So for a while now my car wont stay started unless I keep on the gas pedal. Then After about 10 minutes of driving it will be ok? I'm not sure whats going on with it but its really annoying especially since its winter time and I really dont want to sit out there with my foot on the gas just so the car can warm up. Does anyone have a solution to this?

 

Carb or fuel injected?

 

i forgot to put that its the 3.1L MPFI

 

sounds like a clogged up idle air motor possibly

 

what exactly is that?

 

ok I just looked up that part so now I know what part that is.... I cleaned that yesterday with some sensor cleaner and I also cleaned out the throttle body and that helped very little.

 

You probably need to do a full check up. Including injectors and fuel pressure regulator. Make sure those are good first then everything else. Search the v6 forum. There are many threads on this issue.

 

what do you mean by a full check up?

 

have all the parts tested, to make sure all parts are working as intended ... it could be something as simple as water getting into something, then it drying up as it gets warm ... or it could be a bad injector or something ... so first make sure all the parts are working, and go from there ... and dont forget to check the temp sensor

 

When was the last time plugs/wires, fuel filter, air filter, etc..... any of that stuff was done? To your knowledge, has anyone done any sort of mods or "work" to it or is it all factory?

 

the cap and rotor were just changed last week, plugs and wires were replaced 2 months ago, air filter was replaced a couple months ago (spectre), fuel filter has been about a year, as far as mods go I converted it to the stock cold air from a 2.8, when I bought the car the guy said he replaced an air hose coming from the stock air intake that went to the valve cover with a spectre breather filter. Other than that no other engine mods. In the last year i replaced p/s pump, alternator, electrical connector for alternator, IAC, temp sensor, fuel pump and cleaned throttle body and idle air motor. I took it to the mechanic about 2 or 3 months ago and he had to replace a fuel injector. Thats about everything thats been doneI've only had the car for a little over a year

 

oh and I forgot I just replaced the ICM as well this past weekend

 

If they are original it's likely all the injectors need to be replaced. The mechanic should have done that. Also the fuel pressure regulator diaphragm probably should be replaced too. You have to take of the upper plenum to get to both so you may as well do them at the same time. That way you know at least those parts are good and shouldn't need to remove the plenum again. After I did that I also ran Seafoam cleaner in the gas for a while and it slowly made the engine run better and better. From a non-starter it now starts and runs great under all conditions. Southbay on TGO has a good set of injectors at a great price.

 

thanks i'll try that but one other question..... seeing as I am going to build this engine up within the next year or so just to get a little more kick out of it..... whats the biggest injectors I can throw on there without having the ECM go nuts?

 

u really cant upgrade them with larger injectors unless u get a tune , at most u may be able to get away with 22# injectors but u will prolly need an adjustable fuel presure regulator to lower the fuel presure a couple of psi for now.

its not worth it as 22's wont allow for much in the way of power increase down the road

 

so i should go with stock and wait to upgrade when i do a turbo build?

 

yes when u do a turbo build u will need injectors around 38-50lb

 

Did you do an idle "relearn" procedure?

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/6...y-running.html

 

I haven't done the idle relearn yet because the car wont stay running at idle long enough without having to hit the accelerator

 

Until you check/replace the injectors and fuel pressure regulator you don't know for sure what you're dealing with. For starters pull the vac line off the regulator and smell for gas. If you do the FPR needs fixing. But probably will soon if it doesn't now.

 

I know the car reaks of gas when i start it

 

Where is the gas smell? Inside the car, near the engine, out the exhaust, near the gas tank? Sounds like it is really running rich from sensor control problems but you need to determine if there is a gas leak or a venting problem.

My car reaked of fuel but only after filling it. That was the gas tank filler neck recall causing that.. Replacing the tank fixed the heavy fuel smell inside the car.

When my car was acting like yours, it was the IAC. I also got a lot of surging before it would die as the IAC/ECM tried to find a good mixture.. I got a new one and the new one didn't work. Had to get a second new one to get it to work right.. It smelled like gas but out the exhaust as it was running too rich...

 

The gas smell is in the car

 

That sounds more like a leaking gas tank to me but it could still be from the engine or exhaust. However, that said, a leaking tank wouldn't be the cause of your rough start and if it is a gas tank recall leak, you would only smell that after the tank was filled up to the top.

So, if the gas smell seems to be coming from either the engine bay or exhaust pipe then it would be running way too rich until it warms up. Take it one component at a time until you find it as Base91 pointed out above.. If you can get hold of a fuel pressure gauge, there is a port right behind the upper plenum and in front of the distributor. Its part of the fuel rail and it looks like a metal tire valve (schrader valve). You can check your fuel pressure and pressure bleed down rate there. My 92 3.1L runs about 42lbs with engine running. Low pressure or if it immediately bleeds off pressure when you turn the engine off then you probably need a new fuel pressure regulator (FPR). It is relatively easy to change out (rebuild) but spendy. Its directly under the upper plenum and at the front of the fuel rail assembly. Round metal dome. The diaphram inside is replaceable but kind of a pain since it is spring loaded when you assemble it.

Look for things that can be restricting air or addinge excess fuel to the mixture...

An injector could be leaking and dumping excess fuel into the intake. I see they mentioned TGO above for new injectors. You can also get quick turnaround test and rebuild of them at:

http://www.mrinjector.us/

I had mine done there and he gives you a report on pre-rebuild testing. I am doing the 3.4L swap so going to send him the 3.4L injectors for test, cleaning and rebuild.

 

I'm sure one of the local auto stores rents out a fuel pressure tester. I'll have to call and find out but its just so cold out lately its hard to get motivated to do something like that haha

 

Just buy the fuel pressure gauge. You'll spend pretty much the same amount anyways (they make you buy it in case you decide to keep it).

Have you ever looked under the car while it's running to see if there is anything dripping anywhere underneath it?

 

grab heat shield for gas tank, if your tank has a pni hole leak, it will collect in that tray.

plus lots of places you wouldn't think to look for a rust hole under side that iwll pull fumes into the car like crazy. IVe chased a few.

 

Nothing dripping underneath that I've seen. As far as rust goes the car came from Florida and this is its first winter so rust is very, very minnimal.