Mechanics.... I need your help

[PEARL MUSSIN]

I have an 1989 Cutlass Supreme with a 2.8 in it. I was driving it today and it stalled. It didn't bog or chug or anything like that it just flat out died. I tried to start it forever and got nothing, it would crank start to turn over then nothing, every once and a while it would fire for a second then die. I came back after a couple of hours and it started right up Well that was an easy fix, or so I thought..... After driving for 20 miles or so it died again... It would start drive for a second, then die again. It did this for about a 1/2 mile (3 or 4 times). Then it acted like it did in the begining, just cranking and nothing I could hear the fuel pump comming on only once and a while, but the rails had pressure, I pressed the schrader valve and got sprayed with gas . I also pulled a plug wire and saw it sparking... So it's getting spark and fuel but won't start.... What could be causing this????? I went out later, 1hr or so, and it wouldn't start but after trying to start it like 10 times it fired right up ????? So I ran home got my wife, came back (15min) it wouldn't start... I ran to autozone and bought a TPS sensor and I'll try that tomorrow.. I unhooked the one on the car and it still wouldn't start. Seems like it only starts when it wants to

ANY IDEAS WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!! THANKS


Jeremy

[hotrodford]

Check your fuel pressure. Just because it has fuel at the rail doesn't mean it has enough pressure to open the injectors. If it's below specs, start by replacing the fuel filter. If that doesn't help, you're probably looking at a new fuel pump.

[BILLYS87]

The years 87-92 2.8 and 3.1 are known for having bad fuel injectors, they heat up under that upper manifold and make the OHMS reading going to the computer go haywire. There are four wires in the injector harness that run all six injectors,two wires per three injectors, when one injector heats up and fails its bad OHMS reading sends a bad signal to ECM which then shuts down the injector driver in the ECM.The injector harness(8wire plug) is either located back by the top of the alternator or behind the big plastic cover on the passenger inner fender. If you find it, its a black harness plug, you put your DVOM on OHMS and unplug harness. THe wires you need to read are the four outside corners of the plug, and you read them diagonal from each other. Like the other guy said, check fuel psi 35-40pds with KOEO, but as a 13yr. mechanic i will bet its one or more of those injectors that are bad.If you didnt really understand call me and i will run it withyou step by step. Bill Bista (630)836-1804 After 6pm C.S.T

[sso2028]

yes it could be a fuel pump going bad you have to do aleak down test on fuel system thepump should hold "x" amount of pressure for a certain period of time a repair manual will give the specs or it could be the mass airflow sensor those always go bad on these year cars if the car is runnin ,bang on the sensor with a screwdriver handle if the car responds in any rpm change the sensor is bad i'm not knockin what one guy told you he may have seen something that i haven't but i never saw an injector on a gm go bad nor a tps sensor highly unlikely also see if you get any trouble codes from the aldl diagnostic connector good luck let me know how you make out.

[BILLYS87]

a mass-air flow sensor will not keep your car from starting, in fact, go outside and disconnect your mass-air flow sensor from that green convertible of yours, and turn the key. yes,it starts. then why your at it call your local GM dealer, give them that year of the GM car and ask them how many injectors they have in stock or even how many they sold in the last ten years. i am not forgetting about the fuel pump, as i stated before, but as he explained it just quit, then would restart. for good measures have someone crank the car as you bag the gas tank uderneath the car with a rubber mallet, if it starts then i would go after the pump and fuel psi.IT is very difficult to diagnos a car five states away or over the phone, just saying what we see time and time again.

[PEARL MUSSIN]

Thanks Guys but I got it towed to a shop today. I mentioned everything you guys said (fuel pump, injectors, crank sensor, oil press sensor) He said it's probably one of those things. He said those 2.8l 's do some funny ****....


Jeremy

[hotrodford]

An easy way to check for proper fuel supply without a gauge is to spin the car over and spray alittle starting fluid into the air inlet hose going to the throttle body. If it runs off the ether, it's pretty safe to say it's not getting enough fuel, for whatever reason.

[turbocoupe]

it sounds to me like you have a weak ignition module do urself a favo and plug in a noid light to see if your getting a flash from the inj ive ran across this problem many times at the dealer with cust cars come to find out the bad ign module it has enough spark to set off a tester but blows out when trying to start the eng