Just when things were going good.

[Lloyd]

:wall: I don't know what it is, good ole Murphy, bad karma, or a finicky MJ. Drove the MJ to my gf's place and she came back with me (approx. 40 miles) and it ran fine. On the way to take her home it started acting like i was cutting the key off when I got around 50 mph. TPS I thought. The next morning it wouldn't start at all. Replaced the TPS and still nothing. pulled the codes and it said the cam sensor or a.k.a. pick up coil in the distributor. Replaced it and cleaned the plugs and replaced the plug wires. Now it tries diligently to start even will run a few seconds, but won't stay running. Replaced the MAP sensor, checked wires for continuity to the PCM from all the sensors. Replaced the crank sensor. It worries me that when it does start for a few seconds when it stops it blows a good amount of compression out of the air intake. It's a 91' 4.0 MPI. It makes me think a stretched timing chain or jumped timing. It could have at least waited till I had the Buick running again. As of now I'm back to bumming rides everywhere again. :oops: I did a fuel pressure check it came out fine. I brought u the no. 1 piston and it seemed that the rotor was pointing at the no. 1 tower. Maybe some of you folks can give me an idea or two that won't suck my poor already thin wallet dry. The buick already has an over $100 problem to deal with that I can't even afford. And the MJ got me a $100 ticket when I first took it out while I hadn't yet got the inspection sticker. Hopefully it will be an easy and inexpensie fix. :dunno:

[Geonovast]

With #1 at TDC, the rotor should be pointing slightly past he #1 post on the cap.

 

When you replaced the cam sensor, did you replace the sensor, or the whole dizzy? Was the dizzy ever removed?

[Lloyd]

Couldn't really afford the whole new setup. When I hadn't removed and brought the distributor with me and they said $70 core charge I opted for the sensor only hoping I could get it running again and not have to put up with the carpooling to work with the usually bitchy in the morning sister. lol. The distributor was removed to get the sensor out, have to remove the gear and pull the shaft. But the marks made before removal lined up when reinstalled. I should have gotten the whole thing being the price wasn't that much higher, but that dang core charge I couldn't cover also at the time and the borrowed rides owner(the sister) would have been whining about how long it took if I went home and pulled it and went back. It's like a 15 minute drive one way to our nearest parts store.

[dunl]

Only thing I can suggest is that when the dizzy isn't lined up by even one tooth, it won't even cough on these engines. So that's prob not it.

[JACKED88]

Now it tries diligently to start even will run a few seconds, but won't stay running. I did a fuel pressure check it came out fine.

Besides you saying you did a fuel pressure test, did you try putting some fuel directly into the throttle body? With all the electrical parts you've thrown at it and it still not run, I'd check for a fuel delivery problem regardless of what your pressure test said.

Disconnect the air intake at the t/b and pour a little gas in it. Get somebody else to try to start it. If it starts, keep dribbling a little gas in it in an attempt to keep it running. If it keeps running you have a fuel delivery problem.

[dunl]

Jump the ballast resistor?

[Comanche County]

I can't help but suspect that fuel starvation is the issue. Maybe the pump is on its way out, but working intermittently. I could be wrong. Can you drive it to Proctor? We'll get it fixed for sure.

[Lloyd]

I can't help but suspect that fuel starvation is the issue. Maybe the pump is on its way out, but working intermittently. I could be wrong. Can you drive it to Proctor? We'll get it fixed for sure.

 

 

I was barely able to make it to Oglesby and back from McGregor. I believe it is just wanting to suck some more cash out of my wallet. And the last time I was in Comanche County... well I was kind of literally IN Comanche County. :( :oops: I was able to replace the electric auxillary fan that had broken in the center, the donor vehicles were scarce at the jy this time.

[Lloyd]

Update August 31, Evening . I tried the direct feed of fuel with no improvement. I rechecked the distributor line-up, Re-set the distributor after bringing up TDC, the notch on the harmonic balancer lined up with the zero mark on the timing tab. Rotor pointing slightly past the #1 tower. The results seemed to be the same. I eliminated the possibility that it was only detecting a run situation whenthe key was in start position because I was using a remote start switch. :headpop: Running out of daylight and patience I was giving up on anything but starting over. Then I remembered the suggestion to crossover the ballast resistor and tried it and after a little cranking on it she started. It ran good while sitting there idling but took it around the block and it has no power and resists when I try to give it gas. Bak in the driveway at home I left it running and was trying to check things out, when the never ending story of the nieghbors that call the cops everytime I work on my truck after 7 pm makes an appearance. A flashlight beam passes by my feet and i look over to see the same local officer that has been over the most on the 6 or more times they've been called comes up apologetically saying "You know why I'm here>" We received a complaint that you were revving up your motor. We chatted awhile about the truck and how ridiculous whomever is calling is So That's where I had to leave off.

 

Thank you to everyone who has helped with the diagnostic this far. I hope to have it going pretty soon and will be able to annoy the nieghbors getting the Buick going again. :rotfl2:

[Lloyd]

Well this afternoon after work I was trying again to figure out just what I need to replace or repair in order to have the MJ going again. I put the ballast resistor back in the equation and tried to start it. It attempted to start but wouldn't so I crossed it over again and it stayed the same so I took a break and contemplated myself to sleep in the recliner. When my nap was over I took another shot at it and she cranked on the first spin of the starter ran about 10 seconds and died, twice. So I guess replacing the resistor is my next move??? :dunno:

[Geonovast]

I'm thinking your fuel pump is crap.

[Comanche County]

Yep, I'll bet you the 8.8 that I have that its the fuel pump. If I'm wrong you can have it, if I'm right, you can have it anyway.

[Lloyd]

I'm thinking your fuel pump is crap.

 

I think you could be right but my money will be pretty tight this week, have to pay on my ticket and the insurance(ironic that it's for a vehicle not drivable at the moment). So how can I be sure before I get the fuel pump? I guess with the resistor crossed try the gas dribble through the throttle body? It could possibly be the fuel filter stopped up too so i could change that out before throwing to much money at the whole situation. They are talking lay-off at work this week. I know that for the moment my job is safe, there are 3 trailers in my dept yet to be built. But they may be cutting hours again. Times are getting hard again and I could use the truck to make some kind of extra cash on the time off. So I think this will be my plan of attack for tomorrow; Replace the fuel filter, Try the fuel through the throttle body method with the last able to run setup, Try pulling the pump and cleaning the "sock" filter in the tank. Then see where I stand after that. Thanks for the input. I very much appreciate the help.

[Geonovast]

Definitely change the filter first, see if that does any good. You said you did a fuel pressure check and it was fine... what was the actual reading? Have you done any more checks?

[jimoshel]

Just a hint. It's kind of hard to dribble gas out of a container, bottle, whatever and maintain a steady stream, plus the chance of a backfire, setting the thing on fire. I use a bottle with a sprayer on it. The kind where you squeeze and get a fine spray. Maintains a more even flow of fuel, won't spill. To repeat the guys above, check your fuel pump and filter.

[kastein]

Try "hotwiring" the pump from the battery positive directly to one of the resistor terminals (forget which.) If you can hear the pump running and it still has lousy fuel pressure at the rail, the pump is probably the problem... also check voltage at the connector nearest the pump (while it's plugged in if possible, i.e. under load) then check pressure at the filter if you can find a way to do so, or replace the filter.

[Lloyd]

:banana: It's running this evening!!!! But :hmm: it kinda makes me feel stupid. :dunce: I went and got a fuel filter on the way home, checked the price of the pump while at Autozone. :eek: Almost had a heart attack when he said $101.90. :ack: I changed the filter first thing. Didn't seem stopped up but poured a little dirt out. Did the hotwire to the pump side of the resistor got her started and took it for a spin. A bit more adjusting and it seems to be running and starting OK. The 3 day weekend I plan on cleaning out the fuel tank and replacing the "sock" filter.

 

Thank you guys for all of your help. I am so glad to have found this site. You people are great and sometimes it just takes a look from a distance to point to the right thing. Thank you tremendously.

[dunl]

Good to hear....now go rev that motor to your heart's content until 6:58pm. :D

[Lloyd]

Good to hear....now go rev that motor to your heart's content until 6:58pm. :D

 

 

And not 1 second over :no: . That is until the ticket gets paid off. Then I plan to purchase my new muffler. A Cherry Bomb glass pack.

[Lloyd]

Sorry if I neglected to answer everyone on time. I'm glad to have the truck running again. The pressure was almost 40 psi. The pump strainer when I pulled it was rather dark and dinghy looking. And it had been put on with a hose clamp holding it in place. I was unable to do the fuel through the throttle body very well due to working by myself. But I guess all is well that ends well. Thanks tremendously to everyone who offered up an idea. :cheers: :bowdown:

 

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