Expert: Roland Finston - 11/18/2011

Question
QUESTION: This is my moms car 1989 New Yorker with V6 3.0L.
Moms care giver was driving her home from a Dr's appointment about 20 minutes from home(mixed hiway and side streets#.
My understanding is the car died approaching a stop and she was able to restart it.
Four blocks later the car died again and did not start. Amber #care giver) walked the last block home, grabbed 2 quarts of oil and added them."The oil light was on and it said 'See Gauges'". Because the engine was not running. We have talked about checking oil before you add oil. I showed up 10 to 15 minutes later, turned key, car started, drove mom the last block home.
Was led to believe it was most likely a fuel pump. Changed fuel pump.
Mom went to Dr's appointment today. When they left Dr's appointment the car would not start at first. After about a minute the car started. She ran her errands, not turning the car off for fear it would not start again.
I did the 'the key dance' and got 12 and 55. Battery was disconnected to do fuel pump. Brother showed up with a code reader and got nothing.
Any ideas as to what might be causing problems? What should I check next?

ANSWER: Hi Rex,
No start with no codes is a challenge. Because you have a distributor on that engine it could be that you have bad rotor or distributor cap. You would have to wait to see that when it won't start by checking for spark? Do you know how to do that?
I assume you hear the fuel pump run when you turn the key to run position, for about a second, correct? Then tha hum should resume when you use the starter but you might not be able to hear it.
Is this a car that was originally sold in California, because then it would have an egr valve which can cause the engine to stall out and be impossible to start? Otherwise it shows in the manual that the 49-state model didn't have one.
It might be the rotor in the distributor is breaking down which can cause a spark failure that wouldn't be detected with a code reader. Or a crack in the distributor cap similarly.
Those are my ideas for now, but until it is back to no start condition you will just have to wait and stay close to home.
Was the crankcase overfilled? If so take some out by draining it.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Roland,
I do know how to check for spark.
I do hear the fuel pump run.
It is not a California car, no egr valve.
The oil level was maybe an 1/8th of an inch above the full line on the dipstick.
The problems with the car never happen when I'm around. It always starts and drives great when when I'm in it.I can swap out a cap and rotor they aren't very expensive.

Rex

Answer
Hi Rex,
Thanks for the follow-up. Take a look at the distributor and be careful to observe the spark wire insertion points on the cap if you replace it. They are not in the same order as the actual firing order of the cylinders due to internal re-rerouting. When it dies again, be ready.
Roland