New ZR-1 owner...no start - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Jalisurr · 10-18-2015

Hey folks,

So I recently got my new (to me) 1990 ZR-1, and it worked fine for a couple days, then today as I was driving, the engine suddenly died, like someone had turned off a lightbulb, no stumbling, nothing. Now it will crank but not start.

I can hear the fuel pump prime, and it won't start at all, so I don't think it's that the primary fuel pump has failed.

I tested spark and found that most of the spark plugs had spark but I couldn't get anything out of 2 of them. So my guess is that one of the coil packs has gone bad? Is the LT5 a high enough compression motor that it won't fire at all with one bad coil pack?

Just looking to confirm my suspicions before I go tearing into the thing. Those coils are buried way in there.

Jalisurr · 10-18-2015

Quick update, I did the fuel pump test with the probe at the front of the car and it gave around 9.5A, so both fuel pumps are operating. This car has also had the injectors replaced with Bosche ones.

So I'm definitely thinking coilpack, while simultaneously hoping you guys will tell me it's something simple. (I've checked all the fuses though)

Jalisurr · 10-18-2015

One more update, checked ECM and CCM codes just now and didn't get anything. Don't know how relevant that is.

Z51JEFF · 10-19-2015

The car will run on 6 cylinders at least on a 91 it will can't expect a 90 to be any different. I'd start at fuses and go from there,a 91 won't start if the ABS fuse is blown. Regardless of what it is you will have an answer from someone here or the other Forum.

Jalisurr · 10-19-2015

Ok, appreciate it. I thought that the way it cut out felt like an electrical thing, fuses or something. I did a quick once over on them but I'll take another look.

GOLDCYLON · 10-19-2015

Do you have fuel in the tank ? Not just what you fuel guage reads. May have a stuck sending unit. Suggest adding a gallon and see if it runs since you state you are hearing the fuel pumps.

Jalisurr · 10-19-2015

Appreciate the thought, but unless the ZR-1 gets waaaaay worse fuel economy than I thought, the fact that I put 13 gallons in the tank about an hour before it died should mean it had plenty.

GOLDCYLON · 10-19-2015

Is fuel getting to the rails? What is the Pressure?

Then move onto are you getting spark ?

Jalisurr · 10-19-2015

Ok, you were right to continue looking at fuel first. There doesn't appear to be any pressure at the rails, I can push in the schrader valve and nothin comes out. But as stated, I can hear fuel pump priming noises when I turn the key on, and it pulls 9.5A to the fuel pump tester. Any suggestions where to look?

We Gone · 10-19-2015

I wonder if the fuel line on the primary pump to the the fuel line came off??

10-18-2015	#1
Jalisurr Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Vancouver Posts: 22	New ZR-1 owner...no start Hey folks, So I recently got my new (to me) 1990 ZR-1, and it worked fine for a couple days, then today as I was driving, the engine suddenly died, like someone had turned off a lightbulb, no stumbling, nothing. Now it will crank but not start. I can hear the fuel pump prime, and it won't start at all, so I don't think it's that the primary fuel pump has failed. I tested spark and found that most of the spark plugs had spark but I couldn't get anything out of 2 of them. So my guess is that one of the coil packs has gone bad? Is the LT5 a high enough compression motor that it won't fire at all with one bad coil pack? Just looking to confirm my suspicions before I go tearing into the thing. Those coils are buried way in there.

10-18-2015	#2
Jalisurr Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Vancouver Posts: 22	Re: New ZR-1 owner...no start Quick update, I did the fuel pump test with the probe at the front of the car and it gave around 9.5A, so both fuel pumps are operating. This car has also had the injectors replaced with Bosche ones. So I'm definitely thinking coilpack, while simultaneously hoping you guys will tell me it's something simple. (I've checked all the fuses though)

10-18-2015	#3
Jalisurr Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Vancouver Posts: 22	Re: New ZR-1 owner...no start One more update, checked ECM and CCM codes just now and didn't get anything. Don't know how relevant that is.

10-19-2015	#4
Z51JEFF Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 3,092	Re: New ZR-1 owner...no start The car will run on 6 cylinders at least on a 91 it will can't expect a 90 to be any different. I'd start at fuses and go from there,a 91 won't start if the ABS fuse is blown. Regardless of what it is you will have an answer from someone here or the other Forum.

10-19-2015	#5
Jalisurr Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Vancouver Posts: 22	Re: New ZR-1 owner...no start Ok, appreciate it. I thought that the way it cut out felt like an electrical thing, fuses or something. I did a quick once over on them but I'll take another look.

10-19-2015	#6
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,117	Re: New ZR-1 owner...no start Do you have fuel in the tank ? Not just what you fuel guage reads. May have a stuck sending unit. Suggest adding a gallon and see if it runs since you state you are hearing the fuel pumps. __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V

10-19-2015	#7
Jalisurr Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Vancouver Posts: 22	Re: New ZR-1 owner...no start Appreciate the thought, but unless the ZR-1 gets waaaaay worse fuel economy than I thought, the fact that I put 13 gallons in the tank about an hour before it died should mean it had plenty.

10-19-2015	#8
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,117	Re: New ZR-1 owner...no start Is fuel getting to the rails? What is the Pressure? Then move onto are you getting spark ? __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V

10-19-2015	#9
Jalisurr Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Vancouver Posts: 22	Re: New ZR-1 owner...no start Ok, you were right to continue looking at fuel first. There doesn't appear to be any pressure at the rails, I can push in the schrader valve and nothin comes out. But as stated, I can hear fuel pump priming noises when I turn the key on, and it pulls 9.5A to the fuel pump tester. Any suggestions where to look?

10-19-2015	#10
We Gone Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,170	Re: New ZR-1 owner...no start I wonder if the fuel line on the primary pump to the the fuel line came off?? __________________ Steve 1990 Steel Blue/Black #2355 1990 Red/Red #1473 1991 Quasar /Black #118 Sold 1991 Turquoise/Black #766 Parted Out 1993 Yellow/White #179 Sold 1990 Black/Gray #1361 Headers/4:10s Sold