problems with z28

[g4mbl3]

I have a friend that has a 1981 z28 camaro, and it wont start. It cranks, but it doesnt get any spark. It has an accel hei unit and we took the top off and on the bottom of the top piece there was a black post held on by a spring that was very loose. We think this is the problem. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[RooK]

HEI unit? Talking about the coil?

When it comes to no spark, the major areas are usually the pickup coil, coil, and ignition control module. The last two are the cheapest and easiest to fix and most parts stores can test them off the vehicle. The pickup coil requires yanking the distributor and minor disassembly though.

[Pontiac]

I'm TRYING to remember my 87s setup. IIRC, the wire coming from the coil plugs into the base of the distributor. Take the cap off the distributor and have someone turn over the engine. You should be able to see sparks every time the rotor comes near the points. If no spark is coming off there, you know the problem is either the rotor and cap, or somewhere between the rotor and the battery. (Typically the wire going from the coil to the distributor)

[g4mbl3]

the top looks like this
http://performanceparts.com/part.php?partID=6466
We were thinking that replacing this would make it able to start.

[RooK]

That's just a fancy looking aftermarket ignition coil. Probably $15 for a stock one at a parts house. You're going to need a new coil cover though, unless you have an old one?

[g4mbl3]

new coil cover
What would that be?

[RooK]

You'll find out when you see a standard coil. Whoever installed the aftermarket probably chucked the old one, otherwise you'd have it. The distributor cap has a large square spot where that Accel thing is bolted up. A standard coil is smaller and sits in the square portion while another piece covers it.

http://performanceparts.com/performance_parts_images/mallory_8548201C.jpg

The top one has a coil cover installed, lower one doesn't. Best example I can find... unless the coil comes out of that Accel cover? I'm under the assumption it's made into it.

[g4mbl3]

OK he has replaced so far
Coil
cap
rotor
ignition control module
spark plugs
and still no spark

[Nighthawk243]

Have you tried using starter fluid? If it fires up with the starter fluid, then it isn't electrical.

[g4mbl3]

im not too sure if he has. i just know that we held took a spark plug out of the motor, kept it in the boot and held it to a header and the first time i saw a small spark for a second but not again after, and also i know when we changed spark plugs like 4 or 5 out of 8 were dripping in gas, so it was flooded. i just think he refuses to think its anything other that electrical, and when i mention anything he just thinks im stupid, but w/e, ill say something to him.

and im sorry for not replying, but yes, its just 2 parts to the coil. there is the top, that has the accel part on it, and yes its all one piece, that on the bottom of it it has that little springy thing, and it bolts on top of another piece. but there are 3 plugs that go into the top piece. lol thats as far as i know / remember for right now, ill have to talk more to him. thx for the help, and ill bring up all the things listed to him! ill report back when i hear stuff hehe

[RazorDX]

Is the gas still good? It sounds like the car may have sat for a good while; did it get a change of gas when all of this started?

[g4mbl3]

umm, the last time he started it wasnt that long from when he tried again and it wouldnt start. but i know overall it has sat basically all winter and even some of the summer before that, and only driven like 2 times, but he has been running it like 1 time every month or 2 months. and i dont know if it was driven by the other owner, but it was soldf because the last owner ditched it, and screwed up the drivers side appearance, not a whole lot was messed up as far as bumper mounts or anything. but ill bring that up to him as well :)

[RazorDX]

I wasn't sure of the history of the car, but I got in my mind a kid I knew in high school that got his grandpa's old car. It had sat for about 8-10 years, and he was excited when he saw that it still had gas in it. For some reason though, it wouldn't start. :lol:

Bad gas is difficult to overlook, but it happens.

[Nighthawk243]

Yep, Fuel cannot sit for very long without becoming unstable. It'll break down and because useless.