no-start repost.

[Black-taurus]

no-start problem

History:
was driving on the freeway the car would **** for a second then be normal. The car did this several times. at times it was so bad the CE light came on for a second. the it totally died all together. There was crank but no start. had to have it towed to my house.

What I know:
It is probably an computer related issue. When I crank i can see the tach moves, and I never had a dead tach before, So i eliminated CPS and CID. The check engine light IS DIM. From searching the forums I see some people had this problem replaced the IRCM and it fixed the problem. Is there a way to test this relay? Also I could have a bad ground strap somewhere. There are grounds all over though. anything else that could attribute to a underpowered computer that could be broken. CCRC or something? Thanks in advance for any answers I get.

 

[93_blk_blk_mtx]

I bet it's a bad fuel pump & filter.

 

[1993atx]

I've been dealing with a failing fuel pump which causes the car to stall from time to time. Check your fuel pressure at the rail and listen to the pump for excessive noise or gurgling sounds(and if it primes when you start the car). There are also electronic fuel system elements that can go out on you with similar results. I think around 32-35psi at idle is good pressure with the vacuum hose attached. I pulled my codes and got nothing useful, but you might be helped by them. I found this info by searching, so I'm just passing it on.

 

[Black-taurus]

I forgot to mention that there is no fuel pump noise. The fuel pump doesn't prime. The computer doesn't throw codes. i am sure it is an electrical problem. if it wasn't wouldnt the computer throw codes leading me to the fuel pump??? i tried disconecting the IRCM and it didn't seem to make the light dimmer. i think this may be the prob. I have a voltmeter but don't know where to test??? i also checked the wiring harness going into the firewall on the passenger side. when i disconnected that there was no check engfine light?/? any more ideas guys.

 

[SeanMc]

Nope. When I start my car, I can hear the pump whine. Only after that, will I start the car.

 

[Black-taurus]

Wha...??

 

[Ishodu]

Clean up all grounds, mounting points and bolts. And see where that gets you.

 

[projectSHO89]

The dim CEL is your clue, which I already gave you advice on. Don't ignore it again.

For more in-depth previous discussion results, SEARCH for "DIM CEL"

Steve

 

[Black-taurus]

I checked the grounds from the negative terminal, they were all good and tight. I am beginning to think it is the CPS because the CE light stays on when i CRANK. but if the CPS was bad would the fuel pump not prime? I'm so confused.

 

[Ishodu]

There are many more grounds than the one just on the battery. Look around under the hood and see how many actually mount to the body. And from body to engine.

 

[Black-taurus]

I was searching the threads and found this thread http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=10201 I think this might be my problem because she describes exactly what my car is doing. The CE is dim and stays on when it cranks. also projectsho89 said that the coolant level sensor causes this fuse to short. i don't know where the fuse is though? When i first got the car the coolant level sensor was disconected i reconnected it and saw it was broken and was saying the coolant was low so i disconnected it. then for some reason several months ago I reconnected it. where is this fuse. betty davis said it was on the firewall. I can't seem to find any fuses in the engine compartment is that where it is? or is it by the other fuses under the steering wheel?

 

[Black-taurus]

I tried replacing the Integrated relay control module.It did not help. I still have a dim CEL and it stay illuminated when i crank. also i still have no fuel pump prime. several of the mechanics at my work thought it was a fuel problem. i checked all the fuses and the inertia swich. does anyone know of any other relays relating to the fuel? could this be a bad pump? thanks again guys.

 

[SHOdownTN]

I tried replacing the Integrated relay control module.It did not help. I still have a dim CEL and it stay illuminated when i crank. also i still have no fuel pump prime. several of the mechanics at my work thought it was a fuel problem. i checked all the fuses and the inertia swich. does anyone know of any other relays relating to the fuel? could this be a bad pump? thanks again guys.

Does it ever start? My car has been messing up lately. Can you hear the fuel pump relay under the hood click when you turn the switch?
I have the same problem lately, It will start and run several times but once in a while it the fuel pump will not prim and you can hear the relay click and the car will not prime. I took a small hammer and pecked the relay while my g/f cycled the switch and the pump finally will prime. I need to replace my relay and see if that solves it but you may want to look into this also, your may be dead.
If it clicks try pecking on it and see if it will start. If it's not clicking try replaceing the relay first. It's on the upper radiator support right beside the black box that's under the plastic cover. If you stand looking into the engine bay it will be on your right beside the plastic cover that has your engine infoon it in the open by itself.......Will get a pic for ya........

 

[SHOdownTN]

Here ya go

The little black relay to the right, past the ABS thing?

 

[Black-taurus]

thank you. I did not see your post and today i decided to go at the fuel pump. i cut an access door in the back. I decided it would be a good idea to check the voltage going to the connector. i knew the grounds were on the ends of the connector so i checked both. i had like 10 volts between the sender. and like 2 volts going to the pump. i didn't know which was which so i assumed the pump was bad and pulled it out. i basiclly broke the sending unit trying to get the pump out alone. i put 6v through it and it seemed to spin fine then i put 12 it still spun good. i am going to check the fuel pump relay. i didn't know the car had one i thought it was part of the ircm. does anyone know how many volts are supposed to be going to the fuel pump.

 

[Black-taurus]

now I'm confused? I looked where your fuel pump relay was and I didn't have one. I checked the relay on the left strut tower. that was clicking ok. i don't know what relay that is though??

 

[Ishodu]

Fuel pump relay is in the IRCM.

 

[Black-taurus]

so the relay on the strut tower is...??

what do you think about the 2 volts going to the fuel pump?

 

[SHOdownTN]

Ok so that relay that I had pictured clicks when you turn the switch on and clicks again about a second later. I figured fuel pump relay, however when i pecked it with a hammer mine started up.
If it's not the relay then how come my pump kicked on?

 

[SHOdownTN]

Ok so that relay that I had pictured clicks when you turn the switch on and clicks again about a second later. I figured fuel pump relay, however when i pecked it with a hammer mine started up.
If it's not the relay then how come my pump kicked on?

Not trying to hi-jack but I am haveing the same problem but mine happens very rarely and has been hard to pin point since it happens out of the blue.
Mine will do fine for a while then once now and then I will go to start my car and the pump will not prime and car wont start. It takes a while then it will prime and start then wont happen for a while. Kinda aggervating.

If the IRCM controlls the fuel pump will one from a SLO swap out?