still..Still..STILL..won't start..

[shlompyboy]

ok..well it's been about a month now since my ex has 'selectivly ' decided to not start on me..i have done much research here, and have replaced the spark plugs, wires, fuel filter, cleaned the maf and iac, replaced both the fuel pump relay and the eec relay, and run some injector cleaner through my tank..from what i can tell from searching here, that means it's most likely either the fuel pressure regulator, crankshaft position sensor, or the fuel pump, right??..i'm still pretty stupid with cars..i mean it will crank and crank for ->10 minutes<- before it will finally catch..i'm worried one of these times it won't..i listened last time, and the fuel pump came on..i also jiggled back between 'off' and 'start' position a few times to no avail..it also starts up kinda ruff normally lately (don't know if it's related)..and otherwise it starts up 95% of the time..anyways, now i've exausted all my 'cheap fixes'..so i'd like to be more sure about the next part(s) i buy..anyone gotta thought for me??..thankz in advance..

jeremy..

 

[JasonF]

Our 96 did that a while ago on my mom (would start fine most of the time but once in a while it was a bear). I believe they replaced the IAC and it fixed the problem. You could try replacing yours instead of cleaning it, since it's so easy to change.

Jason

 

[shlompyboy]

thanks for the suggestion, but if i remember correctly, the iac valve would only be the culprit if giving it gas helps when it won't start..at least that's what i seem to remember reading..in my case giving it gas does diddly..

jeremy..

 

[shlompyboy]

i guess what i'm wondering is if there's anyway for me to check if it's the fuel pressure regulator or crankshaft postion sensor or fuel pump thats broken before i just go out and by any of them..or is it not possible since the car only 'sometimes' won't start?..thanks..

jeremy..

 

[MO_GUY]

might be stupid of me to even say this.........but have you even THOUGHT about the starter? i mean....you said you let it crank for 10 minutes.....thats harsh on the starter, no starter, no start

 

[shlompyboy]

i replaced my starter and battery cables about a year ago..so i don't think it's that..and if it was the starter it shouldn't even crank right?..i don't remember..it's been a year since i learned about and dealt with that part of the system..

jeremy..

 

[aldive]

Oxygen sensors can cause all sorts of problems. I had a real nightmare finding a no start problem that was finally reaced to only one O2 sensor.

Take a look at Dead Link Removed

 

[MrShorty]

Originally posted by shlompyboy
i guess what i'm wondering is if there's anyway for me to check if it's the fuel pressure regulator or crankshaft postion sensor or fuel pump thats broken before i just go out and by any of them..or is it not possible since the car only 'sometimes' won't start?..thanks..

jeremy..

Have you put a fuel pressure gauge on the schrader valve and measured the fuel pressure? That will show if it's a fuel delivery problem, and maybe help you see if it's fuel pump vs. pressure regulator.

 

[shlompyboy]

..i had planned on sticking something pointy in the shrader valve next time this happens, as i read this is a way to check if it's a fuel problem..but like i said it sounded like the fuel pump still came on last time it happened, so would it still be in my best interest to go buy a fuel pressure gauge to check it?

..hopefully i won't need to do this though..i didn't feel like waiting to be stranded again just to test it, so i went ahead and replaced the crankshaft position sensor as it was the cheapest fix now($30), and i felt i wanted to do SOMETHING today at least in hoping it may work..now i'll just see..i noticed the electrical connecter sat pretty loose on there (pulled right off), and the metal on the sensor seemed kinda dirty, so i used a bit of duct tape to hold the new one on a bit better..so we'll see what happens..thankz all..

ps..i couldnt find the crankshaft position sensor on my 93..the haynes manual sukz, and i couldn't find the answer searching here either..so i went out and bought the part and looked around a bit..turns out it's underneath the truck..can't miss it once you have the part..hope this helps..peace..

jeremy..

 

[Opera House]

The fuel pump

only turns on for a couple of seconds unless the engine starts. You can pull the fuel pump fuse and measure the current there. Should be 4-5 amps it things are normal. With only a couple of seconds on, this would be hard to measure unless you pulled the relay and jumpered the contacts with the meter there. I made a pressure monitor out of an old bike air pump hose and a gauge. Only problem is that most of these connectors require removing the Schraeder valve in order to read the pressure because they don't have pins to open the valve.

 

[JoshC]

Even thought your fuel pump is running doesn't mean it's good. It's possible that it is not pumping the full capacity like it should. But i wouldn't jump into replacing it just yet. Get a fuel pressure tester and try that while starting. I don't know the exact specs on the start up pressure, but i would think it would be between 60-70 psi.

Happy trails!!