Question I see that your not positive about your ability to help diagnose the problem with our '95 Olds. Cutless Supreme, but I have faith in you Van.
We were driving on the freeway in traffic, for about an hour. I took our exit and stopped at the light, when the car died. I tried to restart it, it turned over, but wouldn't start. We pushed it home where my husband has tried (for TWO days) charging the battery, checking the plugs and wires, checking the fuses, and spraying starter fluid into the manifold. And there my kind sir, his automobile knowledge stops. Unfortunantly there is no money available for us to buy someone elses knowledge.
And please Van, if your able to give us any suggestion of possible remedies, or parts to check, could you please be very specific on how, and also where to locate it.
We have a 3.4 V6. with a 207 CID displacement. A 9.25:1 compression ratio. The car has about 150,000 miles on it, and has a medium oil leak in an unknown location at the back of the engine.We had the fuel pump, and filter replaced a year ago, but we do have the awful habit of driving on fumes. We replaced the spark plugs and wires last year also.
I read about checking the fuel pressure, but not once did anyone mention how to check it. I read (from your answers to others) that we should check the Throttle position sensor, the crank sensor or module, and the injector pulse? Who..What...Where?
I've found from past experiance that most of the time it's the simple overlooked things that tend to be the problem. So if you have any ideas, please share them with me!
Thank-you Van
AnswerHello Dianna,
Trucks are my specialty, but I do have a 95 Cutlass Ciera.
I have talked about fuel pressure, but if you have already tried starting fluid, and didn't get it to hit a lick, fuel probably isn't the problem.
I normally won't suggest to people that they try starting fluid, because I have no way of knowing what kind of experience the questioner has, and that stuff can be quite explosive.
Now, I assume there was no reaction to the starting fluid, although you didn't say.
If there was a try to start on it, I would say you have spark, but not getting fuel.
If there was no reaction, I would say to check for spark.
A spare spark plug connected to any plug wire, and see if there is anything.
Either system could have a blown fuse.
Ign, Inj, Fuel pump, etc.
As for checking the fuel pressure, there should on that engine be a little fitting on the fuel rail that looks like a tire valve, and a tester connects to it.
The type of injection system determines what the pressure should be, but the lowest is 14 PSI. When the key is turned to run, the pump should run for three seconds, and the pressure should jump right up there.
First have someone listen for that pump running. You may need to wait 8 or 10 seconds between trys...it won't always run every time if you do it too fast.
That should give a few things to check.
Get some spark, and some fuel.
If you have both of them, then timing, or injector pulse would be next to check.
Good luck,
Van
