Well it's happening again. My car is stalling for some unknown reason. I'll try to keep this short.

Engine stops and sometimes won't start back up. Injectors aren't pumping fuel. Let it sit for a while, and she comes back to life.

Got in the car yesterday and the engine wouldn't start. Disconnect the fuel lines at the throttle body and they're dry, until I turn on the ignition. At that point fuel comes pumping out. Reconnect lines, engine starts and runs fine. Replaced the fuel filter over the weekend and the fuel pump isn't that old. I did fill it up with gas about 20 minutes before it started doing this. May or may not be related.

We're thinking that perhaps the fuel system isn't venting properly and pressure that builds up in the lines keeps fuel from reaching the throttle body. When we removed the lines, the pressure was relieved and it went back to normal. That's the theory. Is there any validity to it? If so, what might be the cause? I'm moving out of the state in a few weeks and would really like to get this resolved beforehand. Thank you for any advice!

 

If there was pressure in the tank both fuel lines would have been pouring fuel out once they were loosened. An easier check is to loosen the gas cap before starting the engine.

Sounds more like a bad ICM.

RBob.

 

Had the whole distributor replaced last year. Does the ICM control the fuel flow?

For what it's worth, we tried pouring gas down the throttle body and the car tried to start. So it seems to be getting spark, just no fuel.

 

What is the fuel pressure when the engine cranks but no fuel squirts out of the injectors?

 

No idea. We don't have a pressure gauge. But when we disconnected the lines they were dry; no gas dripping out.

 

Well I finally rented a fuel pressure gauge and hooked it up. When the car runs the pressure is at 10-11psi. The manual reads that 9-13psi is the normal range.

Yesterday the car died again. After about 30 minutes of driving, I put it in reverse and backed into a parking space. It cut off very soon after that and wouldn't start back up. The pressure gauge didn't show any pressure, but there was gas pumping, I suppose just not enough. Nothing coming out of the injectors.

A few hours later I loosened up the gas cap to release the pressure in the tank, and the car started. A little while later it stalled at a red light, but started right back up again (luckily).

Does anyone know what to make of this?

 

Pump getting hot and failing?

 

That just may be it. Last time the pump quit, it happened suddenly and completely. But the more I mess around with it, it seems the pump is the only logical conclusion.