my 84 se start problems

fc nut · 03-26-2012, 06:04 AM

I have an 84 gsl se,with a s4 n/a engine installed. there's no power going to the coils. The egine ran fine before i pulled the car out of the garage.here's a list of known good used parts I've changed out.

computer
distributor
coils
new plugs & wires
fuseable links
airflow meter

fc nut · 04-03-2012, 06:38 PM

ok,i put the original distributor back in and the tach was barely moving. the leading is sparking and yet it won't even attempt to start. it cranks,but won't start. what controls the trailing coil? i need help bad.

2gslse · 04-03-2012, 07:35 PM

it looks like you are on the right track now the trailing ignition controls the tach and also the fuel pump circuit, have you checked to see if the pump primes? there is a plug on the pass side (a green plug I think) if you jump it the pump should run. Are you positive the good distributor was really good?

fc nut · 04-04-2012, 04:40 AM

I wasn't sure about the distributor I got ,so I put the original back in. I'll check that plug you're talking about today when I get home from work. it is getting fuel and that's why I'm baffled as to what it could be.

fc nut · 04-09-2012, 09:44 AM

could the s4 alternator I'm using have effected the se's electrical system to cause this issue?

2gslse · 04-09-2012, 03:33 PM

No. I have used an S4 alternator on a first gen for years they are pretty much identical just a few amps more capacity.

It has to be something really simple wrong with the car, you have put so much time in it and had it running it is time to go over the basics the car is still basically a GSLSE the engine core doesn't really matter and the manifolds are just moving air the fuel and ignition system doesn't know any different. is everything grounded really well?

fc nut · 04-09-2012, 04:18 PM

I actually added 3 extra ground wires to the engine. I grounded the trans to engine to the body, the upper intake manifold to the body and the front iron to the frame. is there another relay that could be bad?

2gslse · 04-09-2012, 04:30 PM

I don't think there are any other relays. Have you ever had spark on the trailing side yet? I don't remember for sure but it may also control the injectors I wish my old SE was still here and running to verify.

Oyvindjs · 04-12-2012, 02:54 PM

How do you know its sparking properly? Do you have a voltmeter at hand to check? Do you have the FSM? If so, check in the FSM, start at ground zero, battery, and meassure over each component, out to plugs.

fc nut · 04-15-2012, 08:57 PM

my problem is solved. when I temperarily fixed the harness,I just spliced the wires together. I know,not the right way. today I soldered all the wires that were chewed up. I also tapped into two of the ground wires for the ecu and ran an extra ground to the chassis. after I did that it fired right up. I'm assuming the ecu had bad grounds. that might be the culprit for other se owners as well.

thanks everyone.... for all the help in trying to find the issue.

03-26-2012, 06:04 AM	#1
fc nut member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lebanon,Ohio Posts: 282 Rep Power: 17	my 84 se start problems I have an 84 gsl se,with a s4 n/a engine installed. there's no power going to the coils. The egine ran fine before i pulled the car out of the garage.here's a list of known good used parts I've changed out. computer distributor coils new plugs & wires fuseable links airflow meter __________________ leaving my carbon footprint....one start up at a time Last edited by fc nut; 03-26-2012 at 11:02 AM.

04-03-2012, 06:38 PM	#2
fc nut member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lebanon,Ohio Posts: 282 Rep Power: 17	ok,i put the original distributor back in and the tach was barely moving. the leading is sparking and yet it won't even attempt to start. it cranks,but won't start. what controls the trailing coil? i need help bad. __________________ leaving my carbon footprint....one start up at a time

04-03-2012, 07:35 PM	#3
2gslse Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: front royal va Posts: 440 Rep Power: 18	it looks like you are on the right track now the trailing ignition controls the tach and also the fuel pump circuit, have you checked to see if the pump primes? there is a plug on the pass side (a green plug I think) if you jump it the pump should run. Are you positive the good distributor was really good? __________________ ____________________________________________ 1976 Cosmo needing lots of work 1993 Rx-7 410 RWHP single turbo toy 1985 Rx-7 toy/project car 411HP stoplight terror 2001 Dodge ram 4wd.parts hauler 2016 Ram 2500 cause its a hemi 2006 VW TDI commuter __________________________________________ I guarantee there's a pregnant redneck teenager somewhere in a shitty trailer park that thinks "Ebola would be a lovely name for their child"...

04-04-2012, 04:40 AM	#4
fc nut member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lebanon,Ohio Posts: 282 Rep Power: 17	I wasn't sure about the distributor I got ,so I put the original back in. I'll check that plug you're talking about today when I get home from work. it is getting fuel and that's why I'm baffled as to what it could be. __________________ leaving my carbon footprint....one start up at a time

04-09-2012, 09:44 AM	#5
fc nut member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lebanon,Ohio Posts: 282 Rep Power: 17	could the s4 alternator I'm using have effected the se's electrical system to cause this issue? __________________ leaving my carbon footprint....one start up at a time

04-09-2012, 03:33 PM	#6
2gslse Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: front royal va Posts: 440 Rep Power: 18	No. I have used an S4 alternator on a first gen for years they are pretty much identical just a few amps more capacity. It has to be something really simple wrong with the car, you have put so much time in it and had it running it is time to go over the basics the car is still basically a GSLSE the engine core doesn't really matter and the manifolds are just moving air the fuel and ignition system doesn't know any different. is everything grounded really well? __________________ ____________________________________________ 1976 Cosmo needing lots of work 1993 Rx-7 410 RWHP single turbo toy 1985 Rx-7 toy/project car 411HP stoplight terror 2001 Dodge ram 4wd.parts hauler 2016 Ram 2500 cause its a hemi 2006 VW TDI commuter __________________________________________ I guarantee there's a pregnant redneck teenager somewhere in a shitty trailer park that thinks "Ebola would be a lovely name for their child"...

04-09-2012, 04:18 PM	#7
fc nut member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lebanon,Ohio Posts: 282 Rep Power: 17	I actually added 3 extra ground wires to the engine. I grounded the trans to engine to the body, the upper intake manifold to the body and the front iron to the frame. is there another relay that could be bad? __________________ leaving my carbon footprint....one start up at a time

04-09-2012, 04:30 PM	#8
2gslse Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: front royal va Posts: 440 Rep Power: 18	I don't think there are any other relays. Have you ever had spark on the trailing side yet? I don't remember for sure but it may also control the injectors I wish my old SE was still here and running to verify. __________________ ____________________________________________ 1976 Cosmo needing lots of work 1993 Rx-7 410 RWHP single turbo toy 1985 Rx-7 toy/project car 411HP stoplight terror 2001 Dodge ram 4wd.parts hauler 2016 Ram 2500 cause its a hemi 2006 VW TDI commuter __________________________________________ I guarantee there's a pregnant redneck teenager somewhere in a shitty trailer park that thinks "Ebola would be a lovely name for their child"...

04-12-2012, 02:54 PM	#9
Oyvindjs Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 78 Rep Power: 14	How do you know its sparking properly? Do you have a voltmeter at hand to check? Do you have the FSM? If so, check in the FSM, start at ground zero, battery, and meassure over each component, out to plugs.

04-15-2012, 08:57 PM	#10
fc nut member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lebanon,Ohio Posts: 282 Rep Power: 17	my problem is solved. when I temperarily fixed the harness,I just spliced the wires together. I know,not the right way. today I soldered all the wires that were chewed up. I also tapped into two of the ground wires for the ecu and ran an extra ground to the chassis. after I did that it fired right up. I'm assuming the ecu had bad grounds. that might be the culprit for other se owners as well. thanks everyone.... for all the help in trying to find the issue. __________________ leaving my carbon footprint....one start up at a time