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1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related?


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hack27e
User

Apr 8, 2013, 9:44 AM

Post #1 of 20 (3329 views)
1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

I have a 1990 Chevy Lumina 3.1 that has around 135,00 miles on it.

A little history: It was my sister car. When she had it, it would run fine, except when she would take it on long rides for about an hour or so, and then it would shut down after coming to a stop. She took it to the shop and they replaced the air filter with the reasoning that the filter was so dirty, it couldn't get any air through, causing the car to over heat and cut off.

After that, she gave it to me. It seemed to run fine. I had a part time job, so I didn't have much money, so when I drove it around, the tank was always near empty. Then car started to act up again. It would die when I came to a stop light unless I kept my foot on the gas. And I noticed that sometimes it would kind of leap forward for 10 seconds as I was driving around 45 mph.

Then one one day, as I was pulling out of a driveway (inclined driveway) it just cut off. Usually I would be able to try to start it a few times, and it would work. But not this time. I had to get it towed home.

I got it home and replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, and the Idle Air Control Valve. Nothing worked. I decided to take it to the shop, and they changed everything I chaged. They couldn't figure out what was wrong with it, said it could be ECU and charged me $450 to get it out.
And on top of that, some one stole the exhaust off of it while it was at the shop.

So, I finally get it home and noticed that one of the fuel injector fuses was out, so I replaced it, and got it to idle for 15 secs. But, as soon as I touch the gas, it dies.

Fast forward a few days later, and now I can't get it to start. It will turn over, but it won't start. And if it does start, it idles for 2 secs, then dies. If I spray some throttle body cleaner in the throttle body, it'll idle a little longer, but then dies.

Any suggestion? I also replaced the PCV hose and valve.

EDIT: I just noticed that I have 2 fuel injector fuses missing. Could that cause my problem?


(This post was edited by hack27e on Apr 8, 2013, 12:10 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 8, 2013, 4:50 PM

Post #2 of 20 (3276 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Why not replace the missing fuses and let's see if there's still trouble,

T



hack27e
User

Apr 8, 2013, 5:39 PM

Post #3 of 20 (3271 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Flase alarm. The diagram was for a different engine.


I'm gonna test the injectors with a mulimeter and I'll get back to you.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 9, 2013, 1:04 AM

Post #4 of 20 (3255 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Test injectors with a noid light - not an expensive tool that will flash that they are getting power,

T



hack27e
User

Apr 10, 2013, 5:17 AM

Post #5 of 20 (3208 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Does the engine have to be running to test with a noid light? Never used one.


Tom Greenleaf
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Apr 10, 2013, 6:07 AM

Post #6 of 20 (3206 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

This is so old I really don't know exactly how it is fuel injected but a noid light that looks like this...........

Will blink/flash when engine is cranking. You would need the right one or check if you can rent the whole kit - not sure.

Sorry - I forgot to look back first but if this will momentarily run on starter fluid sprayed in throttle body you can rule out ignition for now and concentrate on why it doesn't get proper fuel delivery. If injectors don't get a pulse then we move on narrowing it down as to why. It's old enough for several possible issues.

If it gets proper fuel then I need to go look up how ignition is set up on this or better yet test for spark. Testers, even basic ones that go between a spark plug and wire should blink as well. Again - lots possible but a no start is usually either a fuel delivery problem or lack of or poor spark problem,

T

T



hack27e
User

Apr 10, 2013, 6:13 AM

Post #7 of 20 (3202 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Gotcha. This car is 23 years old, so just to rule out clogged injectors, I took them all out yesterday and cleaned them. Surprisingly, they were already very clean. I went to crank it up and hit the gas as I did

and it sounded like it was going to start, but then the battery died. I then realised that I forgot to tighten down the gas line that goes to the fuel pump regulater. So, when I get back from class, I'll see if what

happenes when I go to start it with a charged battery and everything tight. :P


Hammer Time
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Apr 10, 2013, 6:20 AM

Post #8 of 20 (3201 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In


Quote
I took them all out yesterday and cleaned them. Surprisingly, they were already very clean. I went to crank it up and hit the gas as I did


Washing the outside of an injector doesn't do a thing. It's the inside that may have the issue. That needs to be pressure cleaned.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



hack27e
User

Apr 10, 2013, 7:41 AM

Post #9 of 20 (3186 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

That's why I cleaned the inside :)


I tried to start it, and it still turns over, but no start. Not even with gas in the trottle body now.


Tom Greenleaf
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Apr 10, 2013, 8:13 AM

Post #10 of 20 (3185 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Just a comment on this trouble: It may be all flooded out depending on what attempts you've tried by now which complicates diagnosis. Be careful not to trash the starter motor while testing things out. Let it cool down, keep battery charged up,

T



Hammer Time
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Apr 10, 2013, 8:33 AM

Post #11 of 20 (3179 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Exactly how did you clean the inside of an injector?



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



hack27e
User

Apr 10, 2013, 10:20 AM

Post #12 of 20 (3173 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Sprayed carb cleaner inside both ends of each injector until it ran clear. Is there a better way to clean them?


Hammer Time
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Apr 10, 2013, 12:14 PM

Post #13 of 20 (3168 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

That didn't do a thing. There is only one way to clean an injector and that is under high pressure with commercial gum cutter while the solenoid is being powered, usually only don't on the car unless you own a $5000 injector flusher.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



hack27e
User

Apr 10, 2013, 12:30 PM

Post #14 of 20 (3163 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Dang. Well, thanks for letting me know. I thought I cleaned it up real nice. :P


Hammer Time
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Apr 10, 2013, 12:41 PM

Post #15 of 20 (3160 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

The injector was closed so there was no chance of ever getting near the spray nozzle.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



hack27e
User

Apr 10, 2013, 1:01 PM

Post #16 of 20 (3156 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Hmm..That makes me wonder, because mine were open. All 6 of them.


Hammer Time
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Apr 10, 2013, 1:20 PM

Post #17 of 20 (3152 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

No, they weren't. The only open under power.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



hack27e
User

Apr 10, 2013, 1:32 PM

Post #18 of 20 (3148 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Yes, they were open. It's possible for them to mess up and stay open.

link deleted ...................... not allowed


(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Apr 10, 2013, 3:14 PM)


Hammer Time
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Apr 10, 2013, 3:13 PM

Post #19 of 20 (3142 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

No, they are not open. , occasionally one will stick open in the car. It will dump so much fuel that the entire crankcase will fill up with fuel and usually end in an explosion results that blows the intake manifold right off so no, you don't have six open injectors.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



hack27e
User

Apr 10, 2013, 3:32 PM

Post #20 of 20 (3134 views)
Re: 1990 Chevy Lumina not starting. Fuel related? Sign In

Oh. I guess that makes since. When I pulled them out and looked down the front of them, I saw three pin sized holes in each one. I guess that's why I thought they were open.






 
 
 






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