Starting Issue....Please Help!

[88FestivaLX]

Ok, so this is the 3rd time this has happened now....and this time it left me stranded. I turn the key on and the car will turn over, but the tach is jumping around between 0 and 4k rpm while its turning over. The car will not start and when I stop trying to crank (key still on), the electric fan comes on. What in the world is going on?! By the way its an 88 LX, carbed. Thanks!

[WmWatt]

My first reaction would be to disconnect or pull fuses on the fan and tachometer and try again. Not very scientific. Also try the lights, radio (key on), and horn to see what's affected. Try to get as much info as possible to aid diagnosis. Try to track electical fault to it's source.

[88FestivaLX]

Yea, everything works fine with the key on. I'll check more when I get home from work.

[FB71]

you have a bad ground. Check them all in the engine compartment.

[88FestivaLX]

Is there a diagram for where all of the grounds are? Or anyone want to tell me? Thanks!

[svopro]

Is the car hot or cold when this happens

[88FestivaLX]

Its happened both ways. First 2 times it was hot, this morning it was cold

[barno68]

take a look at both ends of the negative cable and ensure they are not cracked or corroded. If you want to elinimate future ground issue you can install extra ground staps, I run large gauge stainless straps on my Camaro. At a minimun you will want three: battery to block/frame, frame to block and frame/block to body.

[scitzz]

Had a similar problem once, turns out the coil wire was bad. Start with the normal won't start checklist. Do you have spark, fuel and air?

[roycehof]

The Primary ground connection to review for this problem is the ground that bolts onto the transmission. On the manual transmissions it is a bolt behind the starter - Now sure where it is on the automatics. There should be 2 wires - the heavy one goes to the battery, the little one goes to the body (I think ???). I would unbolt them and give them a good inspection. I suspect you'll find they are ready to break if not already broken. I remember a similar problem on an old GTO and it was a ground wire going from the transmission to the body. Drove me just about nuts. Interestingly enough after I fix it, I also stopped having the linkage cable fail - Coincidence? - I think not.

[bassman]

I would try hooking the booster cables to the grond and then to a place on the motor and see if that gets it going .
If so it is forsure the ground .

[svopro]

I suspect the coil because of the eratic tach signal but its free to check the grounds so do that first