No Spark?

Hey guys, my buddy and I just put his 90 GSX back together and we've run into a small problem. We can't get it to start. The motor turns over, it just won't fire. I'm not sure, but I think there is no spark. The reason why I say I'm not sure is because we just took a spark plug wire off while trying to start it and didn't see any spark. I'm not sure if that's the way to test for spark. We tried swapping out ignition coils, and don't really have any other ideas. Anyone got any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Ignition transistor gone bad maybe? :dunno:

Sorry to be such a newb, but where would that be?

This little guy here... I can't remember where they mount them on a 1g at... Either on the intake manifold or on the firewall...

http://www.dsmchips.com/tran1.jpg

Okay, I tried swapping that out with two others and still nothing. I'm wondering if it could be the fuses that are one the passenger side of the engine bay, but I can find my fricken voltmeter...

Hmmm... I would definitely be checking fuses out next then... Hopefully you'll find the problem there. If not, then you may have to move back one more step to the ECU possibly having a problem... :(

Okay, I checked the three fuses in the mini box that have to do with ignition, they're all good, do you guys know of any other fuses to check, I don't know what's what because all the markings have been rubbed off the fuse box covers. Also, is there a definitive way to check for spark? I just pulled the wire off while we were cranking and saw no visible spark, I didn't know if that was a valid way to check or not. I'll try swapping ecu's and see if that helps at all. Thanks again.

Well, I'm beginning to suspect my CAS. The problem is that my chilton/haynes only give trouble shooting procedures for the 91-94, not the 90. Does anyone have test procedures for the 90 CAS? Thanks.

With my cam angle sensor unplugged the car will start and cut off immediately. Of course if you were talking about the crank sensor, if it were bad, it would definately cause a no spark situation.

Wait a minute... I just realized something... Your cranking it with the spark plug boot off and just looking up in the boot for spark?...

If so... Uh, your not gonna see any because it doesn't work that way... You need to put a spark plug in the end of it while its out and touch the end of the spark plug to something bare metal to see if it sparks... Or you could just put your finger up there and turn it over. lol...

I guess I didn't think about the CAS being a possibility... It could be... But I think 90's ran a different one than other years?... Not quite sure on that one...

Yeah, I figured out that I do have spark, I stuck a screw driver up the boot and grounded it as I cranked, so I have spark and fuel... I'm not sure where to go from there.

Timing off?

I wouldn't think so, the car ran fine before we took the tranny off. I can't check the timing because I can't get the car to run.

I think we're going to pick up some new plugs and wires. I don't think that will change the situation because there didn't seem to be a problem with them beforehand, but they'll be cheap.

Did you unplug/break the CPS (crank position sensor) when you were fumbling around down there? Double check that you remembered to plug everything back in and make sure they are good connections.

I may be incorrect, but I was under the impression that the 90's only had a cam angle sensor, and no crank position sensor. If that is not the case, where would I find the cps? Thanks again.

I was not aware that we were talking about a '90. You are correct, no crank sensor on the block, just a CAS on the head.