Hit a bump and now car won't start

[djhurdles11]

This is my first post here and SHOforum so hopefully I can get some help with my problem. First off i drive a 1992 SHO that I've only had for about a month now and the car made it from Ohio to New Mexico with no problems. A couple days ago I was driving down the road at about 15-20 mph right after a stoplight and my car hit a bump in the road(I go over this bump just about every other day with no problems). As soon as I hit this bump the RPMs went dead and the whole engine cut off. Everything electrical was still working and I had music on so I didn't notice for about 100 meters until I tried to accelerate and nothing happened. First thing I did was check the inertia switch for the fuel relay in the trunk, which showed no sign of malfunction(the button was still down). I unhooked the wiring harness and tried to see if I could short the circuit with a paperclip and that didn't work. Everything electrical on the car works and when I turn the key to start the car it cranks and cranks but nothing happens. This makes me feel like it is something to do with the fuel lines/injector, but I'm not sure. There are no signs of any fluids leaking even after sitting in the same spot for a few days. I don't want to pay $130 to take it to a mechanic to figure it out because I'm a broke college student and I have very little knowledge about fixing cars so any help on what to look for/check without the use of any special tools would be great. Thanks!

 

[Eric VerValin]

So it didn't test with a paper clip huh? When you put the key in and turn it to the "run" spot, does your engine fan come on and stay on by chance?

 

[zblackbeast]

Sounds like your about to learn how to do a 60k.. Im thinking your crank sensor went by the way side!

 

[LJRuddy]

Can you hear the fuel pump turn on when you first turn the key to the on position?

Does fuel spray out of the valve on the fuel rails located just to the left of the throttle body?

Do you have spark at the plugs?

 

[zblackbeast]

Yeah, sorry i wasn't more detailed in my previous post.. its kinda late and im addicted to Halo.... IF you cant hear your fuel pump, try smacking the bottom of your gas tank with your hand nice and hard a few times and try again.

 

[luigisho]

Check the fuel pump inertia switch in the trunk first.

 

[LJRuddy]

First thing I did was check the inertia switch for the fuel relay in the trunk, which showed no sign of malfunction(the button was still down).

Check the fuel pump inertia switch in the trunk first.

 

[djhurdles11]

I do hear the fuel pump pump turn on if thats what the humming sound is when you first turn the key...and I'm not sure about the spark or the fuel spraying out and don't know how to check that I wasn't lying when I said I had basically no knowledge of fixing cars or how things work I am trying to learn so any explanation on how to do things would be great!

 

[LJRuddy]

I do hear the fuel pump pump turn on if thats what the humming sound is when you first turn the key...and I'm not sure about the spark or the fuel spraying out and don't know how to check that I wasn't lying when I said I had basically no knowledge of fixing cars or how things work I am trying to learn so any explanation on how to do things would be great!

To check for fuel at the rails, unscrew the cap that is on the schrader (sp?) valve. It is located in between the long intake runners just to the left of the throttle body. It looks like a valve stem off of a tire. You can see it in this pic straight up from "dohc"

Prime the fuel pump (turn the key off and on 3 times) and then stick a screw driver or something in the valve and see if gas sprays out.

To check for spark, pull one of the spark plug wires out and hold the tip against something metallic in the engine bay while someone cranks the engine over. You should hear/see a spark arcing out of the tip.

 

[luigisho]

I assume the starter cranks but the motor won't turn over? Look at the connectors on the side of the DIS module and see if they are loose or look for cracks anywhere on the module. Does the tack move while cranking? Wiggle the connectors on the module and see if it will start. Easier stuff first. Pull the codes. http://www.shophoenixproject.com/eec/eec.htm

 

[TYSHO]

Make sure the electrical connector at the fuel filter didn't come loose.