SHO won't start

[sho_dwn]

OK, here's what happened. I took off my intake to replace the IAC valve and replace one of the coolant hoses that was leaking. After I got the car back together, it would not start. I have taken the intake off a few times before for maintenance etc. and almost have it down to a science. This is the first time I have had a problem. I turn the key on and the necessary fuel pressure builds, then about two seconds later the little black box (under the panel above the radiator) clicks and my pressure drops. I switched out the one in my Plus for it and it does the same thing (as I expected). I back tracked everything I did and everything is hooked up right and tight. Any ideas? Has anyone had this problem before? I will take the intake etc. back off next week after I get back from being out to sea and see if I pinched something etc. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Alan

 

[Mike Kopstain]

hmmmmm well something can't be right if there is a problem. Check the ground on the intake, the DIS, and that's really all I can think of. The most common problem when people can't start there car after an intake replacement is that it is not grounded properly.

 

[sho_dwn]

The car turns over fine, but I keep losing fuel pressure after a couple seconds of the key being on. What is that black box that is mounted in between the top of the radiator and the cover panel? As soon as it clicks, I lose my fuel pressure.

 

[sho_dwn]

What is the black box that is mounted above the radiator on the driver's side with the large wiring harness going to it? What does it control?

 

[twr]

The little box that clicks is the fuel pump relay. The click your hear indicates that the pump has stop. The pressure bleed off is a result of a bad check valve in the pump, bad fuel pressure regulator or leaky fuel injector. The check valve is usaully the culprit.
Terry

 

[SilverSHO]

sho_dwn:
What is the black box that is mounted above the radiator on the driver's side with the large wiring harness going to it? What does it control?

If you're talking about your 91, it's the ABS controller. It's a big, rectangular box with a wiring harness like you described. If it's in the 89, I don't know, as the 89s didn't have ABS.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

No he means the black IRCM box right below the emissions plate. That does control the fuel pump.

 

[skippie]

This may sound odd, but check your starter if its original. Mine did the same thing, I had good fuel pressure, and that little black box was clicking...but my starter was bad, so...Its worth a try. And I even took my starter off the car, and in to have tested, and it tested fine. That was really odd, so I started replacing things that I didnt need to. To check that starter myself, I got under the car and hit it with the end of a screw driver, while someone turned the ignition. Like I said, its worth a try.

 

[sho_dwn]

Could that check valve just all of a sudden go bad? Or the regulator? I had the intake off for about 15-20 minutes and the car ran fine before that. I got everything back together and the damn thing wouldn't start. I have had no indications that either the check valve or the regulator should be going bad. Is that check valve in the gas tank? Is it a dealer only part or can I go to Autozone and get it? Is the regulator a special order part? How bad is it to replace? What would make the relay click? I know its a lot of questions but I've never had to mess with my fuel system much.

 

[luigisho]

The fact that it ran fine before the intake was off and now it doesn't run seems as cause and effect as you can get. Have you taken it apart and reattached it again to see if something was overlooked, not reconnected, or improperly reinstalled something? Did you disconnect the battery when working on it? Maybe shorted something? or damaged the fpr on the fuel rails?
As for the check valve, it is a dealer only part ($5-8) and is in the tank on the fuel return line on the fuel pump assembly.

 

[sho_dwn]

Yeah I disconnected the battery and everything. I am in Boston right now and am not returning until next week. Then I will take it back apart and try it again. I wanted to find out what the black box was (the fuel pump relay).