1989 sho no spark help!!!

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

davekar

New Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
Location
Pa
Just Bought an 89 sho for 150 bucks off a buddy of mine who knows nothing about cars he was told the car ran and drove he found out it didnt he was getting no spark fuel pressure is good he had some one replace the crank sensor and the cam sensor apearantly the previous owner before him replaced the battery and the coil pace cel is on and the car will turn over but wont run my machanic said something about the dis modual and also sumthing about a different electronic control box underneath the radiator fan i looked the other day and there is that box underneath the radiator fan can anyone give me sum futher insight to what i should do
 

BlackonBlack89

SHO Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
1,508
Reaction score
364
Location
burlington county,NJ
check the grounds. There is a important ground on the pass. side rear intake bracket. That is for the DIS. bad ground= no spark.

then check the DIS ( grey box on crossover tube) and then check the coil.
 
Last edited:

luigisho

SHO Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2001
Messages
13,265
Reaction score
5,143
Location
va beach,va
You need someone who knows what they're looking at as far as DIS grounds etc. Where are you in PA? Maybe there's some people nearby who can help.
 

davekar

New Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
Location
Pa
im outa carlisle but the car is in a garage in harrisburg
 

frosho

WOLFMAN
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
2,523
Reaction score
1,411
Location
Tyngsboro, MA
They are part of the ground path for the DIS. As is the metal bracket between the crossover tube and rear plenum.

DIS -> crossover tube -> bracket -> rear plenum -> ground strap -> firewall

That's the ground path.
 

93rev2sev

SHO Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
6,461
Reaction score
1,825
Location
Hockeytown
Zach is correct. You should start on the firewall. Who ever gave him negative rep, you might have been too quick to judgement.

The intake ground strap will be easy to see there (at the firewall). It's a half inch thick, flat, braided, bare copper cable bolted to the firewall with a 7mm bolt. It's bolted along with a smaller insulated black grounding wire. To narrow down it's location, refer to the picture I'm about to post. You will need to test the ground path between that bolt head and one of the bottom 2 DIS bolts (the 5.5mm ones). Now that you've found it, get a pen light and try to follow it to it's other end. It better be connected to the intake manifold SOMEWHERE.

Now you need to test that ground path. The easiest way to do this is with a multi tester. Put the tester in "continuity tone" mode and touch the probes together. You should hear a tone. Now, place one lead on each bolt head. You should hear a tone again. This tone tells you that there is NO RESISTANCE between the two points. If that's the case, your DIS is grounded. To test this thoroughly, have a buddy hold one of the leads on one of the bolt heads and use your free hand to wiggle the ground strap, and all the wires in that bundle. Spend a couple of minutes veryfying that you can get a consistent tone from the tester. You can take some emery cloth or sand paper and scratch up the bolt heads to ensure a decent connection with the probes of the multi tester.
 

rubydist

SHO Master
Staff member
Super Moderators
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
7,521
Reaction score
3,399
Location
Denver
what i should do

First, you should buy some punctuation marks.

Second, you should pull the codes.

Third, you should let us know what the codes are.

Then, we may be able to actually help you.
 

llamaking122

Green Machine
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
445
Reaction score
108
Location
Columbus, Ohio
Also make sure everything is plugged in. ive forgotten before maybe the mechanic forgot sumtin
 
Last edited:

davekar

New Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
Location
Pa
got a chance to go and work on the 89 today turns out 2 of the screws in the dis box were missing went to pepboys bought a pack of 7mm screws and washers to fit cost about $1.97 went back put em in and turned the key started right up, it was the first time the motor has ran in prolly 3 or 4 years this car went through 4 other owners and no one could figured out that it was them 2 screws thanks Bob Gervais, for the advice thanks to everyone else for you input i really appreciate it motors running with a lil knock but doesnt sound like its coming from the motor idles a lil in and out prolly the gas thats been sittin in it for the last couple years gonna put sum high test to even it all out thanks guys
 
Joined
Sep 6, 2002
Messages
2,516
Reaction score
2,351
Location
Westerly, RI
Glad it was simple!

Search for the idle reset procedure on here, disconnect the battery and then reset the idle.
 

rubydist

SHO Master
Staff member
Super Moderators
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
7,521
Reaction score
3,399
Location
Denver
Glad to see you found those 2 commas. You might want to find some periods, too....
;)
Glad its fixed!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,077
Messages
1,181,196
Members
16,142
Latest member
Kaevorlly

Members online

Back
Top