Help a N00B '87 Pulsar won't start

DrtyBrd · Mar 15th, 2004, 03:00 PM

Got lucky and picked up an '87 Pulsar for free with what I'm guessing is an E16i, but it's been sitting for quite a while.

The gas smelled stale at first but after pumping some through the pump and filter what ended up in my gas can smelled ok. The tank still needs cleaned out but I'll worry about that later.
The problem seems to be at the injector, it appears to not be getting power. I've got good enough pressure to spray gas everywhere when I was changing the fuel filter, but I have not pressure tested it yet. The car will run if you pour gas down the throttle body, but will not start on its' own.
Other things that I noted. The two prong connector that goes into the top of the throttle body only had .30 - .37 volts while trying to start. So I tried to trace back to fuses and didn't find any that I could visually see that were burnt, but I didn't open up any of the relays. One other thing, there are two lights inside the ECM box, one red and one green, when I key the car on both light up. Is that normal?

Thanks for the help, and sorry for the length.

Gsolo · Mar 15th, 2004, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrtyBrd

Got lucky and picked up an '87 Pulsar for free with what I'm guessing is an E16i, but it's been sitting for quite a while.

The gas smelled stale at first but after pumping some through the pump and filter what ended up in my gas can smelled ok. The tank still needs cleaned out but I'll worry about that later.
The problem seems to be at the injector, it appears to not be getting power. I've got good enough pressure to spray gas everywhere when I was changing the fuel filter, but I have not pressure tested it yet. The car will run if you pour gas down the throttle body, but will not start on its' own.
Other things that I noted. The two prong connector that goes into the top of the throttle body only had .30 - .37 volts while trying to start. So I tried to trace back to fuses and didn't find any that I could visually see that were burnt, but I didn't open up any of the relays. One other thing, there are two lights inside the ECM box, one red and one green, when I key the car on both light up. Is that normal?

Thanks for the help, and sorry for the length.

i honestly don't understand much of the electronics on the TBI...But i can answer that yes both those lights on the ECU box are suppose to light up with the key on, that tells you that it all works. sounds like your problem though is either your injector is dead or clogged. I don't konw if you can take them apart on this tbi or not, but if you can you could take it apart and clean it up, if that didnt' work then you have some kind of electrical problem.

WhiteFox · Mar 16th, 2004, 08:47 AM

I'm not sure how much voltage that thing's supposed to read, but if you want to 'clean' the injector off a bit, it's quite simple to get to, just don't forget those O-rings or your engine might run off the fuel leaking alone (Flood-injection, lol)
Old gas can get real nasty when it's sitting for ages, there's a good chance that the stuff is gunked around injector from over the years, so it's a good idea to clean it up anyways.

Don't know if that'll help you, but can't hurt

DrtyBrd · Mar 16th, 2004, 05:55 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I couldn't figure out how to get the injector out with out using too much force, so I left it alone. Just from looking at it, it would come out the top, but does it have to be rotated in order to get it out?

I did end up going to a pull-a-part place and get a pretty close match off of an '86 Sentra. Different throttle linkage, but that all came off and the rest looks pretty darn close. Still doesn't work though. I'm thinking electrical.

minute rice sentra · Mar 16th, 2004, 07:54 PM

Where are you located?, in the USA the sentra's didn't have TBI until '87.

Gsolo · Mar 16th, 2004, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minute rice sentra

Where are you located?, in the USA the sentra's didn't have TBI until '87.

thats what i was thinking

Mervic · Mar 17th, 2004, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minute rice sentra

Where are you located?, in the USA the sentra's didn't have TBI until '87.

minute, he mentioned that he got a Pulsar 87 probably XE, so its E16i.

Gsolo · Mar 17th, 2004, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mervic

minute, he mentioned that he got a Pulsar 87 probably XE, so its E16i.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrtyBrd

I did end up going to a pull-a-part place and get a pretty close match off of an '86 Sentra

damn rules say that this is to short of a damn message...lalalalalala

Myetball · Mar 17th, 2004, 07:11 AM

I'm gonna scan the pages out of my FSM for diagnostics on the TBI. I'll post them tonight.

minute rice sentra · Mar 17th, 2004, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mervic

minute, he mentioned that he got a Pulsar 87 probably XE, so its E16i.

I know, but he said he got a pretty close match off an '86(but if he was looking at the date it was manufactured, then it would most likely be an '87 model), that's why I was asking where he lived, because the 86 didn't get TBI and therefore shouldn't be the same as his '87.

recycled_toddler · Mar 17th, 2004, 01:09 PM

My Haynes manual doesn't specify a voltage value for the injector lead, but: There are two things you can do...

(1) Check the resistance of the injector itself; It should read 1-2 ohms.

(2) Go to a dealer or a good auto parts store and get what's called a 'noid light' ("What's a 'noid'?", "It's when you get pi**ed off because your injection ain't working!); When connected to the injector lead, it should blink as you crank it over. If not, then it's probably ECU.

If it turns out to be ECU, let me know; I can get 'em for $10 up here and I got an '87 Pulsar I can test 'em out on. Just make sure you send the part number if you do, 'K? Best to ya...

DrtyBrd · Mar 18th, 2004, 06:00 PM

Don't know what year it was, had marker on the side that said '86 Sentra. I'm in Kansas City.

I will get out the multimeter tonight and check the resistance of the injector.

Thanks again.

Myetball · Mar 19th, 2004, 12:15 AM

HERE'S a link to my webshots page with scans of the E16i wiring diagram and diagnostic procedures.

Hope it helps.

TRY IT NOW!

minute rice sentra · Mar 19th, 2004, 12:37 AM

looks like you didn't set up your link right.

"An error has occured,
you do not appear to be the owner of this album"

Myetball · Mar 19th, 2004, 12:46 AM

I think I linked to my account page, not the public link...lemme see if I gots da noodle power to fix it.