1st Dec 2008, 18:46
I am the owner of the post. Had this problem too, changed spark plugs, distributor, coils and rotor, works fine now! Try that; it's about 100 bucks in repairs, but she will start right up.
21st May 2012, 09:24
You'll never sell it for less than $20,000?
Looks like you will never sell it then.
17th Sep 2015, 11:42
Had that issue myself. Usually once a wire gets messed up, the computer fries. Mine took me 2 months of searching for the issue when I had time, and I eventually decided to just buy a new ECM. Slapped that in and she fired right up; no issues since.
Mine is an 89 as well; not many left out there, but it's an amazing car. Easy to repair or alter. I'm over 200k on the original trans. The only issue I had was the 3rd and 4th gear cable needing adjusted to stop engine flare with heavy throttle. They have a ZF trans, which is meant to shift hard and sporty.
I'm a DIY guy, so if anyone ever needs help with this car, they can ask me on a phone app called Line. I go by silentliner.
In a couple more years these cars will be classics. Last of the AMCs.
26th Mar 2007, 07:11
My dad has an 89 Premier LX. It just recently came back from the mechanic for a non-starting problem. The mechanic evidently fixed a corroded wire that was supposedly the problem. It started and ran for about 5 times, but won't start now. Has a brand new battery and cranks over very strongly, but it won't start. Any ideas? I like this car a lot; it's in good overall condition with only 46,000 original miles. I'd get it for my son if we can get it working again.