[RESOLVED] 90 Laser won't start after running out of gas

[soulweaver]

I completely had my cylinder head rebuilt at a place called HTP in arnold Missouri an the car ran great. It did have 3 year old gas in it (I KNOW IT'S BAD TO RUN IT BUT I DID). First the promlem started with ticking behind the dash then I started hearing ticking in the air filter box. Then I ran the car completly out of gas, changed the fuel filter and tried starting it and it wouldn't start. So I did the compression, spark, and gas test and they all passed. Then I sprayed the carb cleaner in the intake and the motor started for a second and died. Any Idea's?

 

[xreaction122]

the ticking behind the dash sounds like its the ecu

if you ran that car with a 3yr old gas, i would seafoam it or take the gas out.

 

[soulweaver]

I was going to but I talked to a dodge dealer and they said add fuel enhancer to it and it would be fine. I was thinking ecu also but i have no clue what ecu it would need. Any Idea's, and if so how would I test to see if my ecu is bad.

 

[rbwtrans]

first thing to do is look for the check engine light with the key on, not cranking. If you don't have one then check your fuses. Most often it is the caps that go bad in the ecu. It's pretty easy to see the damage that they cause. Just pull the ecu and remove the cover. Chances are that you'll see the damage right in the middle of the board, behind the wirring connectors.

 

[dylnwit]

How much gas did you put back in it? there's a chance that the pump didn't prime after having run out. My suggestion would be to take the fuel line off your fuel rail, hold it in a small container under the hood and have a friend try to start the car, if gas comes pouring out, then there's a good chance your injectors aren't firing, if that's the case, then there's a good chance its an ecu, if there's not gas when you try it, then it's probably a fuel delivery problem.

 

[soulweaver]

How much gas did you put back in it? there's a chance that the pump didn't prime after having run out. My suggestion would be to take the fuel line off your fuel rail, hold it in a small container under the hood and have a friend try to start the car, if gas comes pouring out, then there's a good chance your injectors aren't firing, if that's the case, then there's a good chance its an ecu, if there's not gas when you try it, then it's probably a fuel delivery problem.

I put 8 gallons of gas. I also replaced the fuel filter thinking that it was clogged. But when I finished installing it and turned the key to the on position I heard a loud whinning sound and then a loud pop that shook my car. I'm thinking air pressure caused it in the line. The can Idea is a great Idea and some one earlier told me to do that so that will be the first thing I do tomarrow.

first thing to do is look for the check engine light with the key on, not cranking. If you don't have one then check your fuses. Most often it is the caps that go bad in the ecu. It's pretty easy to see the damage that they cause. Just pull the ecu and remove the cover. Chances are that you'll see the damage right in the middle of the board, behind the wirring connectors.

All my lights come on when i put my key in. I checked all the fuses under the hood and under the dash. Can caps in an ECU be fixed or do I have to get a new ECU.

 

[kottyking]

YOu should be able to replace the caps, snap a pic of what it looks like and send it to wiseman steve. He'll take care of ya.

 

[soulweaver]

ok i will get it all set tomarrow
thanks everyone for the help.

 

[the_mork]

If the check engine light comes on as you try to start the car your ecu is probably fine. You could try smelling it but that isn't foolproof.

My guess would be that you have a fuel pump problem. You said that you did a fuel test but pumps can be intermittent and they are very easy to change.

 

[soulweaver]

If the check engine light comes on as you try to start the car your ecu is probably fine. You could try smelling it but that isn't foolproof.

My guess would be that you have a fuel pump problem. You said that you did a fuel test but pumps can be intermittent and they are very easy to change.

All my lights come on when I crank the car.

And I'm currently trying to find a tutorial to take out my fuel pump. If you know of one will you point me in the right direction.

Thanks for your input.

 

[92ts1]

The pump is on the back of the tank towards the tail lights. Very easy to remove, if I remember correctly there are 6-8 screws the lines and connector and it's out. I would check the ECU before the pump..

 

[soulweaver]

Now is there any way to check the ecu with a voltmeter? If so how?

UPDATE: I have the ecu out. I really don't know what I'm looking for but I don't see any burn marks. There is a foul smell but it's very faint and were I smell it I see nothing wrong. I had someone else smell it and they said that it doesn't smell and that it's all in my head.

 

[Jeff99GS]

How long did you crank it after you put the 8 gallons in??

When mine ran out of gas it took a good 30-45 seconds of solid cranking before it would start.

 

[dylnwit]

I'm sorry if i missed it, but what was the result of the fuel line in the cup test? (I just never saw a result of that aside from the loud whine/pop thing) As for the ecu, easiest thing I know of to check it is to put it back in, and try to check for codes. If there's no voltage with the key on then it's bad, or if it just shows 12 volts, it's bad.

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When mine went, there wasn't voltage there, or at the fuel pump connector inside your trunk.
If you lift the mat in your trunk, you'll see a 4 pin connector, one of those should be 12 volts, although i cannot recall which one. It's about a foot right of the trim on the drivers side, and a foot forwards from the back of the trunk. And sorry for the somewhat dark pictures.

 

[tsiboostin]

Was the gas sitting in the tank for 3 years or the was 3 year old gas poured in it? When I bought my car it had sat for a long time and the gas rusted my tank clogging the filter sock on the pump itself. Might check that out, when you ran it it might have stirred things up and clogged the pump.

 

[soulweaver]

I'm sorry if i missed it, but what was the result of the fuel line in the cup test? (I just never saw a result of that aside from the loud whine/pop thing) As for the ecu, easiest thing I know of to check it is to put it back in, and try to check for codes. If there's no voltage with the key on then it's bad, or if it just shows 12 volts, it's bad.


When mine went, there wasn't voltage there, or at the fuel pump connector inside your trunk.
If you lift the mat in your trunk, you'll see a 4 pin connector, one of those should be 12 volts, although i cannot recall which one. It's about a foot right of the trim on the drivers side, and a foot forwards from the back of the trunk. And sorry for the somewhat dark pictures.

Sorry, I forgot to inform you all of that test. Gas poured out when I did the can test. So I know I don't have a fuel problem.

Was the gas sitting in the tank for 3 years or the was 3 year old gas poured in it? When I bought my car it had sat for a long time and the gas rusted my tank clogging the filter sock on the pump itself. Might check that out, when you ran it it might have stirred things up and clogged the pump.

The gas was already in it. I bought the car wrecked and it jumped time. It had 13 valves bent. No bumper. Messed up passenger door and no interior.

 

[soulweaver]

Ok I replaced the Computer and the Car WORKED. Thanks everyone thread solved.