89 wont crank

[gunnerw]

I just bought an 89 Festiva. It was cranking and and trying to fire. I did get it started briefly just long enough to move it 30 ft. I towed it home and it has been cranking. It was parked for a year so i replaced the the fuel filter. it did crank once after i replaced the filter but now it wont. Battery is charged, lights, fan, and dash lights work but it wont crank or even click. What have i knocked loose? it must have cranked 40 times before i replaced the filter. any ideas?//

[Chobobulous]

Check your fusable links?

[Sagermeister]

Check the distributor?

[dalebwilson]

When you replace the fuel filter, it is easy to knock the small starter control wire loose. I have done that before.

[gunnerw]

Fuseable links visibly look good, should i check for power flow through them?

What should i check on the distributor?

Where can i find the small starter control wire. Is it under the coil?

[gunnerw]

image.jpg Pic of fuseable links

[gunnerw]

image.jpg Loose connector found under the coil

[Chobobulous]

Sometimes they can burn out on the inside. Check with multimeter. I replaced them with long legged fuses pink green pink.

[gunnerw]

image.jpg Distributor looks ok

[gunnerw]

image.jpg I do have three plugs that aren't connected found beside the drive strut top

[Chobobulous]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16083[/ATTACH] I do have three plugs that aren't connected found beside the drive strut top

Those are unplugged on mine too.

[dalebwilson]

The starter control wire has a spade connector and is connected right on the starter solenoid. The 3 plugs you mentioned are only used during diagnostic testing.

[gunnerw]

Well it wasnt the fuseable links i replaced them.

[gunnerw]

Okay thanks ill keep checking. I assume since the 89 that I have has EFI it has a electric fuel pump,. Is that correct?

[Team Lightning]

Since it's an 89 efi, it should be an automatic trans. Have you checked the switch on the shifter? It won't start if it's not in neutral or park.