CANT FIGURE OUT WHY OLDS 88 WONT START!

Tiny
J_RIVERA_03
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  • 1988 OLDSMOBILE
I HAVE A 1990 OLDS 88 IT TRYS TO START BUT DOES NOT TURN OVER. I REPLACED WIRES, SPARKPLUGS, THE COIL PACK, AND THE CRANK SENSOR THAT IS LOCATED BEHIND THE "PULLEY". It still won't TURN OVER, WHAT ELSE CAN IT BE, IT IS NOT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, OR STARTER FOR SURE? I WAS TOLD IT CAN BE THE CAM SENSOR, AND IT IS INSIDE THE MOTOR-WHICH IS A BIG JOB. CAN IT BE THE CAM SENSOR?
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Monday, November 26th, 2007 AT 6:19 PM

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Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
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Sure it can be. Are you sure it is ignition related not fuel? Do you mean it turns over, but doesn't start? Did you check for lack of fuel?
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Monday, November 26th, 2007 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
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YES YOU ARE CORRECT THE CAR TURNS OVER BUT DOESN'T START! I CHECKED FOR LACK OF FUEL IT IT ADEQUATE. CAN IT BE ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES THE CAM POSITIONING SENSOR --IF I ALREADY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, COIL PACK, AND THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR -AND IT STILL DOES NOT START. IF SO WHAT ELSE DO YOU SUGGEST?
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Monday, November 26th, 2007 AT 7:44 PM
Tiny
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If you have a tech and it is shorted, it will not start. Disconnect it and try it. It the wiring to the ignition module good. Or the module?

With the ignition on, check for battery voltage at PINK/BLACK wire of 2-wire connector at ignition module. Check for continuity to ground on Black/White wire of 2-wire connector.
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Monday, November 26th, 2007 AT 7:52 PM
Tiny
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OK, SOMETIMES MECHANICS/PEOPLE CALL PARTS BY A DIFFERENT NAME. IM NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT A TECH IS? CAN YOU ELABORATE PLEASE? BESIDES THE "TECH" AND THE IGNITION MODULE AND ALL OTHERS I HAVE MENTIONED WHAT ELSE COULD BE WRONG? COULD IT BE THE MAIN COMPUTER, SINCE THE CAR IS ELECTRONIC! ( I JUST REPLACED THE CAM SENSOR AND IT STILL HAS NOT STARTED? WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
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Monday, November 26th, 2007 AT 9:58 PM
Tiny
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So sorry, misspelling. Tach. As in tachometer. Sure it is possible of an ecm issue as well as a wiring or ground issue.

Do you have a tachometer?
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Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 AT 8:09 AM
Tiny
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Paul,
yes I do have a tachometer, so it may also be the tach, ecm, wiring or a ground issue. What is the MOST LIKELY culprit? Note: we definately do NOT have alot of money to spend to get the car running!)
the original problem I encountered was that I replaced the coil pack-- then it wasn't getting spark past the plate(on coil pack). So I replaced all the parts that I mentioned before and as you know-- it still won't start.
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Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 AT 11:04 AM

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