'91 won't start 3fe

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lordbater

lordbater

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Threads
45
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496
Location
Houston
Website
www.andrewsshizzle.com
I will apologize in advance for not spending time searching previous threads, I suck at it and really don't have time, I need help.

Parked it and went to start it 1 hour later, motor turns over, but won't start. Tail pipe smells like gas, pretty sure it's getting gas. EFI relay clicks, does this mean it's working?
No spark.
I used a screwdriver in the plug wire and coil wire to ground and turned the motor over, no spark. I've recently replaced cap and rotor because I drove through high water and it got fouled out, not sure this is important but could be a lead..

while under the hood I noticed the wire connected to the cruise control module was not connected. It goes to a Y that has wires that goes back to the coil. It's most likely I left this wire loose when I pulled the cruise control module out months ago. If it came loose, are there wires in that Y that could have fried something, the coil, or something else?

What does the relay behind the glove box do? I get no power to that on any terminal and suspect it may be a Transmission relay or something..

there are 2 electrical plugs on my coil. one has 2 wires, I didn't check that one. the other plug has 4 or 5 wires on it. One of them has 12 volts to it. I used an Ohm meter to check coil wire, it's fine.

My 80 is parked in a high risk crime part of town at my buddies house, I have a Napa coil on order for tomorrow morning, but I though you guys might have some other ideas.

I'm short on time because my 'other' truck 03 s10, is metal to metal on the brakes, I have the parts and am about to do this tonight, already 8:20pm my time and I have to be somewhere 40miles across town in the morning.

Thanks for any and all suggestions, I am mechanically inclined and my feeling is that it is a coil, but I wanted to pass it through the 80 think tank

I have an FSM and a FSM electrical book, however, I've misplaced the latter..

Again, sorry for not spending/wasting my time searching, I'm hoping for some quick advise.

Thanks you guys rock.


Andrew

ps, if you'll excuse me for my not searching I'll post some pics of why I hate mud from last weekend when I get back on the road..

a
 
Don't know the 3FE very well but maybe check the fusible links? Does the check engine light come on when you turn the key to ON? Wait for the experts to chime in.
 
The fact that it cranks would indicate the fusible links are good. Take the EFi relay out, and make sure there is no corrosion in the socket. Just because it clicks, doesn't mean a wire isn't shorted, or a needed contact isn't making contact. Pulling it out, and putting it back in may help.
 
@ all above.

I have a strong fuel smell at the exhaust pipe that is not normally there (yes I check), I KNOW I have no spark. will a bad EFI relay cause it to shut down the coil?

Contacts on the EFI relay are clean, didn't look at possible wire degradation..
I have a spare relay, just didn't have it with me..

Where are the fuseable links?

Thanks for the response guys..

a
 
If you read my troubleshooting flowchart, the very first step is to look at the CE light with the key in the ON position without the motor running.
NO CE = NO START
Since we know that your CE light works as it's giving you an error code, we can now start to troubleshoot the system as opposed to using the shotgun approach.

You're getting fuel because the fuel pump is fired by the starter circuit during engine cranking. That doesn't mean that the EFI system is operational. Follow the flowchart.
 
lordbater said:
ok, nevernind, secondary coil test failed, its completely open.

a
Click to expand...

Please double check your findings. Make sure you're checking between the correct pins. Coil failures are very rare.
If still open, pick up a used coil/igniter pair from www.cruiserparts.net or someone here on MUD that is parting out a FJ80 3FE. Can't use a coil/igniter from an FJ62 3FE. Different beast.
 
Is the igniter the module below the coil? from looking under the hood at the assembly, I have 12v on the far right terminal on that plug.

I have a local guy that gets good prices, he can get a coil for $68. currently the truck is parked on the street at a buddy's place, so I'm anxious to get it moved.

I've tested it several times. I wasn't sure until I Removed it that my probe was long enough to reach the contact inside the hi-tension terminal. After removal I found that it was. I also used a nut driver that would wedge into the hi-tension terminal with the same results. I also used a good coil wire to ensure I was making contact and still get an open circuit. I even tried both pos and neg terminals to be sure I was reading the document correctly, the circuit is open.

Do you know the answer to my previous question? if I test for voltage on the plug, I have power to the positive side, but I have to use my neg probe on a known good ground, (battery) to get the 12v reading, if I use my probes on both connections in the plug I do not get a reading, does this coil ground out from it's mounting bracket? If so, what is the other wire for?

This truck spends a lot of time at the beach, not necessarily 'in' the water. I recently passed through high water (fresh) that required a new cap and rotor (which were sorely in need of replacement anyway).
I used the spark plug wire grease on all of the connections on the distributor and coil assembly, they are clean and show no signs of corrosion..

Thanks for your help.

Andrew
 
I had the same thing happen to mine last fall. Replaced the EFI relay for $5 and keep a spare one in the glove box. I have had no problems since I replaced it.
 
ok, I"m so sorry.
**** me. I missed the k in 10.2 - 13.8K ohms, so I was testing on a much smaller scale. my coil is now testing good. (this is what I get for using my smart phone to read the pdf.. so next step is replacing ignighter, and testing pickup coil? or visa versa?

I suspect pickup coil as I have recently been in high water..

a
 
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