Does start Don't start
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 299
Likes: 4
From: Surprise AZ
Does start Don't start
Have a 1988 anna. that I been trying to find out why, it starts up sometimes & sometimes it won't. You can take a drive with it, shut it off, come back in 10 mins. Sometimes it will start & sometimes it will just spin over. Somestimes it takes 10 mins to start somestimes 20 mins & so on you never know if its going to start. New fuel pump same problem. Its seems that it is not getting any gas. I can spray starting fluid in the throttle body & it runs for a few seconds. Can't drive my car. Can anyone point me in the right direction??? Thanks for any help. 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Get a fuel pressure gauge and connect it to the shrader valve on the end of the right fuel rail when it won't start. You should have 36-42 psi and it should hold up when you turn off the ignition. Rapid pressure drop with ign off tells you that your fuel pressure regulator or its check valve is defective. No fuel pressure, fuel pump or fuel filter. If fuel pressure is ok, then get a noid light from a parts store and check for pulsing on an injector during cranking.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Get a fuel pressure gauge and connect it to the shrader valve on the end of the right fuel rail when it won't start. You should have 36-42 psi and it should hold up when you turn off the ignition. Rapid pressure drop with ign off tells you that your fuel pressure regulator or its check valve is defective. No fuel pressure, fuel pump or fuel filter. If fuel pressure is ok, then get a noid light from a parts store and check for pulsing on an injector during cranking.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Sounds like my wife's Alero. It has the new generation of VATS so that the key is normal, all the BS is in the switch. It will always crank but if it doesn't read everything properly it disables the fuel pump. So it might start for a second and then die. Then you can do nothing but sit and wait with the key in the ignition for 10 minutes until the security light stops blinking and goes out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 299
Likes: 4
From: Surprise AZ
The fuel pressure stays at 38 psi even when it's just cranking. The fuel is there, but when I check the voltage at the injector it reads 11 volts at both sides. Now its showing a code of 46. My book doesn't show a code of 46, so I checked it twice, & the voltage twice. Still the same. Not sure what's going on.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 1
From: Vero Beach Florida
Check here for code 46
http://www.corvettebuyers.com/c4vettes/ecm.htm
Code46 ; VATS Anti Theft Circuit Fault
With negative battery lead disconnected and using high pressure, non residue contact spray cleaner, spray into area where ignition key inserts followed by inserting and removing key several times. Check for open/short on harness from steering column VATS ignition key to ECM. Possible defective anti-theft module.
http://www.corvettebuyers.com/c4vettes/ecm.htm
Code46 ; VATS Anti Theft Circuit Fault
With negative battery lead disconnected and using high pressure, non residue contact spray cleaner, spray into area where ignition key inserts followed by inserting and removing key several times. Check for open/short on harness from steering column VATS ignition key to ECM. Possible defective anti-theft module.
Last edited by floridamale; Jan 23, 2009 at 08:03 PM.