I am working with an '85 turbo XT, FWD. I have a no start condition. I have put new timing belts on aswell as changed the injectors, fuel pump and pressure regulator, also new cap, rotor, plugs, wires, and coil. When I purchased this car I was told it had a bad fuel pump, it isn't the problem. I have fuel, spark and air, spark is blue, but weak looking. I have gone as far as pull starting to force running. This did make it run, but real crappy, and not above 500 RPM's. Turbo spins freely and exaust isn't plugged. I swapped ECM's with another XT and the other one ran on this ones ECM, but not visa-versa. I'm thinking a weak ignition module, but lookin' for any advice before spending $400 on one of those. I will soon be trying my 12 ga. if I don't have any other luck.

 

Jack

I heard about something like this happening to someone else on the board and it turned out to be a bad coil and when they tried another used one, it still didn't work. They finally put a new one on there and it worked. Just a thought cause they were getting spark too but not enough to run the car.

Do a search for "coil bracket"- there are several threads (one very recent) in which your type of problem was nailed down to the ignition amplifier, which is apparantly attached to the coil bracket.

 

(God, I hope your '85 has one - otherwise I'm totally off base!)

Did you perform a compression test yet?

yes on the compression test, 115, 125,115,120 will try another coil and check for the other parts mentioned, Thanks Guys

Sorry Partsman, good call, but the Ig Amp was introduced with the hot wire FI systems in late 86, 87.

Car's that have the crank angle sensor dist. have the ig amp.

His car has an igniter distributor.

XT Collector, if the coil Patti suggs does not do the trick, your car does have an external knock control unit (inner fender behind the battery) it may have something to do with the weak spark as it is wired to the the coil + the other side of the coil is wired to the ignitor in the distributor .

Also check for battery voltage on the coil positive terminal with the key on.

Have you by chance checked the ignition timing?

i blame the timing belts. recheck the install. make sure all your ground wires are hooked up and in good condition, or better, upgrade them anyway. but i think it's the timing belts.

New timing Belts, install myself, 3 times just to be sure. Can't really check ignition timing cuz of no start, but have lined up dist. with #1 TDC, several times. Have installed new ground wires, using two different batteries with good full charge. Is the external knock controll unit related at all to the block mount knock sensor? Will check both. Thanks for the suggestions, Goin' bald pullin my hair out.