137700k

 

A 1996 is real prone to the fuse 15 problem (shorted wires on the back of the engine), so check for that first. Generally that will not prevent starting, but if the 7.5A fuse under the dash blew, you probably have fuse 15 problem.

It also sounds like a bad ground though. The speedometer signal does not go through the ECU, so speedometer acting flakey would not mean bad ECU. ECU and other sensor systems are grounded with small wires attached to the thermostat housing near the starter. Also check the main grounds by measuring for voltage difference between the engine block and the - terminal post of the battery, then do the same thing with the car frame and - post of the battery.

 

Did you check the grounds? Did you look under the car for the fuse 15 problem wires?

Pull the brake handle up, turn the key on (don't crank yet)-- the BRAKE, "oil" and "battery" lights on the dash should come on and stay on. The "check engine" light should come on for 2 seconds then go out. Then turn key to crank, the BRAKE light should stay on though the oil and battery may go out.

Do the lights do that?

The black and yellow wire at the distributor should have battery voltage with the key on, and while cranking. Take a spark wire out and check if the ignition makes sparks.

Does the cam rotate when you crank? Stripped timing belt will of course disable the engine and the ignition will not fire because it is timed by the distributor.

 

I think so. Earlier models turn them off unless the starter is engaged or the engine is actually rotating but I don't know if the gen 6 (96-00) does. The fuel injectors use negative logic-- one wire is always at battery voltage and the ECU pulls the other wire to ground to activate the injector.