Pontiac Repair: 91 Firefly wont start, battery cables, constant power

Question
Please don't shoot me about it being a firefly,but my ex bought it for a winter beater.I followed her home on night it was bought. Ran fine and everything on and in the car ran. Half way home she said the check engine light came on and it died on the side of the road. I tried to get it to start and sometimes it would turn over, then dead. Not even a click. Checked it out at home. New plugs,wires, cap and rotor. Battery was dead. Replaced that. Now it just turns over but will not start. Coil maybe? And if so how do I check it or do I just get a new one?.. 91 Firefly 1.0 ltr......Dale

Answer
Hey Dale:

I'm not familiar with the firefly I think this is a canadian car??? But none the less a car is a car. I would look long and hard at the electrical system. The fact that it will not crank at all and the fact that is does crank but will not start somehow they have to be related. As for checking for spark you can get a spark check at a parts store and put in in place of a spark plug and crank the car over and see what you have is nothing pull the coil wire off the distributor capo and insert the checker there and see what you have. for it to have soark the coil needs a constant power and ground with the key on. that coil more than likely have 2 connectos one has the constant power and groun and the second one has the trigger from the distributor to fire th coil off. if you have power and ground but no spark it's either the coil or something in the distributor like the pick up coil or ignition module. as for the no crank when it will not crank does it have battery power like head lights? if no then you have to look at the battery or the battery cables. Look at the ends where they attach to the body, engine and starter motor. when it does crank over but not start does it sound funny like it doesn't have compression or does it back fire? It could have a timing issue I don't know if this engine has a timing belt or not if it does that could have jumped time???? Just a few ideas like I said I have never worked one one of these let alone seen one. Sorry I can't help you out much more :(