Hello, my name is Mike first post here.

I drove my 1990 TA to bed last november for her winter nap.

This spring I go out to start it and it cranks but won't start. Now and then it seems to sputter a little bit but that's about it. When I turn the key on I hear the pump turn on and I even disconnected a fuel line under the hood just to make sure fuel is getting up to the engine. Boy is it ever. Although I haven't checked fuel pressure yet. Not even sure of how I would. I did put 5 gallons of fresh fuel in it as well so I know I have good gas.

Q - That electric motor I hear kick on for a couple seconds when I turn the key on is that the fuel pump or just a pressure pump? Thanks!

I have a nice bright white spark so that shouldn't be the problem.

I just find this kinda fishy as it was running fine when I parked it and now this.

Any help is sincerely appreciated.

 

mloula,

Welcome Aboard!

Chances are, you have a problem with fuel delivery.

The noise you hear for two seconds when the ignition is first turned on is the fuel pump. It runs a timed cycle to pressurize the fuel rails.

One thing you can do on a '90 and later TPI is to remove the intake bellows and manually prime the intake through the throttle body with a little fuel to try to start it. I'd avoid starting fluid (ether) since it is more volatile and can cause detonation damage, especially in warmer weather.

If you can get the engine to run briefly by administering fuel through the throttle body between crankings, you have problems with the fuel pressure or injectors. The next step would be to test the fuel pressure. There is a test fitting (Schrader valve) on the right fuel rail near the rear:



Connect a pressure gauge to this port and turn on the ignition to run a "prime" cycle. Pressure should build to about 44 PSIG, ± 3 PSIG. If it doesn't, you may have a pump, filter, or fuel pressure regulator problem. If it does, you may have an injector firing problem.

Later,
Vader

What the Lord giveth, the DNR taketh away...

 

I bought a 91 RS that had been sitting for a while. I put a new battery on it and the thing would turn over and fire by priming with fuel into the throttle body, but would not run for long. I took the fuel line apart at the fuel filter and the fuel would shoot out, but would not pressure up. Turns out that the rubber connector that connects the in tank fuel pump to the fuel rail assy had deterioriated and was shooting most of the fuel right back into the tank. This is my 2 cents. Hope this helps.:rockon:

 

if all else fails could be bad gas

 

who has bad gas? dam burritos But yes Ive had that prob too with cars that have sat too long. with the cold the water will build up.