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1988 Nissan Truck Won't Fire

Tiny
GENEBIGWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 NISSAN TRUCK
Electrical problem
1988 Nissan Truck 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

I bought the truck from someone that had tried to get it to work thinking my electrical and Instrumentation back ground I could get it firing rather easily. SO far I have had sent the ECM off and supposedly it had a problem and was repaired, changed the whole distributor and the previous owner replaced the coil but noticed that he did not replace the condensor. Checked pinouts on ecm for power and seems to have power. Also the ecm will not give any codes from LED's.
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Friday, September 11th, 2009 AT 5:03 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
PEAR69
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,482 POSTS
Start with the basics -- do you have spark at the spark plugs? How did you confirm this? Do you have fuel getting to the cylinders? What is the conpression on all the cylinders?
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Friday, September 11th, 2009 AT 6:24 PM
Tiny
GENEBIGWOOD
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To comfirm spark I took a long shank phiilps and stuck it in the coil wire and put close to ground as suggested in the chiltons manual. I haven't messed with checking compression or fuel pressure would that prevent it from sparking? Also the issue with no LEDs when ECM is switch to dignostics mode, is that a red flag for something wrong with ECM? I just had it rebuilt.
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Friday, September 11th, 2009 AT 7:39 PM
Tiny
PEAR69
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Take it one step at a time. Have you had the ignition module checked or tested? Compression or fuel pressure will not keep the spark plugs from sparking, but either can keep the cylinder from fireing. Sparking and fireing are two different issues. No spark means that there is something wrong with the ignition system. The ECM is part of the ignition system -- but it is farther down the line of trouble shooting items. What was wrong with the ECM?
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 2:46 AM
Tiny
GENEBIGWOOD
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  • 8 POSTS
Yep no spark is the issue. The people that rebuilt the ECM said that there were bad compoinets that were replaced BUT I looked in it before I shipped it and it didn't have any burnt spots or compoinents.

SO the burning question that I have on my mind is that before I shipped the ECM I recieved no LED lights on it when switch to dignostics mode and it is doing the samething now. Is that a red flag?
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 1:46 PM
Tiny
PEAR69
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Maybe, test the ignition module or have it tested.
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 2:00 PM
Tiny
GENEBIGWOOD
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  • 8 POSTS
I've already had it tested I was hoping you could tell me how I could test it. I already have 250 bones in the ecm now + the 30 i've invested here. I am hoping you guys can pull some resources here and help me out. I am going to donate more if we get some fire.
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 2:19 PM
Tiny
PEAR69
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The ignition module is also called the power transister unit. It should always be replaced when the coils are replaced.
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 2:22 PM
Tiny
PEAR69
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At the module check that the black/white wire has battery voltage when cranking the engine.
Make sure the unit has a good ground through the mounting, and make sure that the black/pink wire has a good ground--this is the ground wire.
Turn key on and check the voltage of the black/white wire at the distributer 4 pin connector, it should be battery voltage.
Check the green/yellow and green/black wires, they should have 5 volts.
Check the black wire, it is the ground, make sure it is good.
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
GENEBIGWOOD
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Ah I see said the blind man, i'll order a new one.
Can I get an answer on the ecm LED issue? I don't know if it needs to run or something before it will give up a code.
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 2:35 PM
Tiny
GENEBIGWOOD
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Awesome thanks! I'm working out of town right now and it will be three weeks before I get home. I'll check those and give you a reply.
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 2:38 PM
Tiny
PEAR69
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TEST IT FIRST before you replace it. Autozone or a place like that usually can test this unit for you for free. If you just keep replacing parts without testing them, you will spend more money, unnecessarily.
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 2:39 PM
Tiny
GENEBIGWOOD
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Roger that, I'll get back with you in a couple of weeks.

Thanks again.
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 2:45 PM

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