My '91 Camaro will not start

Jim7463 · 07-10-2009, 12:04 PM

Problem may be multi-staged. Have a 305 with very high mileage; best engine I've ever had.

Engine started idling high, around 1200 RPM, last month. In the meantime, engine overheating led to thermostat replacement. Decided afterward to clean the engine; got a little messy with the gasket application. Covered TBI assembly and distributor. No problems. Engine hard to start but did, at least long enough to dry the engine. Then...no start. Replaced the fuel filter; problem remains. Can hear fuel pump pressurizing, and verified fuel spraying into TBI throat. Battery is good.

Have had my RS since Dec '95. This no-start situation is a first. Maybe distributor cap/rotor? Not equipped to really test electrical/ignition systems.

May have to have her towed to my mechanic.
Any suggestions, please?
Thanks!
Jim Willard

**manic** · 07-10-2009, 12:08 PM

First thing I would do is pull the distributer cap,,check for moisture.

Jim7463 · 07-12-2009, 11:30 AM

Okay, changed out distributor cap and rotor, and spark plug wires as the coil wire was oxidized on the cap side, and verified that the coil is producing a spark. Still not starting. Could coil not be producing enough spark? Also verified fuel flow from TBI injectors. So, have spark, have fuel flow. What do I check next?

Jim

**manic** · 07-12-2009, 12:11 PM

Its possible not enough spark, coming from coil. If the fire is blue, and
hot, I would say that is a wild goose chase. Does the motor even
try and turn over? Backfiring,,etc,,,

Jim7463 · 07-15-2009, 08:16 PM

No, just turns. A friend suggested a timing issue, or perhaps the timing chain has slipped/failed. If it has, wouldn't I have heard it?

**bruiser** · 07-16-2009, 05:30 AM

No, you wouldn't necessarily hear a timing chain slip or jump a cog.

07-10-2009, 12:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jim7463 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	My '91 Camaro will not start Problem may be multi-staged. Have a 305 with very high mileage; best engine I've ever had. Engine started idling high, around 1200 RPM, last month. In the meantime, engine overheating led to thermostat replacement. Decided afterward to clean the engine; got a little messy with the gasket application. Covered TBI assembly and distributor. No problems. Engine hard to start but did, at least long enough to dry the engine. Then...no start. Replaced the fuel filter; problem remains. Can hear fuel pump pressurizing, and verified fuel spraying into TBI throat. Battery is good. Have had my RS since Dec '95. This no-start situation is a first. Maybe distributor cap/rotor? Not equipped to really test electrical/ignition systems. May have to have her towed to my mechanic. Any suggestions, please? Thanks! Jim Willard

07-10-2009, 12:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,537 OS: xp	Re: My '91 Camaro will not start First thing I would do is pull the distributer cap,,check for moisture. __________________

07-12-2009, 11:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jim7463 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	Re: My '91 Camaro will not start Okay, changed out distributor cap and rotor, and spark plug wires as the coil wire was oxidized on the cap side, and verified that the coil is producing a spark. Still not starting. Could coil not be producing enough spark? Also verified fuel flow from TBI injectors. So, have spark, have fuel flow. What do I check next? Jim

07-12-2009, 12:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,537 OS: xp	Re: My '91 Camaro will not start Its possible not enough spark, coming from coil. If the fire is blue, and hot, I would say that is a wild goose chase. Does the motor even try and turn over? Backfiring,,etc,,, __________________

07-15-2009, 08:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jim7463 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	Re: My '91 Camaro will not start No, just turns. A friend suggested a timing issue, or perhaps the timing chain has slipped/failed. If it has, wouldn't I have heard it?

07-16-2009, 05:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
bruiser TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,169 OS: xp	Re: My '91 Camaro will not start No, you wouldn't necessarily hear a timing chain slip or jump a cog.