Won't Start

[Steve Wood]

keeping my fingers crossed!  Be sure you are following Eric's instructions for the chip with regard to starting...try another non theft chip if you have one...

In the end, we need to know if you have fuel and spark to know which way to go.

Thinking of fuel leads me to fuel pressure...be sure that is up to snuff as well

[Steve Wood]

oh, yeah...make sure the plugs are dry because it probably will not start if they are wet...

[Bob-Lob-Law]

So far this morning, I went ahead and re-charged the car and it holds a 12 volt charge (12.6 to be exact).  I did some looking on the Theft Deterrent and found somewhere on the Turbobuicks board someone saying that he had to reset it to get his engine going again.  Well, if memory serves me correct, I had to unlock the car using the power door locks.  I tried to do just that and the door locks are dead.  So are the headlights too, but that's a different story, I think. 

So, I am going to unhook the battery and tear into the dash and see if I can find the Theft Deterrent's location.  Hopefully that will be the problem of the engine not starting as well as the power door lock problem.  I found this on the web last night:
Theft Deterrent Connector (Regal): Behind LH Side Of I/P (Instrament Pane l)
Theft Deterrent Controller (Regal): Behind I/P, Near LH Shroud
Theft Deterrent Diode (Regal)): Behind LH Side Of I/P, In Connector C857
Theft Deterrent Relay (Regal): Behind I/P, Left Of Steering Column

Too bad I couldn't find pics of these items. 
I'll let you all know how it works out.  It might be a bit though, I'm having to clean up my house for visitors.  Something about my daughter getting married.  I had better get to writing that toast.

[earlbrown]

I wouldn't tear the dash apart just yet.  If your headlights aren't working, you've got electrical issues other than a potential voltage drop and resetting antitheft chip.

Have you verified that all the fuses are getting power and the fuseable links on the starter are in good shape and not broken?

[Steve Wood]

Are you saying the chip does not have the antitheft, but, the car has a factory alarm system instead?

[Bob-Lob-Law]

Mr. Brown.  I guess I should have read your response before I went out, the dash is apart and everything is in order.  Oh well, at least I know this now.  I'll go take a look at the fuseable link.  As far as I know, they are in good order.  The wiring harness is a new (2006) Casper's harness.  However, I very well could have missed one. 

Mr. Wood.  Yes, the chip does not have the Anti Theft.  It is the factory installed alarm.  After taking the dash apart, I looked at all the wiring behind the I/P and everything looked good and tight.  If found two fuse holders with 25 amp fuses in them.  They were still good.  I removed them and cleaned up the contacts and reinstalled them.  I also made sure all the grounds are in good condition, especially the battery ground from the negative terminal. 

[Scoobum]

Steve asked earlier...and I didn't see an answer. What's the fuel pressure set at?

[Bob-Lob-Law]

I have not been able to check it yet, I have to get a fitting that will fit the new fuel rail.  I'll see if I can get that fitting either this evening or sometime tomorrow. 

Thanks for reminding me of that question.

[Steve Wood]

I doubt it is the factory alarm but we may have to bypass it to be sure.

Again, try laying a plug on the valve cover to see if it sparks when you crank it...connected to the plug wire, of course

You did install the crank sensor thru the proper slot, I would assume.  They normally will not start if you run the blades thru the other slot

[Bob-Lob-Law]

Steve, roger that on the Factory alarm.  As far as the crank sensor, the blade is going through the outside slot, or the slot that is closest to the crank.  When I installed it, the blade lined right up with it.  Please tell me that is the right one. 

First thing in the morning I will do the spark check. 

I'm thinking that I might have wired the starter wrong.  I have never had a problem with the door locks and head lights before with the old engine.  I know it should be pretty straight forward, however, with me being a computer geek, nothing is ever easy.  I'll be looking over the wiring for the starter this evening making sure it's Ok. 

Thanks to everyone for all your help.  I truly appreciate it.

[Steve Wood]

sounds right on the crank sensor...shoul d be like this  http://www.vortexbuicks-etc.com/cranksensor.htm

As I said before, it probably will not fire if the plugs are wet-that's because the voltage takes the easy path thru the gas instead of arcing between the electrodes.

I am assuming that the injectors are being pulsed because the plugs are wet.   If it were sitting in my shop, I would not make that assumption but would plug my noid lite into one of the injector harnesses.

All the fusible links go to the small terminal on the starter.  The purple wire goes to the other small post.  If the starter is cranking the engine over, then you know the purple wire is on the right post and the other wires (fusible links) go to the other small terminal that has 12 volts on it all the time-just like the big post that the battery cable is connected to.

Does your check engine light come on when you turn the key to ON?  IF not, then we have a wiring problem most likely at the starter.  If it comes on, then your dash warning lights, instrument panel lights, etc should all work along with the headlights unless you shorted out a fusible link somehow.

If the check engine light comes on when you turn the key on, check the ccci fuse and the ecm-ign fuse.

[William Brophy]

Bob, your'e in good hands with Steve & Crew!!!
 
Bill

[Steve Wood]

Earl is the Allstate guy!

[William Brophy]

Bob, "CONGRATULATIONS" on your daughter getting married! I wish them the "VERY BEST"!!   

[Bob-Lob-Law]

Got it!  The car was able to start.  It didn't hold an idle but I was able to push the gas a little bit and it reved up.  I stopped it after a couple of seconds to ensure that no harm would be done to the engine.  The problem stemmed from the single black wire going to the wrong terminal on the starter.  As soon as I changed it to the other terminal with the battery cable, everything lit up, head lights the security light all that.  I also able to reset the theft deterrent. 

Now, the next order of business is to keep it idling correctly.  I have the TPS set to 42, I'll recheck that.  I'll also check the fuel pressure to make sure it's set to 44, if memory serves me correct.  I still need to get that adapter to that fuel rail, it's the rail that comes with the Champion intake.  I'll get that done sometime this week. 

One thing though, when I did rev the engine, it did seem to have a miss.  I'll check the spark plug wires to ensure that is tight with them. 

Thanks to all for your help.   

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.