Chevy 454, TBI, seems to be no spark, won't start, HELP!

[damronjr]

Yeah, so yesterday I drove it to work, all was fine, turned it off, waited about 1/2 before I walk in after parking, nothing on at all, started it back up to roll up the windows, started fine, then started idling funny, waited and listened to see what it would do, then it died and refused to start after that. Waited until after work, went back out, still no Vroom, just the rer - rer. Pulled off the air cleaner, saw it was spraying fuel fine, pulled the plug off the coil from the power source and didn't seem to get a spark, no to the distributor. Someone suggested the ignition coil, so we went and bought one, but that didn't work either. Checked all fuses (A/C works now! ), everything we could think of, but doesn't seem to be getting any power at all. The battery is fine, alt is fine. Eventually it started for no reason with all the old parts, took off and drove it home, let it sit running for a while, gassed it, stayed on fine. Turned it off, came back a few hours later, started it, it ran for a minute, then started idling funny again, as it was dying I tried to gas it from under the hood, and just as it sprayed the fuel it blew it right back out the TB at me! lol Now it won't start again. Anyone have any ideas? Some say distributor, but it seems the loss of power is BEFORE the coil, let alone the distributor. I'm not sure of the electrical/ignition system configuration to know where to start looking.

[michaelgt]

I would suggest going to a RV forum where many people are familiar with this size engine.http://www.woodalls.com/forums...um/41

[chevelle_lover]

Under the rotor inside the cap is the GM ignition module these have two small wires connected to it. These two wires are famous for breaking off the module after a long period of time (10-15 years) Unfortunately, this will involve taking off the distributor to get at it easily. These wires will connect to the module or the pick-up for the distributor. The wires could have gone bad at either end.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by chevelle_lover »Under the rotor inside the cap is the GM ignition module these have two small wires connected to it. These two wires are famous for breaking off the module after a long period of time (10-15 years) Unfortunately, this will involve taking off the distributor to get at it easily. These wires will connect to the module or the pick-up for the distributor. The wires could have gone bad at either end.I've been hearing/reading about this module a lot, looks like I need to get the distributor off and apart! Thanks for the info.

[kevera]

Wow,talking about distributors,glad they don't use them much anymore.But as chevelle lover said,they are notorious for breaking those wires as they get brittle with age and heat.When you take the distributor out,mark it so it goes back in the same location as to not screw with your timing.

[wyatt89]

Stick a long plastic handled screwdriver into each plug wire individually and have a buddy crank the truck, move the screwdriver close to the engine block or something else that's metal and grounded (and safe). If it sparks, the plug wire should be good, try all of them, if a few of them aren't sparking the impedance may be too high on the plug wires, if all of them aren't sparking then move further back in your ignition system.Edit:I just read the rest sorry, you said that it started eventually, I had the same problem with an older car where it would start if it was cold and run until you shut it off, but if you tried to start it after you turned it off, it wouldn't even sputter, it would just crank. I brought it to a shop and it turned out to be the distributer...I have no idea why but that's what it was

[damronjr]

Well, looks like there is a reason I kept hearing so much about the ignition module, I finally found it (under the distributer cap), pulled it out, called and found 1 at the local Kragen right down the street for $30, said WTH, went and bought it, and it started right up even with an almost completely dead battery after barely turning the key! BACK IN BUSINESS! Thanks for the advice guys!

[ToolGuy]

Yup ignition modules can go at any time and without any signs. My wife's old 91 Olds just died while driving. She pressed on the gas and did not notice any change, than looked at the RPMs and saw them at 0. I was with her and we pulled over literally less then a minute from home. Lucky I had a module from a training class I taught.