FOR THE EXPERT!!!!!

[outlaw86SE]

ok. if the control module isnt grounded properly. will that cause a "no start" situation? i was having a misfire and finally decided to just do a complete tune up. changed everything. IAC,TPS,MAP,Cap and rotor, plugs, coil, control module( i used that grease with it and it got on the threads to the screws that hold the module), and pick up coil, i put it all back to spec. did the preliminary for timing, and.....nothing....i got a back fire once but that was a wire mishap. im getting fuel and spark. whats going on?

[djoj]

hello,
not an expert ,does your motor turn ?,is battery charged or in very good condition ?,no the grease does not matter.how much fuel are you getting ,is there enough pressure !should be at 9 to 13 psi on tbi systems and 40.5 to 47 psi on mpfi systems, is fuel filter new ,if there isnt enough fuel pressure the fuel filter is clogged slightly . i would try with a new filter first if not new,is fuel pump new or working properly , i got a new fuel pump, cleaned tank ,and new filter and stopped working after 50 miles ( defective pump)get back to me ASAP! i now people that can help, if i cant ,leaving out of town at 9pm ,get back to you when i return friday night if i dont respond

[outlaw86SE]

yes the battery is new. so is the fuel filter. im getting fuel though...i pull the plugs out and they're wet with gas. the pressure release valve is slightly leaking though....would that contribute?

[djoj]

hello
i stayed in town one more day,yes it does!it gathers pressure, what about your pump hows it working everything matters with these cars,sorry to say it ,one thing leads to another.the sooner you fix the little details the better ,to eliminate bigger problems in future !! ARE YOU SURE THE TANK is CLEAN !has the car been running ?

[Shadow]

The screws even greased still will make the ground. If you suspect ground then use a multimeter to Ohm between the Screws and the Bat Negative terminal Under 3 Ohms is acceptable. Check between engine block and negative as well and block and chassis.

[outlaw86SE]

ok i replaced the pressure release valve. the pump used to make a sound when i turned the key. now it doesnt but its getting fuel. if i push the valve open and have someone turn the key gas comes gushing. its kinda delayed. my question is. does this thing need a certain fuel pressure to run properly? i mean its firing the injectors. the plugs get wet. im stumped. i have a new fuel pump and one of the vibration reducers but im not sure if thats gonna solve my problem.

[outlaw86SE]

i havent put the pump in yet. im in the process of dropping the tank. its hott during the day and im blind during the night.

[djoj]

hello
sorry !! i know your stress ,it sucks, be calm ,relax !!have you ever dropped the tank ?if the tank is bad and need to restore it kb coatings is the answer,it hard to find a new tank ,i didnt dont worry everthing has an answer, but to bad it cost money.

[outlaw86SE]

yes i have dropped the tank before. i dropped it when i fixed the sending unit so my gas gauge would work. after i put it back in the car still ran fine. and i knew how much gas i had. i have the tank out now. im waiting on a ride to go get a fuel pump strainer. i got a pump but no strainer..

[outlaw86SE]

well i put the new pump in. i got great pressure but still no start. all it did was foul my plugs with fuel. the timing was off so when i cranked it the engine flooded. it seems like its getting a weak spark. i think its just the old plugs though. would that contribute?

[djoj]

hello,
just got back ,how old are the sparks plugs? let me find out why its getting them wet ,get back to you tomorrow ,long 4 hour drive on my sportbike i ll write back around 10 am

[outlaw86SE]

uhm....theres like one autolite. and the rest are all original ac delco. probably ancient. i was wondering. i noticed the distributor is different from others i've seen. i've seen the ones with the fingers but i have one that has a little star looking thing. i think maybe when i changed the pick up coil i might have screwed it up. i went to the junk yard and got an old style (finger style) but the inner magnet thing is all busted up. im gonna rebuilt my distributo and do new plugs wires and high temp pick up and control module. i should have it done by next friday i guess i'll let you know where i get.

[djoj]

hey
sorry i m late , but i asked my friend and he said to change your plugs ! now about your distributor how did you get the new one ? which auto parts store,do you think they gave you the wrong one let me know i ll be here around the house ,i ll check back in a few minutes

[outlaw86SE]

I didn't buy the distributor. It came with it. And when I look up a new one its the same deal. The little star wheel thing. Would old plugs cause my headache? Any tips on getting to the rear plugs?

[djoj]

hello
he said yes , that could cause it and everyone tells me the same about the rear plugs but relax one by one i used an extension on my ratchet to get them out ,try that ,the car was running before

[outlaw86SE]

Yes the car ran real strong but with a slight mis cuz of the condition of the cap an rotor. But what a time for the plugs to finnaly quit. I guess I'll do a complete tune up and do a high temp rebuild of my distributor and see where it gets me. I should have it done by wednesday. I'll post here what happens.

[outlaw86SE]

Well I figured it out. All the plugs decided to quit at the same time and the center pin inside the distributor cap broke off. Now I have other problems. The idle fluctuates its at the 1100-900rpm range but it floats. How do I get it to smooth out? Also I read somewhere on here about what to do if your headlight motor brings your lights up but keeps running? If I turn the switch off it goes down but on it comes up but the motor keeps running and clicks. I remember something about a "help!" part at a parts store. But dnt remeber what it was. Any input?

[djoj]

hi
does your car stay on running and hesitate mt coil was bad when something similar happened you can have it tested at autozone free,i got a new coil for 19.99 1yr.warranty there ,have it tested . on the headlights, these other guys here, have mention it before let me find out .get back to you asap

[outlaw86SE]

I work at autozone those coils are crap I have an aftermarket accel coil. The yellow one. And I know its good. If I put my back up coil from autozone in it runs the same. Anyone got a step by step on a gen 1 headlight motor rebuild?

[85 SE VIN 9]

Your headlight gears are stripping. Download the PDF from the Michigan Fiero Club. You can find it in the Firero Online Service Guide.

There are numerous gear replacement options, but almost all require considerable time, effort, and some tools you might not have. You have to remove and break open the headlight motor and clean out the pieces of rubber that used to connect the motor to the gear. You have time though. One of my headlights was stuck up with the motor running whenever the headlights were on - six months ago - and still is. I got a gear and motor rebuild kit from the Fiero Store for about fifteen dollars.

Google something like 'Fiero headlight rebuild' and you'll find some Utube videos on how to do the whole process. The headlight system is very similar to the Firebird system. There is a good pictorial on that process.

Since your headlights are actually still working you might be able to reuse the gear by just turning it around. Apparently it only uses half the gear, so if you turn it around so it uses the good part it will still work. You'll still need the rebuild kit without the gear, about seven dollars at the Fiero Store.

One neat trick from the Michigan Fiero Club PDF allows you to disable the headlight motors so they don't go down every time you turn off the lights. I got a push pull switch, pushed the dimmer control out of the way, cut the white wire from the headlight switch, attached the ends to the switch, and mounted it in the dimmer wheel slot. With the switch in the headlights don't go down. Pull it out, they close. I was hoping this would stop the running motor, but no such luck. The Michigan Fiero Club PDF says if you disconnect the blue connector at the headlight it will stop the motor. Maybe that's just when the headlight switch is off, because the motor still runs when the lights are on.

With that in mind I have this suggestion. Before working on these motors or the headlights in any way - disconnect the battery. KEEP YOUR FINGERS OUT OF THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM ANYTIME THE BATTERY IS CONNECTED. THERE IS NO WAY TO BE CERTAIN IT WON'T START RUNNING!