About Van Expertise I can answer most questions concerning 4X4 engine, drive line, suspension, electrical, and fuel, both diesel and gasoline.
Ford, GM, and Dodge, old and new.
Experience I have been maintaining a fleet of approximately 55 light, medium and heavy vehicles for over 20 years. Most are 4X4 pickups and off road fire fighting trucks. Some vans, wagons, sport utility, and personnel transport vehicles. Diesel and gas. Major and minor repairs due to extremely severe duty.
Question Hello, I have a 1986 olds cutlass ciera 4 cyl 2.5 liter.
The car seems to have some sort of fuel delivery problem.
I first changed the ignition module since this is a common fix when a car dies on the road. while in there i also changed the cap / rotor/ wires and plugs.
after this i checked fuel pressure and found that no gas was getting to the throttle body but when you spary in starter fluid the car would run as long as you kept spraying. The next thing i changed was the fuel filter and checked pressure again. the pressure was in right rande ( 9 - 15 pis ) and was constant at 12 or 13. the car ran for 2 -3 miles and died out on the road again. I dropped the fuel tank in a parking lot and changed the fuel pump.
the car still would not start and the same thing with starter fluid spray trick was there. after towing the car home and letting it sit overnight i went out and the car started but i dont want to take it on the road again because i know it will prob cut off again.
Now the only two things that i havnt touched yet are the fuel pump relay and the fuel pressure regulator. I dont know and cant find the location of the fuel pump relay ?
After digging down i did find a rack of three relays bolted onto the passenger side firewall under the hood. But there are no marks that tell them apart on which is for the fuel pump. Im at my wits end and dont know what else to do.
can you please help in any way and tell me which of those three relays i described would be the one for the fuel pump ?
Please send reply to Lestat427@prodigy.net
Thank you
Answer Hi John,
If the fuel pressure is there, then don't worry about the relay. It is working. The question is, though, is that pressure there when it won't start, or when it dies.
If the pressure is there when it dies, then the next step is checking for spark.
You have already done that. If it runs on the starting fluid, there is spark. And it is probably correct.
That leaves fuel injectors not working.
They are controlled by the ECM, according to inputs from several sensors.
Even if all the sensors are not working, though, some injection should take place. So sounds to me like there is a problem in the ECM operating the injectors.
That doesn't mean running out and buying an ECM.
It could be lack of power to the injectors, ie fuse, ignition switch, or wire connector.
It could be a bad wire connection between the injectors and ECM. A chewed wire would not be uncommon if you have mice in your area.
A bad ground wire, or lack of ground for the ecm.
A bad crank signal circuit or sensor.
or it could actually be the ECM.
