'92 Park Ave. Sputters, hesitates. Intermittent problem.

[Sweepspear]

Hi all, my name is Dale. I have a question on a problem I am having with my '92 Park Ave. 62,000 miles. Non supercharged.

First off, for the past month when starting it after the engine was hot it would immediately die after starting. If I gave it some gas as it started I could overcome it and off I would go.

Then, about a week ago, when leaving a stop sign the car sputtered and hesitated. Once rolling if I put the accelerator to the floor the engine would remain flat, no power with some backfiring.

When I got home I popped the hood looking for the simple obvious things that may be wrong.
I'm a believer in looking for the simple things first.
Noticed a bloom of corrosion on the positive battery terminal. What the heck, I'll try it, needs to be taken care of any ways.
After cleaning the connection up the car ran perfectly fine for the last week.

Last night we went out to eat, and when we left the restaurant everything was fine until I got to the first stop sign.
Again on take off the car sputtered and hesitated. Crap! not again!

Hmm.. could be a MAF sensor? I took it off and cleaned it with some brake cleaner. No change.
I should mention there are no codes stored.

Was very intermittent though. one block it would sputter, the next it would be fine.
I bought a new fuel filter this morning, and after installing it, the car now barely runs. Rough idle, no power.

I'm leaning towards a fuel pump, but since I really don't have the proper equipment to check fuel pressure, etc. I'm going to have to take it in somewhere for a diagnostic check.
Which really bugs me since I am someone who normally does all his own work.

So, any ideas? anyone familiar with this scenario?


(What was nice about the '91 Riv I once owned was you could get all the values for the various sensors using the diagnostics mode with the digital dash instruments.)

Thanks in advance!


Dale

[mcgrath]

Brake cleaner on the MAF is a no no, you can use rubbing alcohol or a special cleaner for MAF sensors that any parts store should carry.

I was also thinking a fuel pump, I think the local auto parts store might have one they could use and check your fuel pressure (48-55psi @ idle) if you "might" buy a fuel pump from them

Another possibility is ignition coils.
Do you have a multimeter you can check resistance with?
If so remove the 3 ignition coils and check the resistance of the primaries and secondaries. refer to this link on the how to, as I'm not sure which ignition you have because GM changed the ignition half way through 92 on the 3800s


Ed

[Sweepspear]

Originally Posted by mcgrath

Brake cleaner on the MAF is a no no, you can use rubbing alcohol or a special cleaner for MAF sensors that any parts store should carry.

I was also thinking a fuel pump, I think the local auto parts store might have one they could use and check your fuel pressure (48-55psi @ idle) if you "might" buy a fuel pump from them

Another possibility is ignition coils.
Do you have a multimeter you can check resistance with?
If so remove the 3 ignition coils and check the resistance of the primaries and secondaries. refer to this link on the how to, as I'm not sure which ignition you have because GM changed the ignition have way through 92 on the 3800s


Ed

Oops on that brake cleaner!

I do have a multi meter, and the coil pack has crossed my mind.
It has the Magnavox type as shown in that link.
I actually have both GM service manuals for the car, but those manuals aren't as shade tree friendly as they assume you have all the specific diagnostic equipment.

Thanksfor your thoughts Ed.
I won't get back to looking at it until tomorrow.

[mcgrath]

Originally Posted by Sweepspear

Thanksfor your thoughts Ed.
I won't get back to looking at it until tomorrow.

Your welcome Dale!

And if it is the ignition coils there is an easy sway you can perform to convert to the newer Type 2 coils & ICM (ignition control module) found on newer 3800s. The newer type 2 ignitions produce a much more powerful spark then those Magnavox setups can.

Ed

[Sweepspear]

I did a resistance check of the coils and they read.
21.6 ohms, 263 ohms & 29.8 ohms.

Peplaced the coil pack along with the ignition module, and I don't think the car has ever ran this good in the time I've owned it!

It was also probably the cause of my hard / no start condition it would have in the winter when the temps dropped below -10*.

Thanks!

[1Hot97]

Your car is OBD1, which can be a bit harder to diagnose, as the self diagnostics that OBD2 has just isn't there. With that said, have you checked for any codes?

[Sweepspear]

Originally Posted by 1Hot97

Your car is OBD1, which can be a bit harder to diagnose, as the self diagnostics that OBD2 has just isn't there. With that said, have you checked for any codes?

No codes were present.

[mcgrath]

Originally Posted by Sweepspear

Peplaced the coil pack along with the ignition module, and I don't think the car has ever ran this good in the time I've owned it!

Thanks!

Glad to hear you found the problem & got it taken care of!

Your welcome

Ed