94 cav fires and dies immediately

[SappySE107]

Its very strange, and I thought it was chip related but now, I know its not. When I first start the car for the day, its perfect, no problems. When I go somewhere and am ready to leave, the car won't start. It fires up, tach goes to 1k, then immediately drops to 0 before the engine has died. Do this a few times, same thing. Pop the chip out and pop it back in, may or may not start.

So i just got back from the post office. Turn the car off, then immediately tried to restart and the same deal, dies right away.

Computer, ground. Those are the only 2 things I can think of. It has fuel pressure, must have spark to make it fire up and go to 1k for half a second. Once its running, its fine. Not perfect but I could still have a vacuum leak somewhere.

Any experience with this symptom?

[bob442]

if this were a 99+ it would be the factory security, if you got fuel pressure, its idles normal when running, a curcit must be dropping out. Any aftermarket abortions under the dash?

[SappySE107]

Stock other than the kenwood deck I put in. Stock speaker wiring and no amp. Its got 72k miles on the car and was previously owned by a woman who moved from chicago to florida in 1995. It just started doing this yesterday. It acts just like VATS.

[bob442]

i've had this problem, gotta think about it

So you've had a gauge on the fuel rails while this happens?

[SappySE107]

no, ive pushed the shrader down and fuel shot out. I am going to put a gauge on it now and let it idle till it warms up. Then ill shut it down and see what it does and watch the gauge. It certainly acts like its not opening the injectors after it does fire them. I know the OPSU will cut the fuel pump but I wasn't sure if it would let it fire or not.

[bob442]

is it dark there yet? get a spritzer bottle, and spray the coil packs when its cold, see if theres a light show.

[SappySE107]

10 psi on the rail. Um, huh? It runs exceptionally well for 10 psi so I want to test the gauge on another car now before I buy a pump.

Yup, dark. We don't have a spray bottle I can use though. It has new everything for maintenance, and suspension and axles and wheel bearings. Just does this now (didn't think the pump was dying for how it runs and how decent the stock tune is right now.

[bob442]

be carefull, could be the FPR lol or a fuel leak under the car, i doubt it as i thin you would smell it.
Those pumps are removable from the assembally no? 40$ fix and the use of Jons handy dandy hoist?

[pocket-rocket]

be carefull, could be the FPR lol or a fuel leak under the car, i doubt it as i thin you would smell it.
Those pumps are removable from the assembally no? 40$ fix and the use of Jons handy dandy hoist?

Yeah... I would love to see Ben's face when he reads the part about removing the pump from the assembly. I can see images of green Achievas with 3400s running through his head right now, lol.

We tried a replacement pump only on the Achieva we dropped a 3400 into for a friend. The hose setup and how you have to monkey with it fails. We ended up tossing a whole new assembly into it, and it wasn't a Delco. I trust Delco parts for anything but a fuel pump.

[SappySE107]

I think it is the FPR. Need to find my vac gauge cause I just broke John's. only goes to 30. It was dropping but I wasn't sure if the hose was tight on the regulator, but then I smelled fuel and it was wet so yup.

Gonna see if the iron head FPR is the same as my gen 2. I hope so, those suckers aren't cheap and i tossed my spare before I moved. DUR!

[bob442]

well, glad i can return some help to ya Ben

[pocket-rocket]

I think it is the FPR. Need to find my vac gauge cause I just broke John's. only goes to 30. It was dropping but I wasn't sure if the hose was tight on the regulator, but then I smelled fuel and it was wet so yup.

Gonna see if the iron head FPR is the same as my gen 2. I hope so, those suckers aren't cheap and i tossed my spare before I moved. DUR!

I believe I've got that one spare you tossed me for my moms old wagon floating around here. Also they are down to ~$95 for an OE replacement.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Fuel-Pressure-Regulator-BWD_18470221-P_484_R|GRPFUELAMS_674040273___

[Schmieder]

Do you have any VATS security? If so the pieces that mate to the resistor in the key break. The car will start then die.

Oil pressure sensor? If your oil pressure fails to register then the PCM thinks the engine isn't running and will kill the fuel pump.

At first the PCM doesn't use the oil pressure sensor during start up. But very shortly after the engine kicks over it looks at the oil pressure sensor. If there is too little pressure or the signal is bad it will shut the fuel pump off as a safety measure.

[robertisaar]

tach drops to 0 before the engine actually quits moving?

i've vote ICM or something between it and the 7X sensor. that would potentially cut the tach signal off completely instead of winding down.

[SappySE107]

no VATS, and oil pressure is fine. Its gotta be the regulator and my 10-20 psi of fuel pressure. No one has them in stock locally. I don't need a new one so much as one that works. I don't plan to keep the 3.1 in the car more than a year.