GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 2000 🢒 Prizm 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Controls - 1.8L 🢒 Engine Cranks But Does Not Run

Refer to Engine Controls Schematics

Ignition System


Object Number: 624329 Size: FS
Engine Controls Components
CMP and CKP Sensors
Main Power Feed
OBD II Symbol Description Notice
Handling ESD Sensitive Parts Notice
Cell 10: Ignition Switch, IGN Fuse, and ST Fuse
Cell 14: G105 and G106 (1 of 2)
 .

Circuit Description

When the ignition switch is turned to the ON or the START positions, voltage is applied to the ignition coil and ignition control circuitry. When the ignition coil receives the trigger signal from the powertrain control module (PCM), the coil turns the primary coil windings of the ignition coil OFF. By toggling these windings ON and OFF, a high voltage is produced in the secondary coil windings. The high voltage induced by the secondary coil windings is forced to find a ground path through the coils high voltage terminal and across the spark plug electrodes. The PCM can detect a malfunction in the process just described and set a DTC P1300, P1305, P1310, or P1315. Both the ignition system and the fuel delivery system depend upon input from the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor in order to operate. Many other information sensors are critical to proper operation of the PCM and can cause a no start.

Diagnostic Aids

Check for any of the following conditions:

    • Insufficient fuel can cause a no start condition. Thoroughly inspect the fuel delivery system for sufficient fuel volume to the fuel injectors. Inspect the fuel supply components for partial blockage or restrictions.
    • Fuel injectors with partially blocked and restricted nozzles, or a malfunctioning solenoid, can cause a no start condition. Refer to Fuel Injector Solenoid Coil Test - Engine Coolant Temperature Between 10-35 Degrees C (50-95 Degrees F) and Fuel Injector Balance Test .
    • There may be fuel spray at the fuel injectors and the indicated fuel pressure may be correct, yet there may not be enough fuel to start the engine. If the fuel injectors and the injector circuit are OK, and fuel spray is detected, the fuel injector ON time may be inadequate. If the PCM receives incorrect inputs from the various information sensors, the fuel delivered by the fuel injectors may be inadequate to start the engine. Check all the engine data parameters with a scan tool and compare the values indicated with the expected values or the values from a known good vehicle.
    • Check the engine electrical grounds at G106 and G105, both located at the rear of the cylinder head, if the engine has no spark and no fuel injector pulse with no DTCs.
    • Check the engine electrical ground G106 if there is spark but no fuel injector pulse.
    • If the engine almost starts and then stalls, check for an open in the ground circuits of the CKP sensor and the camshaft position (CMP) sensor.
    • Water or foreign material in the fuel can cause a no start or engine will not stay running condition. During freezing weather water can freeze inside the fuel system. The engine may start after 30 minutes in a heated shop. The malfunction may not recur until parked overnight in freezing temperatures. Extreme weather conditions can cause contaminated fuel to prevent the vehicle from starting.
    • A vehicle that starts and runs after being brought to the shop for an Engine Cranks But Will Not Run complaint, may have an ignition system that is susceptible to moisture. Spray water on the ignition system components and the wiring in order to check for an engine starting or will not stay running concern.

An intermittent malfunction may be caused by fault in any of the critical information or component electrical circuits. Inspect the wiring harness and the components for an intermittent condition. Refer to Intermittent Conditions .

Repair any electrical circuit faults that were found. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Test Description

The numbers below refer to the step numbers in the diagnostic table.

  1. The OBD System Check prompts the technician to complete some basic checks and store the Freeze Frame data on the scan tool if applicable. This creates an electronic copy of the data taken when the fault occurred. The information is then stored in the scan tool for later reference.

    2.

  2. If a fuse is found to be the cause of the no start, locate and repair any shorts that may have caused the fuse to open before replacing the fuse.

    3.

  3. The fuel mixture may be too rich or too lean to start the engine if the engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor signal is incorrect.

    4.

  4. The fuel mixture may be too rich or too lean to start the engine if the throttle position (TP) sensor signal is incorrect.

    5.

  5. The fuel mixture may be too rich or too lean to start the engine if the mass air flow (MAF) sensor signal is incorrect.

    6.

  6. This step checks to see if the engine will start and run. The repair that may have led to this step may only have been a secondary cause of the no start condition, such as fouled spark plugs, that may have been caused by incorrect fuel pressure. The diagnostics in this table may need to be performed a second time in order to discover the root cause of the no start condition.

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

1

Did you perform the Powertrain On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Powertrain On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check

2

  1. Check the IGN fuse in junction block 2 or the EFI fuse in the fuse and relay box 1 for any of the following conditions:
    2. • An open condition
    • No supplied power
    • Any faulty terminal connections
  2. Repair as necessary.

Was a repair necessary?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 3

3

Check for any DTCs with a scan tool.

Is a DTC P0335 or P0340 set?

--

Go to DTC P0335 Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Circuit or to DTC P0340 Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Circuit

Go to Step 4

4

Are DTCs P1300, P1305, P1310, or P1315 set?

--

Go to Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) List

Go to Step 5

5

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Observe the ECT sensor parameter on the scan tool.

Is the coolant temperature displayed on the scan tool near the actual coolant temperature?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to DTC P0115 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Circuit

6

Observe the TP sensor parameter on a scan tool with the throttle closed.

Is the throttle position opening displayed on the scan tool within the specified range?

0-23%

Go to Step 7

Go to DTC P0121 Throttle Position (TP) Sensor Performance

7

  1. Observe the MAF sensor reading on the scan tool while cranking the engine.
  2. Compare the observed MAF reading to the specified value.

Is the MAF reading within the specified range?

1.80-3.95 g/s

Go to Step 8

Go to DTC P0101 Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Performance

8
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect all four fuel injector electrical connectors.
  3. Install a J 34730-2B fuel injector test lamp, or equivalent, into each fuel injector harness connector.
  4. Observe the injector test lamp for each fuel injector while cranking the engine.

Did the fuel injector test lamp flash for each injector while cranking the engine?

--

Go to Step 9

Go to Fuel Injector Circuit Diagnosis

9
  1. Remove the ignition coil 1. Refer to Ignition Coil Replacement .
  2. Connect the ignition coil electrical connector.
  3. Connect a J 26792 spark tester or an equivalent to the ignition coil 1 boot.
  4. Crank the engine and observe the spark tester.
  5. A crisp, blue spark should be observed.
  6. Install the ignition coil.
  7. Repeat step 2 through step 5 for each of the remaining ignition coils.

Is a crisp blue spark present at each ignition coil?

--

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 10

10
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Swap the ignition coils. Replace the suspected faulty ignition coil with a coil that produced good spark.
  3. Connect a J 26792 spark tester, or equivalent, to the boot of the swapped ignition coil.
  4. Crank the engine while observing the spark tester.

Was a crisp blue spark present?

--

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 19

11
  1. Perform a visual/physical inspection of the ignition coil boots and spark plugs for the following conditions:
    2. • Any water intrusion
    • Any corrosion or poor connections to the spark plugs
    • Any carbon tracking
  2. Repair the condition or replace the faulty component as necessary. Refer to Ignition Coil Replacement or to Spark Plug Replacement .

Was a repair necessary?

--

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 12

12
  1. Remove the spark plugs. Refer to Spark Plug Replacement .
  2. Visually and physically inspect the spark plugs for any of the following conditions:
    3. • Any oil fouling
    • Any fuel fouling
    • Any evidence of coolant in the cylinder
    • An incorrect gap
    • Any missing platinum pads
    • A loose center electrode
    • A cracked porcelain
    • Any carbon tracking
    • A loose terminal end
  3. Repair or replace as necessary.

Was a faulty spark plug condition found and repaired?

--

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 13

13
  1. Verify that the vehicle has an adequate supply of fuel in the fuel tank.
  2. Install the fuel pressure gauge. Refer to Fuel Pressure Gage Installation and Removal .
  3. Crank the engine while observing the fuel pressure gauge.

Was any pressure indicated on the fuel pressure gauge while cranking the engine?

--

Go to Step 14

Go to Fuel System - Circuit Opening Relay Diagnosis

14
  1. Install the scan tool.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. Select Fuel Pump in the Engine Output Controls menu.
  4. Turn the fuel pump relay ON for 5 seconds with the scan tool.
  5. Check the fuel pressure reading on the fuel pressure gauge.

Is the fuel pressure indicated within the specified range?

301-347 kPa (44-50 psi)

Go to Step 15

Go to Fuel System Diagnosis

15
  1. Check a fuel sample for the following concerns:
    2. • Any alcohol or other contamination, refer to Alcohol/Contaminants-in-Fuel Diagnosis .
    • The fuel type and quality
  2. Replace the fuel as necessary.

Was a repair necessary?

--

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 16

16
  1. Check for clean and tight electrical grounds at all of the following locations:
    2. • G105 and G106
    • G103 and G300
    • The PCM ground terminals
  2. Repair as necessary.

Was a repair necessary?

--

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 17

17
  1. Check for any of the following engine mechanical problems:
    2. • A worn or faulty camshaft
    • Any leaking or sticking valves
    • Any excessive valve deposits
    • Any weak valve springs
    • An incorrect valve timing
    • Any intake vacuum leaks
    • Any broken or leaking piston rings
    • A leaking head gasket
  2. Repair as necessary. Refer to Engine Compression Test in Engine Mechanical.

Was a basic engine mechanical problem found and repaired?

--

Go to Step 20

Go to Diagnostic Aids

18

Replace the ignition coil of the cylinders that had no spark. Refer to Ignition Coil Replacement .

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step 20

--

19
  1. Inspect the electrical circuits of the faulty ignition coil for the following conditions:
    2. • An open in the ignition coil ground circuit
    • An open in the positive voltage supply circuit
    • An open in the trigger signal circuit
    • No trigger signal generated by the PCM
  2. Repair as necessary. Refer to Wiring Repairs or to Powertrain Control Module Replacement .

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step 20

--

20

  1. Perform the scan tool Clear DTC Information function.
  2. Attempt to start the engine.

Does the engine start and continue to run?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 2

21
  1. Start the engine.
  2. Run the engine at idle until a normal operating temperature is reached.
  3. Check for DTCs with a scan tool.

Are any DTCs displayed?

--

Go to Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) List

System OK