no power?
 

i just put my car back together(89 formula) and the car feels like it doesn't wanna move..like a rock. It's a 5 speed manual..and it feels like it's reved out all the way when you try to move it..like something is holding it.. It wasn't like that before the distributor and coil were removed..and now the temp gauge and radiator fan aren't working..i'm unsure if the temp gauge could be a fuse? and is causing the fan not to come on? The no power could possibly be timing? Any suggestions where to start?

Why did you remove the coil and distributor?

What makes you think the temp gauge and fan are not working? It's cold outside now.

Does the car have a thermostat?

As for the no power, if the timing was not re-set after the distributor was installed you could certainly be down on power.

I think the one rear drum is locked up for sitting so long, there is a drag mark from the RR tire in my driveway from the car going onto the flatbed

Why would a tire have to do with the engine revving and not going anywhere?

If the dizzy was touched then I would point to that first. If something is dragging, it will make it feel like something is holding it back. Prob feels like driving with the parking brake on.

Throttle Body not opening or stuck?

The car feels like it hits the limiter at 3000 rpm, and also pops and backfires. Im almost positive the brakes are not locked, the car rolls just fine. It does seem to have a pretty large exhaust leak that idk how close it is to the 02 sensor, so that may be contributing to it as well.

Nope, working properly.

I dont know much about 80's computer stuff, I know you have to unplug one of the connectors for the computer to set base timing, but the car also doesnt have a timing scale on it so its kinda just by ear at the moment.

The fact that they are not working makes me think that :kneeslap: the car definatly gets HOT but the gauge reads nothing and the fan never kicks on, there is a terminal next to the battery that has some pretty high resistance and corrosion from sitting, which would partly explain the fans, and the sensor reads the proper OHMS at temps. The gauge itself has power to it, just not getting signal. Yes the car has a t-stat. Im also assuming that the fans need temp sensor input to kick on?

Wait, who are you? Does your car do the same thing, maybe its a third gen thing?

There is your place to start. Nowhere else. This engine probably has a bad tune at the moment.

Im the one working on the car :bertstare:

I ordered one just waiting on it in the mail. I think I may be a tooth off on the dizzy.

doubt it, it'd be on, or 180 out. if anything you have the dizzy turned too far one way or the other.

And keep in mind you'll have to go through the process of finding TDC(compression, not exhaust stroke) then setting the dizzy to #1, Then adjust timing.

Sounds like too many hands in the pot and none of them are fully addressing all of the known and unknown problems.

Am I correct on pulling the connector to set base timing? One wire connector, brown with a black stripe?

Yes

I just feel mentally challenged with all this distributor and tbi stuff, its like an alien to me. Silly third gens

Thanks I thought that was the right one just wasn't sure.

There is no timing tab on the riming cover? The crank hub has a black line for your reading

Correct, has the line on the balancer but no tab.

You can add timing tape and an adjustable pointer.

be done with it and convert it to a opti! why was the dizzy pulled in the 1st place? is the temp sensor and fan connector located near the dizzy?maybe they got unplugged?

This is some solid advice, optisparks are dependable and non adjustable.

+2 on why the dizzy was pulled, did something fall in there? Is this the car with the broken torque converter? Maybe the PCM is doing something weird cause the bearings are shot?

It was removed inorder to be tested in another car to verify a no-start. Convert to opti....put even junkier junk in there? LOL I would be ripping it a out and converting to an ls1 if it were my car. :rofl:

This is an 89 formula 5 speed not her 86 trans am.

Ohh ok, so, was it running better before the distributor came out?