92 turns over but no spark

[TFCameron]

My car which is a 92 protege won't start. It turns over fine but doesn't get any spark. I replaced the ignition coil and ignition control module and it still won't start. Before that I took it to a shop here in town and they said it was the distributor, and were supposed to replace it, but then returned it to me and didn't charge me, so I don't think that they did. I know that the spark plugs are good, so do you guys have any ideas as to what it might be?

 

[FrankenProbe]

I would have to say it's the distributor. If you have a shop manual or access to AllData it should have a simple diagnostic procedure for isolating the cause. One of the disty wires should have 0v with the key off, and 12v when the key is turned to the 'on' position. Trouble is I can't remember which of the wires. Get by your local junkyard and snap a replacement disty up.

 

[mannydingo]

Remember, first the simple things: spark plug wires, distributor cap & rotor. Wait, I can't recall if my 1st gen.... ? Nevermind, just check simple stuff first. If the computer goes, the same thing will happen. Any friends with the same car to use theirs temporarily? Check for vacuum leaks. Check for a leak, especially, from the large air intake hose. Check for cracks in between those little accordian-like sections. Distributors are one of the last things to go.

 

[TFCameron]

I already checked the cap, rotor, and spark plug wires and all of those were fine. I'll go through and check for cracks today, I'm a little short on cash for now, so I might just see if I can get it towed to the new house I'm moving into and just work on it later. I'm going to be getting a new car here in a little while, I just don't want to give up on this car because I think it's ******* awesome... except for all the problems.

 

[mannydingo]

don't want to give up on this car because I think it's ******* awesome... except for all the problems.

Huh? (boom07) Ok, I know what you really mean. It just sounded funny. Yeah, when you get the new car you can have that one taken apart for as long as you want and play with repairing it as you see fit.

 

[TFCameron]

Any ideas as to what car I should get? Of course it'll be used, because I'm cheap.

 

[mannydingo]

I don't think you're going to want to hear this but I recommend another Protege. Preferably a 97 or 98 unless you have money to get a newer one. If you can get a 97/98 Protege ES then all the better. If not, the LX is fine. The DX is the same but without power windows and all the extras. It will be great on gas and is dependable. Earlier on it was thought the 1.5 engine on that car (named the Z5 engine) was a bad engine but it's not. A few came with weak valve springs. If you get a 97 or 98 you won't have that problem anyway. However, I've had three 95/96 ones and they didn't come with the problem. It's just a few.

 

[TFCameron]

Actually, I have been kind of looking for a newer Protege. But have been having a hell of time finding one around here. The closest one I've found is like 200 miles away and was a 94 if I remember right. Whatever it is will have to be automatic, so my wife will stop complaining about driving a manual.

 

[mannydingo]

If you're going to get an automatic I seriously suggest you don't get a 1st generation Protege. They last, there's no question there. However, some of them get a horrible tremble that's next to impossible to get rid of. I don't want you to think the 1st gen(90-94) is a bad car because it's not. It's just a couple of things that you have to know how to deal with. I would get a 97 and up whether manual or automatic. About the Z5 engine, we're talking about a 1.5 liter engine so it will be excellent on gas but much slower than the 1.8 engine known as the BP engine. The Z5 is on the DX and LX and the BP is on the ES which is next to impossible to find but shows up every once in a while. Good luck

 

[TFCameron]

Well if I can find a 97 or 98 Protege in my price range I'll defienitly get that. Funny thing, when I first got my 92 I hated it with a passion and now I love it.

 

[deathtrigga]

wth hell no 1st gen FTW theyr so much better then 3rd gens

 

[mannydingo]

wth hell no 1st gen FTW theyr so much better then 3rd gens

Actually, the 97/98's are second generation. No one mentioned the 3rd gen on this thread, yet. Hey, TFCameron, have you gotten a new car yet? This thread was back in July?

 

[deathtrigga]

whoops i meant 2nd* gen haha

 

[91Protege]

Nothing wrong with the 1st gen, i got 213K on mine, orig engine and trans, automatic. Ur dizzy is bad, vacuum leak wont make the car not start, just run bad or stall out. ck for fuel pressure, and ck ur ECT sensor, common probs on the 1st gen.

 

[turpro]

Its the dist. Replace it and drive. Same thing happened to mine. Just dided 1 day and I replaced everything. Swapped out the disty and poof....started right up.

Whoever worked on the car and gave it back without fixing it is an idiot. Hope you don't go back to those guys.

 

[qwertty]

My car which is a 92 protege won't start. It turns over fine but doesn't get any spark. I replaced the ignition coil and ignition control module and it still won't start. Before that I took it to a shop here in town and they said it was the distributor, and were supposed to replace it, but then returned it to me and didn't charge me, so I don't think that they did. I know that the spark plugs are good, so do you guys have any ideas as to what it might be?

I have the same problem with my car, no spark, I replaced too the ignition coil and igniter and I still don't have a spark in wire before distributer, and it's still throw me code 34 (idle air control valve - i don't think because of that i don't have a spark ) If u fixed your car let me know! thanks.