420A Bad fuel pump?

[Schwebe101]

Hey guys, I finally got my car started up the other day. I had to spray starter fluid into the intake to get it to start though. I figured that my fuel pump was bad since thats how I had to start it. Buuut after starting that for a few times It began to idle longer and longer to the point it would run until I turned it off. If the fuel pump was bad how would it of idled that long if it was just running off starter fluid? So today I went out to start it back up and nothing. I put starter fluid in the intake and it would just run until it burnt out, which was a few seconds. So my question is, just a bad fuel pump? Or something else?

 

[Brandon Mau]

Could be your fuel pump died on you. Turn the key to the on position and listen for the fuel pump or hook up a fuel pressure gauge and see if you have pressure. Have you checked your spark plugs? Maybe in need of a new fuel filter depends on how long the car sat for.

 

[Schwebe101]

How would the car of ran if the plugs were bad? And when i turn the key I can hear it pump. Also how hard is it to get to the fuel filter? Something you need a lift for?

 

[Brandon Mau]

No you don't need a lift to change the fuel filter it is located on the fire wall near the intake manifold. Just look at the fuel rail and follow the line to the fuel filter. And if your plugs are fouled possibly the starter fluid would make it fire up easier due to a lower combustion rating, a leaner condition. You can read your plugs. If they are soaked in fuel the it's obviously getting a crap load of fuel and not enough spark. Just a suggestion. A fuel filter cost less than $10 and isn't a bad idea to change just as standard maint.

 

[Kng Nothg]

I had this very same problem. i went through two walboros and find out the white connector on the fuel pump assembly was fried in side not makeing a connection. I had to hit it a few times to get the car to start.

 

[Schwebe101]

No you don't need a lift to change the fuel filter it is located on the fire wall near the intake manifold. Just look at the fuel rail and follow the line to the fuel filter. And if your plugs are fouled possibly the starter fluid would make it fire up easier due to a lower combustion rating, a leaner condition. You can read your plugs. If they are soaked in fuel the it's obviously getting a crap load of fuel and not enough spark. Just a suggestion. A fuel filter cost less than $10 and isn't a bad idea to change just as standard maint.

Well here http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/67761-95-99-non-turbo-fuel-filter-install.html it says that the fuel filter is located underneath? I have a 97 esi. And I will go check to see if the plugs are wet.

 

[Brandon Mau]

Yes that is my bad wasn't thinking on that one and I have never worked on a non-turbo so the manual is correct.

 

[Schwebe101]

Yes that is my bad wasn't thinking on that one and I have never worked on a non-turbo so the manual is correct.

Alrighty, I will go out and see what I can do

Okay I went to check that all of the plugs are getting gas and I'm pretty sure #2 isn't. Is there any other test I can do to further prove this for sure? And why would would that be the only one not getting gas?

It fires but won't stay running longer than a second. I have the whole thermostat housing off, is it possible that would be causing this?

 

[Brandon Mau]

I know that if you have a bad coolant temp sensor sometimes the car won't run due to the fact it floods the hell out of it. I don't think that would cause the injector not to fire though. Have you pulled the rail and visually look to see if all the injectors are firing and that you have spark on all 4 cylinders.

 

[Schwebe101]

I know that if you have a bad coolant temp sensor sometimes the car won't run due to the fact it floods the hell out of it. I don't think that would cause the injector not to fire though. Have you pulled the rail and visually look to see if all the injectors are firing and that you have spark on all 4 cylinders.

I haven't pulled the rail yet, and I can't check spark yet, I'm gonna wait till I get a friend over to help me since its a 2 person job
I just don't get how it could have been idling fine 2 days ago and now it won't even stay running

 

[Kng Nothg]

By the looks of your avatar you have a garage? do like i did and put a screw driver in the boot of the spark plug and ground it out on one of the valve cover bolts and shut the lights out and turn the car over and look for spark.

 

[Schwebe101]

By the looks of your avatar you have a garage? do like i did and put a screw driver in the boot of the spark plug and ground it out on one of the valve cover bolts and shut the lights out and turn the car over and look for spark.

Hah that's a good idea! I'll give it a try in a bit Thanks

 

[Kng Nothg]

Anytime. But a correction on my part. Dont apply the screw driver directly to the bolt. have it aboout 1/8 away to see the spark.

 

[Brandon Mau]

One thing that you could check yourself is the ECU. Takes 5-10 minutes to pull it out and inspect it. Look for the leaky capacitors, corrosion, egg smell very common issue on our vehicles and has some very similar symptoms. I test drove my car at a dealership in Europe ran fine. Went there 2 weeks later to drop the cash and drive away and all of the sudden it cranked over but wouldn't fire up bought all kinds of stuff mostly maint. that I would have done anyway finally changed the ECU and sure enough the car fired right up and ran like a champ.

 

[Schwebe101]

Okay, I have spark on all 4, so thats out of the question. And I just took the ECU off of my other 1997 ESI and it ran just fine with it in there?

 

[Kng Nothg]

Have you done anything prior to the car not starting?

 

[Schwebe101]

Have you done anything prior to the car not starting?

Well guess I should have stated this earlier. I just bought this car. It had almost everything out of the engine missing. The guys said it ran last time everything was hooked up. I didn't really believe him but I thought, what the heck, its super cheap and I have a good engine at home if i need to swap. But the engine was missing tons of stuff. ECU, radiator, the clutch was gone, thermostat housing gone, power steering gone. But I figured I could patch it up with my parts Talon. And so far I have. I had it running 2 days ago. I started it on starter fluid and then It idled until i turned it off. Now It wont start. It just cranks and fires. I smell strong gas aswell. I have no clue. Are you sure having the thermostat housing off would still allow it to start?

 

[Kng Nothg]

yes i would hook that back up one sensor is for the ecu and the other sensor is for the cluster gauge. Also are you positive that the timing is dead on?

 

[Schwebe101]

One problem with that, I can't seem how to get the thermostat housing off of my parts talon...and I'm not to sure if the timing is correct, anyway to easily check?

 

[Kng Nothg]

the thermostat should have 3 12mm bolts holding it on. as far as timing goes you have to pull the crank pulley off and plastics. Do you feel any belt play between the cam gears?

 

[Schwebe101]

the thermostat should have 3 12mm bolts holding it on. as far as timing goes you have to pull the crank pulley off and plastics. Do you feel any belt play between the cam gears?

Yeah I can see the bolts but I have no clue how to get to them, the power steering with the belt on it is in the way, and how hard is it to pull the crank pulley off?

 

[Kng Nothg]

Use a ratchet wrench or regular wrench on the top two and a shallow socket and ratchet on the bottom one. Did you have any play between the cam gears?

as far as the crank pulley goes youll need a puller for that. Autozone or advanced will have it

 

[Schwebe101]

Use a ratchet wrench or regular wrench on the top two and a shallow socket and ratchet on the bottom one. Did you have any play between the cam gears?

as far as the crank pulley goes youll need a puller for that. Autozone or advanced will have it

Haven't checked yet, I will head back out in a bit and see if I can get that housing off, and I'll check if there is anyplay

 

[Brandon Mau]

You will have to loosen the 2 bolt inside the power steering pulley 14mm bolts. Also loosen the the alternator and pull the belts off. Then it's a whole bunch of 10mm bolts that hold on the timing cover and the crank pulley is not that hard to get off. They are 14mm as well 4 of them and you will have to pull the shroud off to get at the bottom if it's still on the car. Then just look at all of the timing marks to make 100% sure that they are correct. Or you could rotate the crank with a 1/2" drive until the timing mark lines up with the mark on the timing cover and look to see if your cam gears are lined up with the dowel pins to the 12 o'clock position. The only problem is that sometimes the rubber gets old on the crank pulley and can slip so it doesn't give a accurate reading. Pull the number one spark plug put a long screw driver in and when it's at top dead center your cam gears should line up. If not then it's not mechanically timed correct.

 

[Schwebe101]

Okay guys, sorry that took so long, the bolts were rusted and as i was trying to free one my wrench slipped and my hand went into a sharp corner of something and cut me super deep I had to glue the skin back together actually. It wouldn't stop bleeding anyway. After fighting with that stupid thermostat housing for sometime I got it off. Threw it on my Talon crossed my fingers and turned the key. Sure enough started right up -.- looks like that was the problem. Even idled good and everything. Thanks a lot guys for all of that help!