1992 Pontiac Firebird Wont start

REEVESJEFF

MEMBER
1992 PONTIAC FIREBIRD

Engine Performance problem
1992 Pontiac Firebird Automatic

I have a 1992 Firebird and I was driving it one night and parked it and the next day I went out and all it would do is turn over and not fire up, so I put new spark plugs on it and wires, new coil, new distributor, new distributor cap and rotor button, and new ECM and still doesnt fire, the only problem is I have had many people look at it and cant figure out what engine is in it because it was wrecked, I dont know much about cars and im lost can you help?

3 Replies

KEVIN12881

MEMBER
336 POSTS

Since it is a firebird and not a trans am it should be a v6, so it is more than likely a 4.3 Check you electric ignition switch on your steering colomn for sarting problem

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Friday, September 5th, 2008 AT 7:21 PM

LTKNT

MECHANIC
30 POSTS

If your car is a V6 firebird it will have the LHO, 3.1 L engine. Pontiac did not put a 4.3 in the 3rd gen car. Also, if it is a base Firebird, it could have the L03, 5.0 L V8. The simplest way to confirm the engine is to count the number of spark plugs. If you have 3 on both sides it's a V6. If there are 4 on both sides it's a V8. Dose your ignition key have a coded chip implanted in it? If so, your car is equiped with the pass key II anti-theft system. When the key is put in the ignition, a sensor reads the code on the key chip. A correct reading will allow power to the starter, thus allowing the engine to start. If the reading is bad, the system will kill power to the starter for 4 minutes. Each start attempt before the 4 minute reset time will start the count over! Since all other parts of the ignition have been replaced, the pass key system is probably at fault. A new igniton cylinder (Lock) and code key should fix the problem.

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Friday, September 12th, 2008 AT 11:10 PM

KEVIN12881

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336 POSTS

LTKNT Has got it covered, and my haynes book is from 93-97, But my Trans Am is a 95 and has a security light in the dash when there is a problem with the chip, do not know about yours. I had a little different problem when mine wouldn't start, it would sart and die immediatly if the steering wheel was all the way down and not at all with it up. It will more than likely be either the keyed ignition as LTKNT said which you can get at advanced for $50 but you will have to take a diagram to a key maker to have the key made and that will cost more. You can do it yourself with a haynes book and a steering wheel puller. The electric ignition is on the steering colomn, will run about $50 and will take no special tools, but I had to takt mine in becuase it had already been changed once and the bolts were stripped. ALSO I was abble to identify my proble by putting a screw diver under the bvar going from the sterring wheel to the electric ignition (raise to icrease distance) and try to start and see if it fires up.

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Saturday, September 13th, 2008 AT 1:34 PM