Hey

I stored my car under a carport for about a year I pulled it back out and it ran fine for about a month then I got a random no start no fuel no spark twice and it would just magically start back up after a few hours.

during our first snow I was driving and the car shut down and I towed it home now some days it starts some days it doesn't and when it does start it idles fine dies at the slightest throttle.

before the big problem i got a code 32 ESC module I swapped it out with a known working unit same code.

I'm thinking its either my ECM or distributor but I only want to spend my money once

this car is my 91 caprice wagon mostly stock basic bolt on parts electric fan conversion and exhaust really nice car .......when it runs..lol

 

I'd put my money on a bad ignition control module.

 

Code 32 is EGR failure.

Code 42 (typo on the code 32?) is an EST (electronic spark timing) failure. This error is also set when the EST/BYPASS connector is opened to set the timing. It is the testing of the ICM to ECM interface.

Code 43 is an ESC (electronic spark control) and is the knock detection & reporting system

RBob.

 

sorry about that yeah it was 43 its been a few months

 

OK, ignore the code 43 for now. Nothing in the ESC system will prevent the engine from starting/running.

With it losing spark intermittently there are two items to check/replace. First is the 2-wire pigtail between the coil and ICM (in the distributor). The wire likes to break inside of the insulation where it exits the coil side connector.

The other item is the pickup coil. Again, the wire will break and be intermittent. Replacing it requires pulling the distributor and disassembling it.

It could be the ignition control module (ICM). However, they aren't usually intermittent. When they fail it is either when they get hot, or they just go dead.

RBob.

 

thanks guys

I installed a brand new Rich Porter brand distributor car ran great!! .......for 1 day the next I actually drove it then I got the same check engine light and an occasional stumble at Idle rpms would drop way low for a few seconds then pic back up run smooth..... but then we let it sit for 2 days and now it wont start and is dumping massive amounts of fuel ...... we are thinking ecm failure for sure this time ....the injectors and fuel pressure regulator are new pretty much any part you name under the hood is new or newer lol


we have a 350 ecm from a 91 police package car I'm going to try to confirm ecm .......but considering an engine swap to done with it

 

With it dumping massive amounts of fuel check the CTS. It is located on the front of the intake and is a two wire sensor. The connector likes to corrode which the ECM sees as a lower then true coolant temperature.

This causes the ECM to add more fuel because it thinks it is -40* out.

May need to replace the spark plugs too. When fuel soaked they don't like to properly fire.

RBob.

 

I'll check it out when I go tot he shop today that one part I never touched on the car but always ment to

 

swapped out the cts my old one was toast brittle plastic corrosion on it and all ......it even acted like it wanted to start......but then it started dumping fuel again ......

next is to dig out one the old tbi computers at the shop and give it try

 

ok I made some time to get back to the shop I pulled all the spark plugs and cleaned them up on a bench grinder with a wire brush on it to get the carbon and gas off(they are a set of fairly new E3 diamond fires)

it fired rite up and ran fine sounded great but after idling for 20-30 mins it shut off and would crank but wouldnt idle on its own tried another computer and got the same deal I'm lost and seriously considering a carb conversion to get it back on the road I have to much invested in this car to let it sit around

 

Are you sure it was the cts, not a fan switch or gauge sender?
Check the ecm grounds, these are at the back of the heads & might have some near the t stat too.
You might have a bad map sensor,check the vacuum hose that goes to it. I'd have it scanned before I'd ditch the tbi.
Can you check the fuel pressure?

 

this car came with mechanical fans (91 caprice wagon) same setup as a f body tho I replaced the cts thats located in the front of the intake Ill check all the grounds to be shore

its no longer dumping fuel just shutting off

 

After 26 years my MAP sensor failed. Symptom was car ran lean(WB). Barely ran but idled OK. I bet it would not go over 60 mph. Struggled (lean) at 25 mph as well to keep runnin.