CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE 180 DEGREE
DISTRIBUTOR PULSES?

started diagnosing problem:
1. checked for spark, had good spark on all 4 plugs
2. thinking it was fuel problem, checked fuel pump fuse, was good
3. checked fuel pump relay, was good
4. checked voltage at fuel pump, was good
5. installed fuel pressure guage between fuel filter and injector
   rail, fuel pressure was normal
6. opened exhaust manifold ahead of muffler to check for obstruction
   to exhaust flow, found no obstruction
7. rigged the equivalent of a "noid light" using analog voltmeter, to
   check for pulses at fuel injectors, found pulses at all 4
injectors
8. read about trick using "starting fluid", sprayed into intake
manifold
   while cranking, engine would not start, this suggested it was not
   a fuel problem
9. thinking it was now an electrical problem, pulled ECM codes, found
   no error code, so ECM thinks emission system is normal
10. removed valve cover to check for possible timing chain problem,
     found chains ok and cams were properly timed
11. removed distributor, (a) checked coil resistances, were normal
     (b) back probed connector while turning, found all 1 degree
pulses
     (c) found the two 180 degree pulses
12. performed all tests on power transistor, were good
13. THEN with a mirror, found pink/black wire dangling behind
    console near ECM. found a pin in ECM connector that had no
    wire attached.  removed pin from connector and, with magnifying
    glass, found the ends of a broken wire (but no indication where
    the wire came from). soldered jumper wire to pin, installed pin
    back into connector, soldered pink/black wire to jumper,
    ENGINE NOW RUNS.  this "too short" wire failed at the
    connector after 13 years, apparently from fatigue.

Haynes manual does not show purpose of this specific wire but
found on internet, that it goes to "starting system".  Possibly
this broken wire has something to do with the 180 degree
distributor pulses and possibly the distributor was firing at
BDC instead of TDC.

another example of a rare wiring problem, IT HAPPENS.
read about "ohms law" in this link:
http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/feb97/techtips.htm