Hi all this is my first post here. I have a 91 shadow convertible. Car was bought back in 01 for 500 bux 6 months later had a tranny put in that was used. To be honest I beat the hell outa this car, it was used to deliver for in for about 2 and 1/2 years. Then came inspection time and it would pass so I parked it and bought a new car. It sat for past 2 years and we just moved so I told wife if it would start I would take it and if it didnt I would junk it. To both of our surprise it started on the 1st crank. Same oil, gas and all! Crazy part is it would only start about twice then it would not start unless left sitting overnight. Towed it to the new house cause I wasnt brave enough to drive it the 40 miles. As of last Saturday it was still starting once a day but that was it. Then on Sunday I changed the oil, oil filter, spark plugs, and rotor for distributor. Now I get nothing when I try to start it. I checked it for codes and before I changed everything it gave me a code 23 then after I changed everything it gives a code 12. When I changed the plugs I numbered the wires so I know they are correct. This is similar to what it was doing before when it wouldnt start after starting. Any help would be appreciated. This has become my new project(sorta to **** the wife off cause she wants it junked) it has to be gutted interior wise due to mildew and mold from holes in the top. Would like to have the thing running good before I start that stuff. Also when I was running i noticed a little smooke in engiine, check it out and found the cover peice that you pour the oil into had almost evry bolt holding it down loose. Tightened and cleaned it up but since would start dont know if that got rid of the smoke. Sorry so long!

 

Sell it to me!

 

shhh my wife might read that. haha nah I want it running. I need a 4cyl. to run errands and joy ride gas is too much and I already have a 04 f150 and a 00 chevy 1500 van. It sucks spending 5 dollars on gas just to get to gas station.

 

First off Code 12: Battery or computer recently disconnected. Code 23: Incoming air temperature sensor may be bad. Any other codes??
Do you know if its getting gas? Spark? to check if its gettin gas easiest way is to listen for the fuel pump and/or take the air box off and have someone crank on it, look down into the TB (throttle body) and see if gas is bein shot out of the injector. To check for spark the easiest way is run to your local parts store (or meijers) and buy a in-line spark test light. Mine was getting gas, spark and the timing was correct, wouldnt start for a week then I tried again one day...needless to say its been running since . Also check for vacuum leaks.

 

those were only codes I have seen. I tried to listen for the fuel pump but i couldnt hear it ( I wish it was a GM you could hear it a mile away) I will have to check the rest tomarrow.

 

You can test spark with a screw driver too. Just don't touch the metal part. Trust me, it hurts. But I still think you should sell it to me. For cheap! I got a hard top. I want a convertable now.

 

what do u mean test with a screw driver. I do HVAC so Ive been shocked quite a few times not that I like it but off a 12v battery im sure Ive been hit by worse. And if I get tired of it I will keep ya in mind your not that far from me.

 

To test with a screwdriver just put a screwdriver in the spark plug wire (where you plug it onto the spark plug) and hold it about 1/8th of an inch away from something close thats grounded holding onto the handle (not the metal!) have someone crank on it a few times and you will see a spark, or you wont..If you dont you can try moving it a little closer (also make sure its grounded well).

 

ok I got a spark tester and I have no spark. Tried puttting old rotor back in and still nothing. What would be next changing the cap?

 

Yea you could try that, if your able to get the coil itself off you could take it into autozone and they could test it for you for free aswell. You said you changed the wires, make sure you have them put in the cap all the way. I didnt make sure mine were in tight and was running on 3 cylinders for prolly 4-5 months lol. Anyhow give that a try I will try to think of some other things that might be wrong but I would get the coil checked and a new cap.
Also Check for codes again, see if it has set any new codes.