i bought a 94 caprice for a winter car i drove it for about a hundred miles and when i came out to leave again it was hard to start and the next day it would only run if you had the peddle to the floor.i replaced the opti and the coil . it tries to start but it wont and here i am stumped .i bought a ignition module but no body can test around here if i could test it it would make things a lot easier i spent 80 bucks on it and i dont want to replace it if i dont have too! instinct tells me its a timing chain . please help this is really stressing me out!!!!!!!

 

sorry to hear of your troubles. I also bought a bbody for my daily transportation. I love it.

first you need to fig. out why it wont run. does it have spark? what fuel press. does it have? you can get a spark tester at any auto parts store or even sears prolly. if you dont have spark, then you need to make sure you have power and ground to the ign. coil. if there is power and ground there, then you need to make sure you have power and ground to the ign. module. also make sure there isnt any corrosion on the coil wire that connects the coil to the opti.
if you do have spark, then look at the fuel press. you should have like 45psi w/the key on. after you hook up the gauge, turn the key on. the f uel pump will prime for 2-3 seconds, and the press. should be between 40-50. (Im not sure of the real specs off the top of my head, but this should be pretty close). then the press. will settle down to around 42lbs or so. the press. should hold steady and not drop after that point. if it drops, then there's a leak somewhere in the system. if it wont reach that pressure, then the pump is prolly bad. try to replace the fuel filter first,and retest for pressure. if still low press, replace the pump. you can also do an easy test to see if fuel delivery is your problem by spraying carb cleaner or starting fluid into the throttle body for about 10 seconds. then try to start it. if it starts and runs for a few sec.s, then stalls and wont restart, then you know your eng. isnt getting fuel to it.
another thing to look at is the sec. light blinking in the dash w/the key on/eng. off? if so then you have a theft detterent code and it is disabling your car from starting.

good luck, that should get you started and give you some basics to look at.
chris

 

Time for a new Opti. Don't bother with the ignition module, it's 99.9% probably not the problem.

 

well, he did replace the opti. you prolly just missed that though.

 

he replaced the opti already.

im stumped, check the vitals

fuel, spark, etc

 

Sorry, I was distracted at work, I meant to say recheck the opti, not get a new one. My bad.

 

ummm did you check fuel pressure

 

got it running
new spark plugs did the trick but now im having fuel problems i took it to the gas station filled it up and then it would'nt start so i look and i opened the schrader valve than purged it a couple of times .then it fired but it quit again on me coming home i wonder if maybe the fuel filter is full of crap or if the pump is going out
thanks for the help i surely appreciate it
gary greenert

 

I guess your pump is toasted. That was my first thought from original post description too. Get a gauge on it

 

i second that on the pump, the previous owner probably replaced the fuel filter to make it run stronger while he was selling it...i hate people like that...

 

well guys you wont believe this but it was the wiring harness on the ingition module my fasther wiggled the wires while i cranked it over and it started.so he removed the weather protective rubber from it and i aint had a problen since. what a relieve
thanks guys for all the help
gary greenert

 

umm, well you HAVE to have that rubber seal on there. it is the only thing that keeps the moisture out and keeps the conn.s from corroding and needing to be replaced. Id look in there for corrosion (it will be white or green and chalky) and make sure the female terminals arent spread. if you can wiggle the conn. and make it better/worse, then its prolly either corroded, pulling out of the conn. from the backside, the wires are bad inside the sleeve, or it just wasnt plugged in tight to begin with. removing the rubber seal in no way fixes the problem. put it back in and look at the conn.s and terminals again. you might also want to put in some die-electric grease to further help seal out contaminants.

glad to hear you found the general source of the problem though and its minor. now just figure out exactly what it was so it doesnt get worse and/or happen again.

chris

 

yea i got to get to carquest and see if they got a new connector for those wires the the female sides looked like they were spread a bit i dont want to cut those wires till i can find a replacement end

 

worst case scenario is the dealership will have them. they may have to order it, but they can get it. prolly cost ya around $45 or so though.