I changed the thermostat. Started car it started for a few seconds then died. No spark to spark plugs, checked the ground that bolts to the thermo housing it was firmly bolted, however I did forget to disconnect the ground when I checked it and it sparked so I assume that means power going to distributor? What could have gone wrong? I find it hard to believe it was not related to the thermo change, and yet it did start of a few seconds before dying.

That is the main ground to the ECM--hopefully, it did not damage your computer. When you turn the ignition switch to ON (Position II), does the CEL come on for 2 seconds and then go out? With the negative battery terminal disconnected, remove the main ECM ground and clean it with abrasive cloth.

Check engine light comes on and I can hear what I assume is the fuel pump for just a second. Also, to be clear, the sparking when I loosened the ground to the thermo cover was AFTER we tried to start the car, and as I said before it started and then quickly died. The ECM ground, is this the ground wire to the top of the thermostat cover, what I was calling the distributor ground?

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Originally Posted by TxGreaseMonkey

That is the main ground to the ECM--hopefully, it did not damage your computer. When you turn the ignition switch to ON (Position II), does the CEL come on for 2 seconds and then go out? With the negative battery terminal disconnected, remove the main ECM ground and clean it with abrasive cloth.

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Check engine light comes on and I can hear what I assume is the fuel pump for just a second. Also, to be clear, the sparking when I loosened the ground to the thermo cover was AFTER we tried to start the car, and as I said before it started and then quickly died. The ECM ground, is this the ground wire to the top of the thermostat cover, what I was calling the distributor ground?

Have now removed ground, cleaned it an the attachment point and reconnected. No change. Any other ideas, oh and thank you so much for your help.