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09-15-2008, 09:14 AM | #1 | |
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1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
Hey all,
I have been trying to figure this out for a while. My 1997 Safari won't start. It cranks fine but won't fire. Fuel pressure is good, compression cold was around 120 psi, and will not start with starting fluid or carb cleaner. It seems like an ignition issue. I get spark to all 6 cylinders, and it looks like a strong spark. A brand new AC Delco cap was put on. I can get the motor to sputter if I hook the coil directly to a spark plug wire. This would seem to indicate an ignition timing issue. Mechanical timing seems to be on (crank damper mark at tdc, ignition rotor point at #1). What can cause ignition timing to be off? What can cause too weak of a spark? There were no fault codes, and the coil resistance checked out OK. My guesses are bad plug wires, bad coil or bad crank position sensor. I really don't want to be guessing though. Any help would be appreciated. |
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09-15-2008, 09:44 PM | #2 | |
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
Do you have a timing light at your disposal?
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09-16-2008, 08:43 AM | #3 | ||
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
Quote:
The only way I ever got it to even sputter was by joining the coil wire and one plug wire together and then cranking. This worked on every cylinder. Apparently I am getting fuel and have enough compression. Could it just be a very weak spark? Spark at the plugs look decent when a plug is pulled though... This has me pretty stumped... |
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09-16-2008, 10:10 AM | #4 | |
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
I think it would be a wise investment to purchase a variable gap spark tester. This will eliminate the guess work on whether or not you have enough spark. If the spark is week than the two things I would suspect is the ignition module (just had one last week with weak spark) or the coil.
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09-16-2008, 11:00 AM | #5 | ||
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
Quote:
I check the coil resistance per the Haynes manual, and it checked out OK. A friend of mine has a variable gap spark tester. I will see if I can borrow it from him. |
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09-16-2008, 11:01 AM | #6 | ||
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
Quote:
The coil passed the resistance checks per the Haynes manual. A friend of mine has a variable gap spark tester. I'll see if I can borrow it from him... |
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09-18-2008, 12:56 PM | #7 | |
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
Just a suggestion - replace all the plugs, hopefully with known good ones. (Like good used ones - I always keep a used set around)
I did a tune up years ago only to find that all 4 new plugs were bad in a 4 cylinder car. |
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09-18-2008, 08:51 PM | #8 | ||
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
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I like the idea of keeping a good used set around. |
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09-18-2008, 10:28 PM | #9 | |
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
The module is in the distributor under the rotor.
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09-19-2008, 07:15 AM | #10 | |
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
Well, you've got spark to the plugs, and it won't run on starting fluid. Something's stupid.
When I get stupid problems I look for stupid answers. I've bought a total of 10 plugs from 1 company, and 8 where bad. A friend, with the same make of plugs had them work fine until he flooded the engine ONCE, then it wouldn't start on those plugs after. Old plugs solved the problem. If it ran on the old plugs you know those work. It's a cheap try, if a bit of work. "when logic doesn't work, think stupid" And new parts have a warrantee, in case they're bad. |
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09-20-2008, 05:17 PM | #11 | |
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
Since the timing is apparently close to correct, there is a source of fuel (starting fluid, or whatever), there is compression, and there is apparently spark, it must be running and you're just not noticing.
The timing light and fact that there is compression should reveal the condition of the timing chain. I'd be somewhat suspicious of the spark energy at the plugs. A gap type spark tester might be a worthwhile investment, or perhaps you can borrow one.
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09-21-2008, 12:14 PM | #12 | |
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
Install a new coil, and solve your problem.
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01-25-2010, 06:10 AM | #13 | |
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
terhotq...did u figure out the problem with ur safari ?
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01-25-2010, 11:16 AM | #14 |
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Re: 1997 Safari. won't start. has fuel, spark, compression...
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