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Start/Ignition issue after replacing steering column

Hello all, hope someone can help me out here.

I picked up an 87 LeBaron Convertible (2.2Turbo), automatic, that had a bad tilt steering column, but did run.

I replaced the steering column with one which apparently came from a non-EFI vehicle. There were a couple of additional connectors on the old column which were not duplicated on the replacement. After replacement the fuel pump would not activate. I used an accessory supply off the fuse block and tapped in to the main power conductor direct to the fuel pump (Dark Green w Blk stripe)to fire up the pump. It worked.

The problem remaining is that the engine will crank but not start. There is spark to the plugs and pressurized fuel to the fuel rail, but no joy.

At this point I don't know if the power control module, computer, or whatever may be involved due to 'bypassing' them in powering up the fuel pump directly, or due to replacing the factory steering column with what appears to be a non-efi-related unit. Or maybe it's something else ... don't know. Everything else ignition and engine wise seems okay.

A bit of guidance here would be most appreciated.

thanks, Fred

Reply to
Fred.Orcutt
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Put the old column back in and see if the problem goes away, if so then you better look for the correct column. In my humble opinion you should have torn down the original column and repaired the broken tilt joint, but that's just me. Maybe you can still do that and use the non-EFI column as parts.

Ted

Reply to
Ted Mittelstaedt

Ted, thanks for the reply. Here's where it stands now:

I found out that the steering columns, with electronics and harnesses, are the same whether efi or not. The additional harness I thought was efi on the old harness was for cornering lights. So the problem is elsewhere.

What it comes down to is now no power to the coil. The coil is good and the wiring is good to and from the logic module and power control module. In this case it would likely be one of those then, right? When I jump from the pos terminal on the battery to the pos terminal on the coil, it all works.

Thanks.

Reply to
Fred.Orcutt

I thought you said you had spark in the original post?

Anyway, your now at the no-start stage, get the factory service manual before you fiddle with it anymore. These aren't that expensive on Ebay, here's a set that went recently:

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There's also some idiot that's selling what appear to be illegal photocopies of these manuals, here's a recent listing:

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I daresay you could e-mail him directly and offer $15 for them and he would probably jump at the chance for a quick buck - after all he can always make more!

Another way is to go to

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and pay your $25 and getnot only the manual but the tsb's too.

The factory manual has a test procedure for a no-start, follow that and report back what you find.

Ted

Reply to
Ted Mittelstaedt

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