Most likely culprit?
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Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Indianapolis,IN
Most likely culprit?
I have a 91 V-6 that died the other day. It would idle for a few seconds then die again. I left it in a parking lot til the next day when I could get a wrecker to it. I went back and it fired up and seemed OK again. I headed for home and it was fine for several miles then about a mile from home it sagged out again and nearly died but I kept pumping it andf it caught again an I was able to get home. I know that since it's FI my pumping it had nothing to do with it firing off again. It's just one of the old carb habits I have. I'm guessing it either pump, filter or relay. What's the easiest method to trouble shoot this? I could change out the filter pretty easy I think and check the old one for blockage. Since it is an intermittent problem , I'm leaning towards the relay or it's wiring. I really hate to drop the tank unless I have to since I just filled it up the day before this happened.
Your ideas appreciated,,, Matt
Your ideas appreciated,,, Matt
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 461
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From: Warrenton, VA U.S.A.
Matt,
Your guesses sound good. If I was going to test the fuel pump, I think I'd invest in a fuel pressure gauge. You should be able to tell if you're getting enough pressure, and thus fuel pump condition. Don't forget to check for flow. This should give you an indication of not only the condition of the pump but also the filter.
But before you do that, you may want to consider the ignition. It'll be easier to check. Look at the coil/distributor and/or wires. I think I'd start checking the coil first because that is common to all the cylinders. Remove one of the spark plug wires from the plug and connect it to a spark plug in free air (with the base of the spark plug grounded, of course). Do you see a strong spark or is it weak? This is difficult to describe if you don't know the difference. A strong spark will be fatter and brighter than a weak one.
EDIT:
Do you have the problem only when the engine idles or runing slowly (<1200 RPM)?
How is it when it is running fast (>2500 RPM?)?
[This message has been edited by Stuart Moss (edited June 17, 2001).]
Your guesses sound good. If I was going to test the fuel pump, I think I'd invest in a fuel pressure gauge. You should be able to tell if you're getting enough pressure, and thus fuel pump condition. Don't forget to check for flow. This should give you an indication of not only the condition of the pump but also the filter.
But before you do that, you may want to consider the ignition. It'll be easier to check. Look at the coil/distributor and/or wires. I think I'd start checking the coil first because that is common to all the cylinders. Remove one of the spark plug wires from the plug and connect it to a spark plug in free air (with the base of the spark plug grounded, of course). Do you see a strong spark or is it weak? This is difficult to describe if you don't know the difference. A strong spark will be fatter and brighter than a weak one.
EDIT:
Do you have the problem only when the engine idles or runing slowly (<1200 RPM)?
How is it when it is running fast (>2500 RPM?)?
[This message has been edited by Stuart Moss (edited June 17, 2001).]
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis,IN
It is strictly intermittent. Right now it's running fine but I can't trust it to run down to the corner. If it would go down completely it would be easier to find. I hate intermittent problems! I really just don't want to drop that tank and then find it was a relay or something simple.
Thanks,,, Matt
Thanks,,, Matt
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