have to use the key. Use an inline fuse on the jumper, just in case. Right now, I'm all for checking out the fuel pump/circuits.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FORDMAN 9999
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 12,800 MILES
Engine Performance problem
1988 Chevy Celebrity 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 128, 00 miles

engine cranks but no fire. Does get gas but no spark at plugs need help
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Welcome fordman, engine cranking, is there injector spray pattern? If no spray pattern and no spark, I'd look for rpm signal comes from crank sensor goes to ignition module, from module to pcm. I'd also check B+ and ground at the ignition module. Any codes?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WUBBER2CHC
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,000 MILES
Electrical problem
1988 Chevy Celebrity 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 110000 miles

I'm at a loss, trying to clean up a mess left by another mechanic. I've got good fuel pressure, injector pulse, new ign module & tune up. I also swapped the ECM from another running 2.8 Celebrity. The car still has no spark. What am I missing?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors- Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JIM SHANNON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
  • 150,000 MILES
I have changed coil packs and spark plug wires along with plugs but I must have crossed plug wires since the car will not start. Can you tell me from the coil packs which wire goes to each plug
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
First you have to tell us what engine you have.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 10:22 AM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Not Running Content

Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
VIDEO
Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
Instructional repair video
Engine Not Starting
GUIDE
Engine Not Starting
Over the past 20 years at 2CarPros we have identified the top problems that are easily fixed. This guide can save you a trip to the repair garage or calling a tow truck and...
VIEW MORE