wire harness issue?

[4xcrazy]

Some may remember awhile back I was having issues with my TBI burb staying runnine. 4x4high should be one of them.. :P anyways, I finally made it back here to Indiana and started tearing into things. Got the whole engine harness removed for total inspection and possible replacement.

I came across the three wires that go into the transmission, they were worn through, one broke completely off, all of them frayed and touching on the little metal bracket that mounts the harness to the trans case.

My issue I was having when the motor would start is that it would only run for a short time then just shut off like turning the key off, always had spark & fuel pressure. Tested injector signal and found I wasn't getting a signal to them when this happened.

I already know the bare wires are a problem, but I'm more curious if these wires touching or grounding out could or definately would cause the engine or computer to kill pulse signal to the injectors.

No fuses are blowing, other than several on the trip out here when I had issues with the gauge fuses popping, but the motor still ran.

Mainly I guess I'm more curious if the trans wires are THAT tied into the engine management to cause an issue that I'm having, would hate to repair the wires and reinstall this harness only to find out that wasn't the problem.

 

[4xcrazy]

Well, wiring harness repairs and inspection didn't do it, swapped out the computer with one that was sent to me for checking, that also did not do anything.

Pretty much out of free options, guess it's time to tear into the distributor and replace both those electronic components.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Yep, I remember your issue. As you already found out the trans wires have nothing to do with your issue. I still say you have either a bad ignition module or pick-up coil. Either of those being bad would either not give spark or not send a signal to the ECM for injector pulse.

 

[4xcrazy]

I was actually just going to send you a PM and ask you about the pick up coil, wondered if that went bad if possibly the control module doesn't send the right signals or something. I thought the pick up coil was primarily for spark.

I had replaced the control module twice, although they were both used units. May just remove the dizzy again since i can pretty do this stuff within a few minutes time now.. :P go get me the $15 pick up coil and see what that does.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Do yourself a favor and replace BOTH items with NEW ones.

 

[4xcrazy]

Believe it or not, I am dealing with a shortage of cash again until Friday. I had just enough now to get the pick up coil, got that changed but still no spray. It fires up with a short shot of ether, it just wont keep running.

Next update I guess on Friday.. :-P

 

[4X4HIGH]

Well at least now you don't have to remove the distributor to change the ignition module.

 

[4xcrazy]

Were you one that was skeptical of a "good" test result of the control module at the local parts store?

I just went and had it tested earlier, just because I had nothing else to do I guess, and their results came back good even after repeated tests.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Don't think that was me BUT if the module has an intermittent problem it might test fine 30 times than bad once then good for 15 times and bad again so you never know.

 

[4xcrazy]

Ya know what sucks though, is when I go spend another $40 on the new module, if it still doesn't start, then what. I have been racking/wracking.. whatever, my brain all night till I fell asleep and all this morning trying to figure out what I am missing, what am I overlooking to cause this.

It's driving me nuts.

I have honestly never had this rough of a time pinpointing a problem before.

 

[4xcrazy]

Well, I was out playing with the volt meter, checking fuses, wires and such, when I hooked the volt meter pins into the ground side pin and the other to motor ground, with key on. ... what i noticed was when I would wiggle the red & white wires that connect into a factory junction of three pink/black wires, the voltmeter would jump around.

So I said WTH, what can it hurt to cut and replace a butt connector...

Replaced it with fresh clean stripped wire, hit the key and the injectors started spraying...

So far it's stayed running longer than ever with this problem. So I'm THINKIN' it's probably about due for a new harness...

I still have to readjust the dizzy and time it, seal up a few vacuum leaks, but so far...

IT'S RUNNING !!! :-)