89 century wont start?????

[soulsurvives]

hi im new here but i have an 89 century with the 3.3 in it......well the thing turns over but will not start.....i saw arcing at the coil packs where the wires plug in at so i put new wires on but that didnt do any good.......the car is getting fuel....i even sprayed starter fluid into the throttle body and it would not start.....however....when i did spray the starting fluid into the throttle body after a few turns of the motor it spits the stuff right back out the throttle body...but lit......kinda looks like a dragon spitting fire.....i put my hand on the tail pipe and i can feel pressure coming out so i know the exhuast isnt clogged.....anyone know what could cause the engine not to fire but still ignite the starter fluid (as it is being thrown back out of the throttle body)....the wires are all hooked up right......the car ran a few months ago and now nothing....this is confusing......any help would be great....thanks....also.....i hooked up a scanner and the only code i got was 12.......which means the test is ok........just a weird problem.....

[jibbijib]

Check your fuel pump, turn the key, but dont turn it on and listen for the fuel pump to run. If it doesnt run you might need a new fuel pump. If your pump runs, i dont know what else to tell you. check the fuel lines for a leak as well.

[jibbijib]

Also check the 02 sensor, without that working your car wont start.

[soulsurvives]

well the fuel pump works.....as i wrote it is getting fuel....i verified this by checking pressure at the valve in the fuel line at the intake......also just so you know....a car will run with a bad o2 sensor.....it will just run poorly...hell it will even run without it even being plugged in.....computer goes into default mode and makes the engine run real rich.....what has me miffed is that when i put starting fluid in it.....the damn thing spits it out of the intake while the fluid is burning.....just wierd....if the.............heres a question.....if the crack sensor is bad can the ignition system still get juice?????.....

[shomestang]

i had the exact same problem, my ECM (electronic control module, the coil packs sit on top of it) went bad causing the timing to be off. If its spuddering and shooting flames (as mine did) its probably the timing....and the ECM controls that. If you replace the ECM remember to buff the surface that it mounts on or else you will be doing this again in a few months.

[soulsurvives]

hey thats a great tip......i will try that.....and i was thinking timing but i said to my self.....self how can the timing be off if it has coil packs instead of a dist..........i will let ya know if it works.....again thanks for the tip........