Help me please.. buick riviera wont start

[stanfornator]

My riviera is an 88 model i have a new coil in it but the spark plugs aren't getting any fire
this is not a gas problem
The car turns over but it wont crank

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

You'd probably have better luck getting specific answers if you posted on the Buick Riviera forum.

Typically "turns over" and "crank" are the same thing. So I trust you mean the starter turns the engine over but the engine won't start due to no spark.

Here's were the Buick Riviera forum will be of more help. Does your '88 Riv have distributorless ignition? If so, it probably uses a Crankshaft Position Sensor and Camshaft Position Sensor to tell the PCM when to fire each coil. If that's the case, the ignition module is probably integrated into the PCM. I believe GM referred to these as "Quad drivers" within the PCM. So you probably need to determine if the signal that tells the PCM to fire the coil packs is good. If so, then is the signal from the PCM to the coil packs good?

-Rod

[shorod]

I just checked one of the sources I have. There is a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) on the '88 Riviera addressing the criticality of getting the dual crankshaft position (CKP) sensors adjusted properly. The TSB talks about this particular engine setup in 1988 utilizing a new "Fast Start" system with dual CKP sensors in the 3800 V-6 engine. Is that the engine in your Riviera?

There are also TSBs related to wiring harness issues at the PCM that can cause hard starts, no starts, etc. and a TSB (Bulletin 318113) related to a fuse link in circuit 480 that will cause a no start in 1986-1993 Rivieras which the Buick forum may be able to provide more specifics on.

Also, if you have a second key for your car and it has the VATS system, you may want to try the second key to determine if the problem is with the resistor in the key.

-Rod

[MagicRat]

I think its the ignition module.

Is this a 3.8 l v6 or new "3800" series engine. 1988 Rivs could have either one, but their ignition systems are different.

If it s a 3800 series engine, the coil pack (3 coils) screws to the ignition module. Generally BOTH the module and the coil pack are replaced at the same time.

With the 3.8 engine, the module is in the distributor.

Also, why did you change the coil in the first place? Was the car running before you changed it?