ok here is a little story....driving car and it cuts out...put in neutral and it restarted fine, and ran fine. lets say, few hours pass, i drive it 10 miles, no problems, then few more hours, and drive it back 10 miles...and it cut out....i put in neutral and started it, but this time....

if i pressed the gas, no power...sounded like little backfires out exhaust or something, so i let i idled onto a side road, where it cut out again. this time, it would not start. (i dont know the proper terminology here, so explain it or correct me, but..) it will "fire" or "crank", but will not turn over/start.

what is wrong????

oh, and no codes.

ps: its a 91 w/ 3.1 and auto

 

Three things every engine needs:

Air
Fuel
Spark

If the engine is cranking strongly and your voltage is good you need to look at fuel and spark. Are the fuel injectors firing? Is there spark at the spark plugs?

 

havent checked for spark yet ( it is raining here), but here is how i "think" i will check.....if i pull a plug wire, and hold it near the plug while someone tries to crank it, a spark should arc to the plug.....is that right, or is there a better way??

how do i check the fuel? thanks.

 

for spark just crack the hood and have someone fire it up, it the lines broken it will show , otherwise pull off a plug wire and put it close like you said and you'll see it arc