hi,

I've got a little big problem.

my car won't start anymore. a while back it runs without a problem, but when I tried to start again when it was still warm the engine rotates but no fuel came out of the injectors.

I just have changed the fuel filter before and later because of that problem the esc-module, dist.cap and rotor.

then, for a while it was good, then it starts again. and now...no firing at all.

the engine still rotates but there is no fuel.
a few days ago I just put some fuel on the throttle plates to check the ignition and..tadaaa...the engine starts and ran well. first I thought the engine will shut off, when the fuel in the tb is gone but instead of that the injectors sprayed as they should.

yesterday I tired it again, and there was nothing, only a rotating engine but no fuel, even with fuel on the tb there was nothing!!

I've already checked the little fuse near the battery: ok!
then I checked the oil pressure sensor (was a bit oily in the inside) but that also couldn't be the problem because the car ran well (that one time)

for now I really don't know what else it could be.

I hope you can help me.

engine is a '90 305 tbi

greetings

S!MON

p.s.and that has to happen 2 weeks before my big engine swap (but I want to sell that engine complete and trouble free )

 

You need to check the fuel pressure at the Schrader test fitting. Release the gas cap momentarily and retighten then turn on the key but DO NOT start the engine. Can you hear a slight whine from the gas tank for approx 2 sec when the fuel pump should be in prime cycle. The fuel pump has 2 sources of power, the fuel pump relay and the oil sender switch. The relay can fail or be pulled out with the engine running and as long as the engine has 4-6psi of oil pressure the engine will run. A very common problem with the TG's is long cranking time. Thats when the relay is bad and the engine has to crank to get the oil pressure up high enough to close the sender switch. Unless both the relay and the sender switch are bad it would suspect a bad in-tank fuel pump. I would suggest you get a fuel pressure guage with the proper fittings and start there if you rule out any voltage problem.

 

Thats some good info to know!

 

hi,

thanks for the fast answer. now I have some questions:

1. where can I find that schrader fitting?
2. do you mean the "fillinthegas" cap? I can hear the fuel pump when I turn on the ignition! (also inside the car)
3. where can I find the fuel pump relay?
4. the oil sender is that one above the oil filter right? I briged the 2 outer contact on the plug but there was no difference
5. is it normal, that the inside of this sender is a bit oily?

greetings

S!MON

\edit: delete question 3

 

Simon, if you hear the pump chances are it's OK, that rules out the relay and forget the oil switch at this point. The Schrader valve will be on the fuel line, look's just like a bicycle tire fitting. Pull the #1 spark plug(it's the easiest) and crank and see if you have spark. If it won't fire with starting fluid, it may be ignition. If you have no spark suspect the pickup coil. You need to do this a step at a time. If the spark is OK, either the injectors are not firing or the ful pressure is too low. Yes, the oil sender is usually oily if it's original. Probably a good time to change it. Get back to me with any info. Dan

 

Since your car is TBI, there is no shrader valve. You'll probably end up having to buy a TBI fuel pressure tester that includes a brass adapter that goes in between the hard metal and rubber fuel line in the engine compartment. It should cost about the same as a regular fuel pressure tester.

But, I think Danno is right, I'd hold off on checking fuel pressure just yet. Check for spark. If your not getting fuel or spark when you try and crank it, than I would suspect the ignition control module or pickup coil in the distributor.

 

hi,

a friend of mine had the idea, that maybe the alternator is faulty. because it started, when I was connected to another car (with some fuel on the tblades.

today the battery was totally dead (under 8V). I connected it to a friends battery and let the starter car run about 15min to charge my battery. then I added some fuel, turned the key and guess what...it ran.

ok, taping the license plate and wanted to drive home...but then it died!

I will try it tomorrow or so with the same tactic and try to launch with more rpm...

could it be the alternator? not that bad idea that it maybe cannot produce enough voltage while "using" the starter so the fuel pump cannot create the right pressure...

my brain hurts!

greetings

simon

 

If you are at 8 volts thats a real issue. Charge the battery with a trickle charger or a decent auto battery charger. The battery should come up to 12.6 volts or close. If it does start the car and measure across the battery when it's running. It should read 13.5-14.5 volts, 13 or less and most likely the gen is bad. If the battery won't come up thats the first thing to replace. Thanks Ben, didn't realize the TBI didn't use a test fitting.