1990 c1500 silverado; Engaging the ignition switch results in one of four variables. 1. the engine fires right off and runs well. 2. dead silence 3. a single click 4. sluggish start akin to starting in subzero weather with 50 weight oil. A series of 2. (silence) and/or 3 (click) has so far always resulted in 1. or 4. Battery tested in truck at Walmart with an electronic gadget which printed out that everything is fine.. Rremoving the battery for a full charge results in three or four good starts. Recharging then leaving the battery out of the truck for three days also results in three or four good starts. A midnight search turns up no lights burning - tail, under hood, glove box. The clock keeps time. The ac/heater panel lights up with the ignition coming on even though I turn it off every time. Thank you. Robert Clifton [email protected]

Still sounds off. Take the #1 spark plug out, put your finger in the hole and have someone bump the starter around. As soon as you feel pressure, or a whoof sound (air coming out the hole), stop cranking. Look at your timing scale on the crankshaft pulley: You should be very close to the zero scale on the pointer. Put a socket and wrench on the crank pulley if needed to turn the crank on around (clockwise) until the notch or line on the pulley is right with the zero mark on the pointer scale. Now you are at top dead center of the compression stroke on #1. Take off the distributor cap. The rotor should be pointing directly to the #1 spark plug wire tower. Now that you have #1, follow the firing order around in the direction the rotor turns to check if each of your plug wires are in the right place. Firing order should be stamped on the intake manifold. If a 350 engine, firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. You might need to check that, only going by memory from couple days ago when I had to do this. The cylinders on the driver's side are 1-3-5-7, front to back. On the passenger side, cylinders are 2-4-6-8, front to back.

The only thing I know of, on a gasoline engine, that will bite you is secondary ignition voltage. What about your ignition coil? If the vehicle will run, raise the hood in the dark, look for fire/spark jumping around.

here is firing order diagram

Fig. Fig. 1: 2.0L (VIN M) Engine Firing Order: 1-3-4-2 Distributor Rotation: counterclockwise

Fig. Fig. 2: 2.3L (VIN A, D, and 3) and 2.4L (VIN T) Engines Firing Order: 1-3-4-2 Distributorless Ignition System


Firing Order: 1-3-4-2 -nl-> Distributor rotation: clockwise" rel="width:950,height:660" index="2" $included="null">

Fig. Fig. 3: 1985-86 2.5L (VIN U) Engine -nl-> Firing Order: 1-3-4-2 -nl-> Distributor rotation: clockwise

Fig. Fig. 4: 1987-91 2.5L (VIN U) Engine Firing Order: 1-3-4-2 Distributorless Ignition System

Fig. Fig. 5: 3.0L (VIN L) Engine Firing Order: 1-6-5-4-3-2 Distributorless Ignition System

Fig. Fig. 6: 3.1L (VIN M) Engine Firing Order: 1-2-3-4-5-6 Distributorless Ignition System

Fig. Fig. 7: 3.3L (VIN N) Engine Firing Order: 1-6-5-4-3-2 Distributorless Ignition System

I do not have a breakdown diagram for a distributor, but just the firing orders and description of ignition system for the Dodge Colt and related models (based on Chilton manuals) if that's what you're looking for: FIRING ORDERS Fig. 1: 1990 1.8L SOHC Engines Firing order: 1-3-4-2 Rotation: clockwise

Fig. 2: 1.6L DOHC Engine Firing order: 1-3-4-2 Distributorless Ignition

Fig. 3: 2.0L Engine Firing order: 1-3-4-2 Rotation: clockwise

Fig. 4: 1.5L Engine Firing order: 1-3-4-2 Rotation: counterclockwise

Fig. 5: 1993 1.8L Engine Firing order: 1-3-4-2 Rotation: counterclockwise

Fig. 6: 2.4L Engine Firing order: 1-3-4-2 Rotation: clockwise

To avoid confusion, replace spark plug wires one at a time. --- Distributor REMOVAL & INSTALLATION Although the distributor can be removed from the engine no matter which cylinder is about to fire, it is a good idea to have number one cylinder at TDC before distributor removal. 1.5L, 1.8L, 2.4L SOHC Engines

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Disconnect and tag the spark plug wires from the distributor cap.
3. Disconnect the distributor harness connector.
   Fig. 1: Ignition system for the 2.0L engine
   
   Fig. 2: Ignition system for the 1.5L engine
   
   Fig. 3: Ignition system for the 1992-93 1.8L engine
   
   Fig. 4: Ignition system for the 2.4L engine
   
   
4. Loosen the distributor retaining bolt and remove the distributor from the engine. To install:
   
5. Rotate the engine until No. 1 cylinder is at TDC on its compression stroke. NOTE: Be careful not to turn it to the No. 4 cylinder TDC on its compression stroke by mistake.
   
6. Align the distributor housing and gear mating marks.
   Fig. 5: Ignition system for the 1990 1.8L engine
   
   Fig. 6: Distributor installation for the 1990 1.8L engine
   
   Fig. 7: Distributor installation for the 1992-93 1.8L engine
   
   
7. Install the distributor into the engine, while aligning the fine cut (groove or projection) on the distributor flange with the center of the distributor mounting stud.
8. Install and tighten the distributor retaining bolt.
9. Reconnect the distributor harness connector.
   Fig. 8: Distributor installation for the 2.4L engine
   
   Fig. 9: Distributor installation for the 1.5L engine
   
   Fig. 10: Distributor installation for the 2.0L engine
   
   
10. Install the distributor cap and spark plug wires.
11. Reconnect the negative battery cable.

crank position sensor. When this goes out the engine will fire for 1 or 2 seconds and then shut down.

Fuel pressure is a little low, check the pressure regulator, and the fuel filter

Is the coil connected to the ditributor? did you knock any connections off in the process? Does it turn over but not fire? do you have spark at the plugs? Are you sure of cylinder location in respect to firing order? Did you-and check this first as with any elec. problems-blow a fuse in the ignition circuit? good luck!

350 Chevy engine in what? 1990 Corvette? Who built it, did you?

Sounds as though you have plug wires wrong.
Firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

Distributor Ignition System:
Distributor rotates Clockwise. (Rotor)
Find Number 1 tower on distributor cap, go Clockwise with Firing Order.

Distributorless Ignition System:
VIEWING the engine from the Front of the car.

Spark plug wire connections along the back, starting from Left side going to Right side;
2-3-7-4

Spark plug wire connection towards the Front of the engine;
6-1-5-8

(To guess I would say you have 5 and 7 wires switched)

Left side cylinder order is 1-3-5-7, going from front to back.
Drivers side is Left side.
Right side cylinder order is 2-4-6-8, going from front to back.

The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.
The distributor rotates in a clockwise direction. The engine must be on the compression stroke on the #1 cylinder. Line up the timing marks. Remove the cap and the rotor should be pointing to approximately the 5 o'clock position.

Good Luck