are you using a stock throttle body?

 

Yes, stock throttle body.
I will bring coil and ICM to autozone I guess they can test that stuff. is the ICM the module that is attached to the coil?

 

 

None of the 8 autozones around me have a way to test coil and icm. I bought a new coil just to try it and still have the same issue. What do I need to test the ICM, just a multimeter?

 

try this site
http://shbox.com/1/4th_gen_tech2.html

 

are you getting spark from coil to opti?

 

yes, spark from coil to opti verified by removing wire from coil and sparking on the block. also getting spark from opti to spark plugs verified by pulling wire from spark plug and sparking it on the block.

 

I did the opti spark test and the coil continuity test from Shoebox's website.

Everything tested as it was supposed to, my original coil showed 8500 ohms and my new coil showed 9500 ohms. I am getting spark to the spark plugs but it does seem weak.

From what I have read, my ICM is definatly working if I am getting spark from the coil to the opti.

 

When you said previously that the car started, ran for 5 seconds then shut off, that almost sounds like your fuel pump isn't staying running when the ignition is in the run state. When you initally turn your key on (key on but not running), your fuel pump will prime. You should see your fuel pressure come up and have fuel in the rails. But then the pump will shut off. When you turn your key to run and start it, the pcm needs to see a high and low resolution signal from the opti in order to keep the fuel pump running. If it doesn't see this for any reason, the fuel pump won't run and you'll run the fuel lines dry (probably about 5 seconds of run time), then the car shuts off because your out of fuel. That signal from the opti is what runs through that opti harness that runs from the opti up to the passenger side main harness. Those harnesses are known to go bad from what i've read here on the forum. The quickest way to test this theory is to get a fuel pressure gauge on the rail. Turn the key on and see if it primes. You'll hear the fuel pump and will see the pressure jump up. Then crank it. If the pressure starts falling off and dropping to zero while your cranking it or right after it starts, then the pcm is probably not seeing the signal it should, in which case, the easiest thing to look at first is that opti harness.

Ken R.

 

I tested fuel pressure at the rails and it is 43psi. I tested spark strength at the plug with a tool to gauge voltage. I am getting an approx 28000 - 30000 volt spark at the spark plugs. I replaced the icm and the coil just for ****s and giggles . Issue still remains. If i spray starting fuel into te intake, the car will cough a bit but still no start.

I noticed with freescan that my spark advance is 7. My pcm is still stock becuase i reprogrammed with stock bin. Is this 7 spark advance normal? I cant think of any other issue because my spark is good and my fuel is good based on above tests.

 

Could it be the opti with what i described? I have the msd opti. It is 3 yeara old but it spent most of the time sitting on a shelf in my closet. It has about 100 miles on it.

 

wouldnt the low and high res problems throw a code for the opti?

 

Well that is a good indicator, if you have fuel (which would be the starting fluid) you only have 2 other possibilities, spark and compression. Since it ran before you flashed it I would think it to be spark. Maybe it is not firing at the right time? but 7 deg sounds pretty good for initial timing. You checked at the plug?

 

Yes I checked at the plugs. there is a tool at autozone i bought that you plug the spark plug wires into and it shows how far the spark can arc which is an indicator of how many volts.

 

Car is running now. Seems that I had some bad fuel that fouled my plugs. When I was testing my spark I tested the wire all 8 were good, I tested the spark plugs themselves but only the 4 easy to get to ones. All 4 that I tested were good.

I ended up pulling all 8 plugs today and the 4 I didnt test before were bad. After changing all plugs, the car still didn't start. I sprayed starting fluid in and the car started.

So, I drained all of the fuel, put in a few fresh gallons and the car started right up.

What just a coincidence with the programming.

Summary: 4 fouled plugs and some bad gas(bad gas still ignited with a lighter) = no start

Thank you to everyone that assisted with this.