YACT: Please help, care won't start! (edit: success!)

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Tyler
Spark plug wire, not "spark plug". See the wires going from the distributer to each cylinder (the distributer is a round thing with a bunch of think wires coming out of it)?

Does a 1990 Lumina even have a distributor? Most have switched to distributorless ignition.

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: Tyler
Spark plug wire, not "spark plug". See the wires going from the distributer to each cylinder (the distributer is a round thing with a bunch of think wires coming out of it)?

Does a 1990 Lumina even have a distributor? Most have switched to distributorless ignition.

You check it at the spark plug end of the wire. Distributorless just means that it's electric (not mechanical), but you still have wires going to the spark plug.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: Tyler
Spark plug wire, not "spark plug". See the wires going from the distributer to each cylinder (the distributer is a round thing with a bunch of think wires coming out of it)?

Does a 1990 Lumina even have a distributor? Most have switched to distributorless ignition.

In 2003 they have, not in 1990.

 

[XZeroII]

This may seem obvious, but did you check how much gas is in it? Someone might have siphoned your gas, or you might have simply forgot that you ran out.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: XZeroII

You check it at the spark plug end of the wire. Distributorless just means that it's electric (not mechanical), but you still have wires going to the spark plug.

Of course it has wires going to the spark plug, but that doesn't mean that it has a distributor.

Whether it had plug wires or not was never my question.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Tyler



Does a 1990 Lumina even have a distributor? Most have switched to distributorless ignition.

In 2003 they have, not in 1990.[/quote]

Hmm, I have an early 90's GM car (92 Saturn SL2), and it has no distributor. It is distributorless.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: Tyler



Does a 1990 Lumina even have a distributor? Most have switched to distributorless ignition.

In 2003 they have, not in 1990.

Hmm, I have an early 90's GM car (92 Saturn SL2), and it has no distributor. It is distributorless, just has coil packs.[/quote]

I beleive you, but I don't think that the majority of cars in 1990 were distributorless. I'm not postive about a lumina, but I would guess that it had a distributor. I have a 1990 model year car w/ a distributor.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Tyler


I beleive you, but I don't think that the majority of cars in 1990 were distributorless. I'm not postive about a lumina, but I would guess that it had a distributor. I have a 1990 model year car w/ a distributor.

Hmm, I'm doing a search and it appears that the 1990 Lumina is in fact distributorless.

I'm not sure yet, I can't find the exact date they switched over.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: yobarman

Originally posted by: Tyler
Why even ask for help? I suggest you just call a damn tow truck and have a mechanic look at it. You're obviously neither qualified nor willing to try and fix it yourself, so what do you plan on accomplishing tomorrow?

I explained exactly how to test for spark, and you're not even going to attempt it. You have to unplug a wire for pete's sake... if you can't do that, you really think you're gonig to get it fixed without towing it to a mechanic?

Why even bother asking for advice if you know beforehand that you're not going to take it?

I'm sorry i forgot to mention i'm not an stretch armstrong where i can start the car myself AND hold a spark plug out like you said. I said that my friend left for the day and ill see if i can get help tomorrow, if i had anyone else to help me right now i would go test it but no ones around. Geez man i just asked for your help and i respect that but you gotta flip sh*t, what the hell crawled up your ass and died...

ROFL.
It's ok man. Notfred is a dickwad at times... often... usually.

 

[Marshallj]

Does your lumina have a 4 cylinder or a V6?

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Tyler
I beleive you, but I don't think that the majority of cars in 1990 were distributorless. I'm not postive about a lumina, but I would guess that it had a distributor. I have a 1990 model year car w/ a distributor.

Ok, I found some info:

check it out

 

[yobarman]

Originally posted by: Marshallj
Does your lumina have a 4 cylinder or a V6?

v6..

here's some pics of the egine for the hell of it... im guessi have to take the cover with the 3.1 label on it to get to the spark plugs?


pic_1
[pic_2

 

[Nyical]

try takeing off the overflow container off for the radiator, thats the yellow thing in between those two brackets, or you could reach in there with your hands if there is enough room.

 

[Nyical]

Or better yet.


GET A MANUAL ON HOW TO DO REPAIRS AND TROUBLE SHOOTING YOUR CAR

 

[yobarman]

Originally posted by: Nyical
Or better yet.


GET A MANUAL ON HOW TO DO REPAIRS AND TROUBLE SHOOTING YOUR CAR

yeah im trying to fix it myself as much as possible. i dont have many tools at all cause im at school and im kinda broke

 

[Vette73]

Is it turning over fast like it is going to start but doe snot catch, or is it turning over but just slowly?

If slowly check the cables and make sure they are tight. Then try again. If it is still slow, check to make sure the starter is getting eniugh power. Starter is right up front.

If turning over fast but not catching, check all your fuses (some under the hood and some in the car). If good then check to see if it is getting spark and fuel.

 

[yobarman]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Is it turning over fast like it is going to start but doe snot catch, or is it turning over but just slowly?

If slowly check the cables and make sure they are tight. Then try again. If it is still slow, check to make sure the starter is getting eniugh power. Starter is right up front.

If turning over fast but not catching, check all your fuses (some under the hood and some in the car). If good then check to see if it is getting spark and fuel.

it's turning over fast and it's like so close to starting...you think it could be a fuse? how do i check the fuses?

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: yobarman

Originally posted by: Marshallj
Does your lumina have a 4 cylinder or a V6?

v6..

here's some pics of the egine for the hell of it... im guessi have to take the cover with the 3.1 label on it to get to the spark plugs?


pic_1
[pic_2

No, the spark plugs shouldn't be under that cover. It's a V6, therefore the sparkplugs will be on the sides of the engine, not in the center like on a 4 cylinder.

I can see 3 spark plug wires in the picture running behind the overflow tank.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: yobarman

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Is it turning over fast like it is going to start but doe snot catch, or is it turning over but just slowly?

If slowly check the cables and make sure they are tight. Then try again. If it is still slow, check to make sure the starter is getting eniugh power. Starter is right up front.

If turning over fast but not catching, check all your fuses (some under the hood and some in the car). If good then check to see if it is getting spark and fuel.

it's turning over fast and it's like so close to starting...you think it could be a fuse? how do i check the fuses?

If it's "so close" to starting, then you are getting a spark. Fuses won't do anything for you then. If a fuse was blown, the circuit would be completely off.

I'm thinking that you have a bad sensor or something, or you fouled your spark plugs do to a rich condition.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

if it's close have you tried stomping on the gas?

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
if it's close have you tried stomping on the gas?

On a fuel injected car it shouldn't matter. The computer will control how much gas the engine gets on startup. Fuel injected cars should be impossible to flood since the sensors and the ECU will dictate how much fuel goes into the engine. Only if a sensor is giving faulty readings should your engine flood.

If you notice, on a fuel injected car you do not need to press the gas to start the car, while on many carbureted cars you used to have to give it some gas to start it. That's because on FI cars the ECU controls the engine and usually runs a startup sequence.

 

[Ornery]

I'd have had mine towed to the garage by now. Do you have AAA or towing on your insurance? I'm stuck on these computer controlled vehicles. Hell, JC would have pulled his timing belt cover off by now!

 

[LordMorpheus]

stomping the gas (or making sure you even have gas) might help. In my Sable, its fuel injected, but the owner's manual advises some serious gas stompage in the event of a no start. I mean serious, but you gotta have gas first.

 

[yobarman]

success!

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Tyler

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: Tyler



Does a 1990 Lumina even have a distributor? Most have switched to distributorless ignition.

In 2003 they have, not in 1990.

Hmm, I have an early 90's GM car (92 Saturn SL2), and it has no distributor. It is distributorless, just has coil packs.

I beleive you, but I don't think that the majority of cars in 1990 were distributorless. I'm not postive about a lumina, but I would guess that it had a distributor. I have a 1990 model year car w/ a distributor.[/quote]
and here you are now guessing, mr. smartass wannabe mechanic.


the 3.1 and 3.8L's were distributorless from 1986-1988 or so.