It seems to be getting a spark. It seems like something is ground ing out somewhere. the speedometer needle bounces when I an cranking it, but it just won't start. I can hear the starter. I have had several problems with the rad fan motor not coming on right before this. I tested the fan motor by jumping the wires with a little piece of wire, bypassing the switch. Ever since then the car hasn't started. Could I have possibly fried a wire by doing this. I checked the ground wires from engine to chassis and they look okay(not broken, but slightly dirty).
I haven't tried the gas yet, but I did clean one of the ground wires, engine to chassis, and check all fuses for continuity. Still nothing. I did notice, however a small hose towards the bottom of the throttle body that looked like it's about to blow and a small amount of antifreeze(I think) dripped from it. I think this is new. I also cleaned up the points on the distributor. It is probably factory, but not any serious arcing damage on it. I haven't tried the gas yet, but I did clean one of the ground wires, engine to chassis, and check all fuses for continuity. Still nothing. I did notice, however a small hose towards the bottom of the throttle body that looked like it's about to blow and a small amount of antifreeze(I think) dripped from it. I think this is new. I also cleaned up the points on the distributor. It is probably factory, but not any serious arcing damage on it.
I had a mechanic look at my car to try and figure it out. He told me it was the distributor. I replaced the entire distributor, and sure enough, no luck. I did happen to find a loose black ground wire under the dash that looks like it had recently been cut or broken. Problem is, I can't find where it came from. What needs to be grounded under the dash? Could this be the problem?I had a mechanic look at my car to try and figure it out. He told me it was the distributor. I replaced the entire distributor, and sure enough, no luck. I did happen to find a loose black ground wire under the dash that looks like it had recently been cut or broken. Problem is, I can't find where it came from. What needs to be grounded under the dash? Could this be the problem?
I got my car running... finally. It was a bad ground wire after all. I paid a guy 45 bucks to look at it again, and after 10 whole minutes he found the problem. It was a bad ground from the computer to the thermostat housing. He moved the ground to a different location and it fired right up.
Only cost me 700 bucks to figure this one out.
On the positive note I did learn alot about my car. And it has a bunch of new parts in it that probably didn't need to be replaced. I got my car running... finally. It was a bad ground wire after all. I paid a guy 45 bucks to look at it again, and after 10 whole minutes he found the problem. It was a bad ground from the computer to the thermostat housing. He moved the ground to a different location and it fired right up.
Only cost me 700 bucks to figure this one out.
On the positive note I did learn alot about my car. And it has a bunch of new parts in it that probably didn't need to be replaced.
You can't post conmments that contain an email address.
with all this electronic stuff on cars anymore they can get rather complicated. They can cause alot of problems and cost alot of money to repair for sure .. glad you got it .. thanks again Jerry with all this electronic stuff on cars anymore they can get rather complicated. They can cause alot of problems and cost alot of money to repair for sure .. glad you got it .. thanks again Jerry
You can't post conmments that contain an email address.
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
Sounds like the sending unit has an intermittent short to ground. Unhook the the wire from the sending unit, and see if the needle stops jumping around. If it quits jumping around, replace the sending unit. If it still jumps around, you have a bare spot somewhere on the wire and it is hitting ground which will cause the needle to jump. Cut out the bad part of the wire and splice in a new section. That should fix it.
bad ground somewhere causing stuff to randomly turn on make sure that your lights are off id test eveything with a test light to see if your getting power and ground
could be a worn speedometer cable that may be loose or stripped, causing it to catch only ever so often, or slip occasionally, making the needle jump, or bounce, also check the ground for a good conection, a loose ground can cause the same problem
Have you checked the fuses? Without knowing all the details I would guess fuse or ground out somewhere along the line. Also chk to see if the needle is stuck under the pin. Although unlikely it does happen. I hope that helps you to solve your problem.
The speedometer sensor - VSS - vehicle speed sensor is a input to the PCM - powertrain control module -engine computer . The signal from the PCM to the instrument cluster for speed info. is sent on a serial data communication network (class 2 ) I would think it would be an instrument cluster problem . Get a used one from a auto salvage yard 15 - 20 bucks an see if it fixes it . If it does ,send your's out an have it repaired .
It sounds like a faulty voltage regulator, faulty alternator, or a bad ground. Try checking the voltage output with a voltmeter, preferably an analog (needle) type. If the needle is "bouncing" then the output of the alternator is not "steady". This voltage variation, if severe enough, could cause your electronic meters (such as your speedometer) to perform erratically.
Also, if you have performed any aftermarket modifications to the electrical system (such as high power stereo installs, etc), temporarily disconnect these and see if the problem resolves. A stock alternator for this car only puts out around 70-80 amps. It doesn't leave much of a margin for additional current draw from high power add-ons.
I haven't tried the gas yet, but I did clean one of the ground wires, engine to chassis, and check all fuses for continuity. Still nothing. I did notice, however a small hose towards the bottom of the throttle body that looked like it's about to blow and a small amount of antifreeze(I think) dripped from it. I think this is new. I also cleaned up the points on the distributor. It is probably factory, but not any serious arcing damage on it.
I had a mechanic look at my car to try and figure it out. He told me it was the distributor. I replaced the entire distributor, and sure enough, no luck. I did happen to find a loose black ground wire under the dash that looks like it had recently been cut or broken. Problem is, I can't find where it came from. What needs to be grounded under the dash? Could this be the problem?
I got my car running... finally. It was a bad ground wire after all. I paid a guy 45 bucks to look at it again, and after 10 whole minutes he found the problem. It was a bad ground from the computer to the thermostat housing. He moved the ground to a different location and it fired right up.
Only cost me 700 bucks to figure this one out.
On the positive note I did learn alot about my car. And it has a bunch of new parts in it that probably didn't need to be replaced.
×