Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: Oldsmobile Wont Start, olds cutlass ciera, electronic ignition module


Question
I have a 1989 Olds Cutlass Ciera SL wagon with the 3.3L V6 engine.  I was sick for quite some time and nobody started the car.  It has now sat 3 years without starting.  I have been trying to get it started, but no luck.  It ran great before it was parked.

I am getting fuel delivery, but no spark.  I have removed and tested the coils and they are fine.  The screws holding the coils to the electronic ignition module are rusted tight and I would have to grind them off to get the modules apart.

I have replaced the battery after it being dead for 2 years.  I did try jumpstarting it before I replaced the battery and it almost started.  Now, it cranks fine, but will not even sputter.

Could I have damaged the computer by letting the battery die and then jumping it?  Could I have cooked the computer and/or the ignition module.  Every other electrical component on the car seems to wok fine.

I would greatly appreciate any help.

Thank you.  
Joe Curro

Answer
Joe,
 How is it you know your getting fuel? The idea you can here the fuel pump running and or get fuel up the line to the engine doesn't say it all. Just because it's getting up the fuel line doesn't mean its being metered through the fuel injectors. Normally, when you don't have spark its likely the injectors aren't being triggered as well. If you here the fuel pump run for a second or two when the ignition is first turned on means the engine computer is up and controlling the fuel prime. From there the engine computer looks for an rpm signal generated while your cranking the engine. If it doesn't see this the fuel injection won't come on line. The ignition system in its basic form doesn't need a computer to generate spark so the computer can be down and still you will have spark. My thoughts are its likely the if you don't have spark you need to see if the injectors are firing. One way is to use a node light or test light. That may be a bit harder to explain to you. If you have been cranking the engine over a while and the injectors are spraying fuel into the engine you will after a while begin to smell fuel coming from the end of the exhaust pipe. If you bend down and smell raw gas there the injectors are up and running. If you don't its likely there not working. If you don't smell raw gas its likely the engine crank sensor is skewed. Without a crank sensor the engine computer has no way of knowing the engine is trying to start and the systems wont come on line.
John