Not a Mustang, but help me out

[Tru_Blue_104]

Hey, my brother has a 1990 Buick Century with a 3.3. Recently it will not start, even when jumped. Replaced spark plugs, but no spark. Any ideas? I really dont know what would be the best way to go. Thanks for the help.

 

[MSM0075]

not awnsering you question but is the paint chipping off of it? my mom has a '90 and it looks like swiss cheese.

 

[Anlushac11]

If no spark my first guess is bad Ignition control module but I have no idea how you would test it. IIRC it is the HEI style module inside the cap.

 

[TobyA-1]

I am not sure what you mean when you say the car won't start. Does it turn over , but never actually starts and runs? Have you verified that your spark plugs really do not have fire? If the spark plugs do not have fire then do the following:

Lift the cap off the distributor ( remove coil wire from the cap) and have an assistant try to start it (of course it won't start like this) while you watch the rotor inside the distributor. This is just a check to see if the rotor is spinning. If it is not spinning you have either a broken timing chain/belt or a broken distibutor gear. If it is spinning then you need to place the distributor cap back on. Place a long screw driver in the end of the coil wire that goes on the distibutor. Hold the screwdriver close but not touching a grounded object (like the top of a metal bracket on the engine). Hold the screwdriver by the plastic handle or this may wake you up. Have an assistant try to start the engine again. If your distributor is getting fire you will see arcs of electricity shoot from the screwdriver to the grounded metal object. If you don't have arcs then either your coil or ignition module is shot.

 

[Tru_Blue_104]

First off, the car looks surprisingly good for how much its been through. The car doesnt have a distributor, has DIS. I did a check for no spark. The car turns over but never fires and never runs. I thought it may be the ignition control module, but I wasnt sure.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[My80Cobra]

Coil Packs, go to the junkyard and grab a some from another Century, just did some on a Celebrity a while back. I guess you could buy them new.

 

[Tru_Blue_104]

Coil Packs, go to the junkyard and grab a some from another Century, just did some on a Celebrity a while back. I guess you could buy them new.

But is it possible for all 3 of them to go bad at once? I kinda thought it may be the Control Module, but like I said, not sure.

Thanks

 

[Tru_Blue_104]

OK, I replaced all 3 coil packs and the control module. Nothin. Any other ideas? I'm thinking this car is dead and gone. We'll see though.

 

[Tru_Blue_104]

Hey, finally got it figured out, turns out it was the crankshaft sensor. Who'd a thunk it? Anyways, thanks for the advice guys!

 

[chaka]

It went bad on my 89 Park Ave. Ignition module went soon after.