free!!!

[DSM Galant]

i need some free advice.

i know tihs is a streetcracing board but i need a lil help with my gm car, i have a buick century t type, it sports a 3.8 v6 fwd. i got the car not running (free). the guy told me it needed a new starter but when i got it home the starter was turning, he said he had just put a new starter on there and it looked pretty new. the car also has a new fuel pump and fuel lines. i personally changed the spark plugs, wires, both crank pully sensors and a knock sensor. when i turn the key it just stutters like it wants to start but it wont. i checked the coils and they all spark, air is getting threw and i can smell the gas comming up, i hear the fuel pump running and the spark plugs get wet. i dont know why it wont start. the exhaust sputters like it going to start when i turn the key but nothing happens i ran the gm code scanner on it and i got the code #12 which says " diagnostic test is working properly. (engine computer verifies no rpm refrence pulses are present during engine off testing.) after all this i thought maybe it was the timing but i dont know nothing about timing and me helper say he cant check timing without the car running. i need help bad please, my beretta gtz is sitting with no engine or tranny, it will be a while before its runnig again.

[MoparMuscle]

so the engine is turning over and not firing? did you check the firing order?

[MoparMuscle]

also did you check the cap and rotor? i would replace those too they might be corroded.

[DSM Galant]

i did check the fireing order and the car has a distrubitor less ignition. someone told me to spray some wd-40 in the trottle body and i did and the car almost started for a second then 2 small balls of fire came out. when i used starter fluid nothing happened.

[MoparMuscle]

oh yea i forgot that it has electronic ignition.if a fireball came out then the timing is off, fiddle with the timing till you get it to fire, then time it with a lite when you get the car going, my car was shooting flames out of the carb when the distributor was 180 out, took distributor out, turned the shaft 1/2 turn and put it back in and it fired right up!

[Edited by MoparMuscle on 05-13-2001 at 09:18 PM]

[RiddlerGt]

True about the timing...But i have also seen on a couple rare ocasion cloged exaust do this just a thought


Nate
88gt

[DSM Galant]

the whole time i been thinkimg it was timming, i know nothing aboutr timing bit ill try. i have the haynes manual. i can hear puffs comming out the exhaust but i do think its clogged, it i can do something with the timming then ill just send it to the shop thanks alot and if you have anymore ideas tell me.

[primed chev]

Youve gotten of to a good start on what youve checked. If the car is dist. ignition you will not be able to adjust the timing it is set by the computer. Try unbolting the exhaust from the manifold. if it starts then, you know you have a plugged ehxaust. Reading every thing youve replace i would have to guess either exhaust or a bad computer. Try using Berrymans B12 over WD40 it burns in the cyls a little better. If you have anymore questons ask away. Good luck.

[DSM Galant]

i sent the car to the shop this morning after me last post, the guy checked it and said it was my timing. he said it would be $450 to fix, i said he was crazy. he said he needed to change the chain and gears, i think the car isent worth it, i guess ill just have to go out and find me another beretta gtz.

[primed chev]

You gotta weigh the options, where can you get a car for $450. Or you could grab a chiltons/haynes manual and try it yourself that'd save you a bunch of money. Whats the worst that will happen? Car wont run, your in the same boat now. Good luck with it

[Chris]

BTW, redoing the timing system is pretty easy. If you take your time, and use a manual it shouldnt be that bad.