jvorrius

I own a 1991 Oldsmobile Toranado Trofeo 3.8 with 130k.
Three weeks ago my instrument cluster stopped working. I parked the car in the driveway, disconnected the battery and removed the cluster for repair. I just received my cluster today and re-installed it back into the car. Connected the battery, cycled the ignition switch a few times to build up fuel pressure.........cluster gages work fine................cranks but not start. Went through diagnostics and it shows E042 current and E042 history. The car ran fine when I backed it down the driveway....I don't understand it. I checked whatever wireing I could to make sure the critters didn't chew anything when it sat for 3 weeks. The car has excellent fuel pressure and I have a no-spark condition from the coils to the ignition wires. Could I have a bad ignition module? If anyone can help me that would be appreciated. All of my cars seem to be dying lately.

Thanks
James

trofeo1

E042 Electronic Spark Timing Or Bypass Circuit Failure A - D
A - "Service Engine Soon" Message Displayed
D - Causes System to Operate in Bypass Spark Mode

Ok this a lil tricky but here is the possible causes.
First off is there any other codes besides the e042??
if so some codes can cuase another to pop up think of the trofeo as one big circut where the computer connects to everything.
Ok with that said here is a list of components to check.
First check for other codes
check ckt 423 and 424
check ignition module
check ign module
check intermitent connections
and if all fail then check the ecm itself
Good luck hope it helps but those are the basic diagnostic to start off with

jvorrius

I finally got the car running this weekend. When I was getting no spark I checked to see if the injectors were pulsing and they were not. In my service manual it says that the module also sends a reference signal to pulse the injectors. I changed the module and the car fired up. It had a misfire. I pulled the plugs and #2 plug was fouled and not getting any spark. I removed the coil and checked ohms between the posts. It is supposed to be between 5-7 ohms.......mine was 18 ohms. I replaced all of the coils being the car has 130k and I just want to do this job right. The car runs like a clock now. Thanks to all that helped me out. This is a great forum!!!!