How to: Fix a car that won't start

[Blackbirdws6]

Properly diagnosing a car that will crank but not start can be tricky. Most would assume that a LT1 must have an issue related to the opti, coil, or ICM. From those who stayed after the Nats today, remember to first try and tap the fuse box in the engine bay. Works like a charm and some may consider this a "free mod". ;)

Thanks to many of the JSFBOA, Justin, Paul and Sam/Janet for sticking around after the Nats to help get the Bird started. Pretty entertaining. :)

[Featherburner]

The old tap on the fuse box trick. Works every time 50% of the time. Just like knocking on wood.

[LTb1ow]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ToHqfquUL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

You need.

[Tru2Chevy]

Just happy to see it running Brian. :)

Although it would have been fun to see you start your build thread with "so after the nats the car wouldn't start - had to fix it" and then just post a pic of an empty engine bay.

- Justin


::edit:: - LOL @ Black & Decker

[BonzoHansen]

Glad to hear it. Such a great car.

I think that great black 1st gen firebird had some issues going home. when we stopped to see if they needed help, they all said no but we thought we heard 'spun bearing' . I hope not, she seemed to have so much fun racing today (sorry, I don't have her name in front of me right now).

[Tru2Chevy]

I think that great black 1st gen firebird had some issues going home. when we stopped to see if they needed help, they all said no but we thought we heard 'spun bearing' . I hope not, she seemed to have so much fun racing today (sorry, I don't have her name in front of me right now).

Ouch, hopefully it was just something minor. FWIW, I believe her name is Donna.

- Justin

[Blackbirdws6]

You need.

Lol. I can assure you with the new build, the wiring you saw in that corner will be non-existent with the new build. That's the problem when you are trying to get a tach signal for 3 different items lol. Dammn gauges :)

Just happy to see it running Brian. :)

Although it would have been fun to see you start your build thread with "so after the nats the car wouldn't start - had to fix it" and then just post a pic of an empty engine bay.

- Justin


::edit:: - LOL @ Black & Decker

Oh I wouldn't count something like that out just yet...

Glad to hear it. Such a great car.

I think that great black 1st gen firebird had some issues going home. when we stopped to see if they needed help, they all said no but we thought we heard 'spun bearing' . I hope not, she seemed to have so much fun racing today (sorry, I don't have her name in front of me right now).

Thanks and I'm just happy the opti wasn't the problem considering it may have been the first to crap out backing up into a parking spot.

[sweetbmxrider]

don't forget the "Fire in the hole!"

its a call of jsfboa :)

[KirkEvil]

don't forget the "Fire in the hole!"

its a call of jsfboa :)

followed by a pal dance to seal the success...Haha

[V]

im glad it all worked out and it started, and before the tow truck showed up.

[BigAls87Z28]

LT1 car doesnt start ---> Is it the Opti?
No---->Are you sure?
Yes------>Are you really sure?
Yes------> Hit relay box, and yell "fire in the hole!" Did it work?
Yes-----> Pal Dance
No------>Its the Opti

[sweetbmxrider]

hahahaha

[Blackbirdws6]

Mark my words, this opti will leave the car in working condition.

http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/010haters.jpg

[sweetbmxrider]

hahaha hey thanks for the beer again, but i still owe you one!

[Blackbirdws6]

hahaha hey thanks for the beer again, but i still owe you one!

No worries. That's what I get for winning two trophies.

I will overlook the beer for assistance with the bird in the future. Something other than wiring of course ;)

[sweetbmxrider]

zing! haha i'm pretty good at teh engine removal and misc lt1 nonsense 8-)

[Blackbirdws6]

Beer and food will be served Nov. 7th if you are interested. All Pals are welcome.

[sweetbmxrider]

you've got my attention :lol: should be able to give a hand

[BigAls87Z28]

Nov 7th sounds good.

[KirkEvil]

Im in for more lt1 extravaganza!!!

[Blackbirdws6]

Wow awesome! Talk about some nice Pals.

Goals are the following:

- Drop the K member with engine of course
- Get the old engine harness out
- Remove nitrous system
- Strip the engine of basic parts (shortblock will stay intact)
- Remove as much of the interior as possible

Should be plenty of room to help and plenty of drinks/food/music to keep us motivated in a well-lit oversized two car garage.

Once stuff is apart, I can likely handle much of the work to rebuild until its time to put the big items back in.

[KirkEvil]

Wow awesome! Talk about some nice Pals.

Goals are the following:

- Drop the K member with engine of course
- Get the old engine harness out
- Remove nitrous system
- Strip the engine of basic parts (shortblock will stay intact)
- Remove as much of the interior as possible

Should be plenty of room to help and plenty of drinks/food/music to keep us motivated in a well-lit oversized two car garage.

Once stuff is apart, I can likely handle much of the work to rebuild until its time to put the big items back in.

Do you have A/C, or plan on keeping it?

[LTb1ow]

Sounds exactly like what we did to my car, I am in for round two.

Do you have a cherry picker Brian? And are you planning on removing the body panels and hood?

[Blackbirdws6]

Sounds exactly like what we did to my car, I am in for round two.

Do you have a cherry picker Brian? And are you planning on removing the body panels and hood?

I will take all the skilled help I can get. Front bumper is coming off and so will the hood. Would like to keep the front fenders on (remove the liners). I will be borrowing Jon's cherry picker but would probably suggest additional tools be brought (mainly sockets and such) so everyone can keep moving and won't need to wait for a tool.

I have a compressor and everything else to get it done. Since I will likely be putting a lot of the stuff back together, I'm going to be picky with keeping things organized. Easy to rip apart but very easy to have stuff everywhere making it a pain to put back together.

Kirk - A/C will be staying. The compressor will be replaced during the build since mine is leaking a little bit.

[LTb1ow]

Ok, shouldn't be too horrible, my biggest concern would be messing up your beautiful paint etc.

Do you have flare wrenches for brake lines?

Long list of stuff, I guess I'll wait till you make a thread etc.

[Blackbirdws6]

Ok, shouldn't be too horrible, my biggest concern would be messing up your beautiful paint etc.

Do you have flare wrenches for brake lines?

Long list of stuff, I guess I'll wait till you make a thread etc.

I appreciate the concern and I don't want this to be a thrash. Whatever gets done, gets done. The front fenders will be wrapped in plastic and the fender covers will go on. I expect a lot of the work will be from the bottom.

I have flare wrenches but prob not a bad idea for someone to bring some of the ones they have. I'm concerned about running out of 10mm sockets lol.

The thread will start when the tear down begins. Plenty of photo ops for the Pals.

[LTb1ow]

http://www.floralhelper.com/Images/WireCutter_L.jpg

I plan on dual wielding these and removing the wiring you have strewn everywhere.

:lol:

[BigAls87Z28]

KOHLER CUT!!
Prob not a great idea cutting away at harness that he might need....just an FYI.

[LTb1ow]

KOHLER CUT!!
Prob not a great idea cutting away at harness that he might need....just an FYI.

Since he is getting an 24x setup, he doesn't need any of it!

8-)

[BigAls87Z28]

Zero? rlly?
I have an LS1 harness...if ya need it.
Remember...12v switched and cranking.

[Blackbirdws6]

http://www.floralhelper.com/Images/WireCutter_L.jpg

I plan on dual wielding these and removing the wiring you have strewn everywhere.

:lol:

Bring them anyway lol. The mess you saw came from being lazy and tapping 12 different things for a tach signal (shiftlight, nitrous system, etc)

Nitrous system will be cut up but with enough lead wire for the next buyer.

Since he is getting an 24x setup, he doesn't need any of it!

8-)

This is correct. Wait until you see the new harness. Its purdy and everything is explicitly labeled.

Zero? rlly?
I have an LS1 harness...if ya need it.
Remember...12v switched and cranking.

Yup the 24x kit includes everything needed for the swap. We won't need any of the LS1 into a 3rd gen sorcery for this deal. Big perk with this kit is my gauges will work like normal also. Your pcm bracket was the last piece to the puzzle. :)

[LTb1ow]

Yea, I am just gonna come and be amazed at the conversion harness/setup.

[sweetbmxrider]

i guess the only spanish will be the t56 but should be a pretty simple tear down. hell most of the stuff can stay on if we are picking the car up and pulling the k/engine/trans out. just have plenty of fluid catchers and pal litter

[Blackbirdws6]

i guess the only spanish will be the t56 but should be a pretty simple tear down. hell most of the stuff can stay on if we are picking the car up and pulling the k/engine/trans out. just have plenty of fluid catchers and pal litter

That's my impression but this being my first time...we are going to need to go easy.

[sweetbmxrider]

pal you realized you put out teh pal call to pals and pals don't know what need nor easy pal-is?

you just opened up a can-o-pals :D

[LTb1ow]

Do you have a strut tower bar thing Brian?

[Blackbirdws6]

Do you have a strut tower bar thing Brian?

Indeed I do.

[LTb1ow]

Sweet, makes moving the engine/trans around easy.

[KirkEvil]

easier for kohler to dead lift it from

[Blackbirdws6]

easier for kohler to dead lift it from

I better see a clean lift. I've watched my fair share of worlds strongest man.

[sweetbmxrider]

yeah you might want to lay some spare immovable objects around so kohler can get a few reps in before bending your car in half. twice.

[Blackbirdws6]

I have a few Africa and atlas stones in the backyard he can play with. We're good. :)

[sweetbmxrider]

i dono, theres barely 2 pages and not nearly enough nonsense.....

[LTb1ow]

better add your 2 cents before you get turned into a lampshade pal.

[sweetbmxrider]

think before you smash pal

[KirkEvil]

better add more nonsense so this thread gets quarantined to the jersey shore section

[LTb1ow]

Cheeky shenanigans?

[sweetbmxrider]

piscataway, the shore away from jersey shore

[LTb1ow]

Nah, thats pushing it pal. We would have to say everyone in the north is good to go, and they ain't.

[sweetbmxrider]

they all be here in teh summa, might as well make em year-rounders!

[LTb1ow]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2367515373_515ff7a325.jpg

[BigAls87Z28]

Brian stepped foot into the JSFBOA pit, and came out alive. He gets full pal-sistance.

[LTb1ow]

As long as we are not working in a muddy, slanted driveway, with no tools, and a jackstand that was in the special class, I am in.

[KirkEvil]

I'll take gravel over Al's driveway

[LTb1ow]

I would be ok with just a jack that works.

And do you have a T50 torx bit Brian?

[Blackbirdws6]

Brian stepped foot into the JSFBOA pit, and came out alive. He gets full pal-sistance.

I did leave mildy confused and maybe a bit dizzy. I'm sure you guys are hiding the antedote.

As long as we are not working in a muddy, slanted driveway, with no tools, and a jackstand that was in the special class, I am in.

I would be ok with just a jack that works.

And do you have a T50 torx bit Brian?

No muddy working conditions here. Oversized 2 car garage, no pole supports in the middle and plenty of lighting. I have a 4 ton low profile prof jack as well as its kid brother to lend a hand.

Don't believe I have a T50 but I will check before I leave the house today.

[BigAls87Z28]

I should have one. I had to buy one for the bell housing bolts.

[sweetbmxrider]

yeah if he didn't i was going to bring one. they use the two on the driver side strut mount for no apparent reason.

[Blackbirdws6]

Aight no T50 torx bit. Please add that to the list lol.

[Blackbirdws6]

Berages are purchased, car is PB blasted.... let's get this show on the road!

[sweetbmxrider]

i packed a bag of tools, should be ok with most stuff. you got half inch impact sockets right?

[Blackbirdws6]

Yes sir I do. I will have air tools and the electric impact as well fully charged.