1991 Lumina problem - I Need Advice

[ycartf]

I have a 1991 Lumina with the 3.1 FI engine. It will not start and the following is all the info on it. I have not had time to do a lot as far as diagnosing as it happened the evening before I had to go to work.

 

I have not had any problems with starting at all and it has been running smooth. I had went to town and parked it on maybe a 5 degree grade with the back higher than the front. It was running fine when I switched it off and had maybe 1/8 tank of fuel (first thing I tried was putting two more gallons of fuel in the tank in case the gauge was unreliable all of a sudden). I went back to it ten minutes later and it would not start. I am getting plenty of current and turning the starter over with no problem. The starter sounds good with all the normal sounds and is not making any noise out of the ordinary. I pulled two spark plug wires off on two of the front cylinders (one on driver's side and one in the middle) and used a spark-plug-looking tester. On both wires there was plenty of spark with threads of spark bridging the gap about twice a second on the tester. I always let the fuel pump cycle a few seconds until I hear it has stopped priming before I crank up and that sound is also normal in duration and everything. I have also had a power steering leak on the passenger end of the engine that went from minor to major a couple of weeks ago so I installed a new PS pump (no leaks now). I also had the bearing go out in the back of my alternator then so I replaced with a brand new one. I wondered if the power steering fluid getting onto the alternator had any cause in making the alternator problem, and if it may have caused anything to short or something in the fuel delivery system. I also wonder if the starter can be bad yet make perfectly fine starter noises. I am looking for any brainstorming you guys (and gals) may be able to give me please. I also should mention that I already shorted the terminals of the diagnostics plug and it has not logged any trouble codes (just the 1-2 1-2 1-2 LONG PAUSE 1-2 1-2 1-2) even though I understand it may not log a trouble code until some parameter has been exceeded with a certain problem. I know you are supposed to search first and I apologize for having to post this but I did not think the unique factor of PS fluid on that end of the engine would be something I could factor in when doing a search. I greatly appreciate any help anyone could offer.

[GP1138]

This is the correct section for this thread- it doesn't need to be in "General" too.

 

Thanks.

[Crazy K]

fuel pump failure? find the shrader valve on the fuel rail, remove the cap, and press to valve in. see if any gas flows after having cycled the key.

[ycartf]

So the power steering leak probably did not short out something weird somewhere? Thanks for the help

[roomylumy]

Power steering fluid is not conductive.

[jeremy]

Like Ken asked, do you actually have fuel pressure at the rail?

[ycartf]

Ok so I finally got off (work 24 hour shifts at two different jobs) and got me a fuel pressure gauge. The specs for the fuel pressure are 40-47psi at the Schrader valve and my gauge registered 48psi while the fuel pump primed, and 40psi once it pressurized and stopped running - I did this twice because the first time I did not see what the pressure was while priming - got the same results both times - so it looks like it is not the fuel pump. I cannot do it today as I am working again today, but I was told by a coworker that the fuel injectors might be malfunctioning. He said I should take out a spark plug (after trying to start it for a few seconds) and see if it had fuel on it. Also, there were still no trouble codes logged when I checked. I plan on towing this to the house tomorrow morning when I get off and testing all 6 plug wires for spark (rolling the engine for the back 3), then checking for gasoline on the plug(s). Should I check all 6? And again, this was running fine when shut off and would not start 10 minutes later.

 

Recap:

Engine turning over fine

Spark to at least the two plug wires I checked

Fuel pressure 48psi (while priming) and 40psi (once primed) at Schrader valve

No trouble codes logged

Still will not crank

 

(Just over 113,000 miles on this and lots of life left in my book)