Hello, i have a problem with my firebird, i know im in the wrong forum but its the only place ive gotten help. My firebird wont start, engine turns, seems to me like all its missing is spark. I unplugged the spark plug wire that goes from the coil to the distributor at the coil and turned the key, i was able to hear sparks coming out of the coil, put the wire back in its place and unplugged a spark plug wire at the spark plug, i put the wire close to metal and turned the key, my dad says there was a very weak spark. Is there a way to measure the spark going to the spark plugs???? Is it a bad distributor or what else could it be??? Its a 97 firebird trans am, V8, 6spd, Thanks,

 

check fuel pressure, or could squirt a little gas or starting fluid in the intake at the throttle body. if it starts for a second then it s a fuel problem.

 

There are cheap spark tester available in auto parts stores, that are inserted between plug wire and plugs that let you look at the spark. A good spark will look blue while a weak one will look yellow-orange. They won't tell you why the spark is bad or non existant, but will give you a starting place.

 

I did spray some starting fluid in the intake and the engine just kept on turning over but didnt start, distributor probably??? I have not checked the spark plugs but if it was bad spark plugs it would start right??? it would just idle rough right????

 

i had plugs that were so fouled the car would not start. although i didnt hit it with starting fluid. have you pulled any to see what they look like?

 

No not yet, i put them in last november, they ware not new but they ware in good condition and i cleaned them. This no spark thing happened overnight.

 

yah thats what happened to me. bought the car, drove it home and it ran fine. next morning it would not start. plugs where really old though, looked to have 60k miles on em. if you put used plugs in new plugs would be in order. have you had it scanned for trouble codes yet? sure hate to say it but it could be the opti.

 

If you have been cranking without getting started the plugs are probably wet with gas and will confuse the issue. Make sure all connections are tight between opti, ignition control module, ignition coil, and PCM. Check for codes, before swapping parts, it may save you time & money.

 

Ok i went and bought one of those testers and i have a completely yellowish spark at a spark plug wire, and a blue-yellowish spark at the coil. The spark plugs still look ok according to me.

 

check wires going to the coil/icm and opti. also could be weak/failing coil, icm or opti. heres some stuff to look at. most will apply to your system but not all. you have obd2 and this is for my 93 and is obd1. opti is the same so test for it should be same. not so sure on the icm.