1990 Chevy Lumina 90 Lumina stalling out

CAW333

MEMBER
1990 CHEVROLET LUMINA
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
112,000 MILES

1990 chevy lumina euro 3.1 engine. The car cranks, idles and excellerates perfect. No missing, no power loss and no surging or dieing at stop signs or red lights. So heres the problem, the car just shuts off like some one turns the key off. Theres no warning or symptoms before it shuts off, it just goes dead and will not crank or even try to crank for a couple of hours. The engine just spins over. If you let it sit for a few hours it cranks and runs great like nothings wrong and then dies after 15 or so mins. I've changed out the fuel pump and strainer and fuel filter. I've also changed out the Crank position sensor and pig tail to sensor and I've changed out the engine computer. I've checked grounds and all wiring going to injectors and sensors. I changed out the ignition control mod and all 3 coils. There are no codes thrown and the service engine light is never on.

3 Replies

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Sorry for the late reply. You need to test when the problem is ongoing. Cranking is starter action. If it cranks good but won't start, have a helper crank it, while you visually check for spark at the plugs. You can use a known good spark plug or spark tester, carry in your glove-box. Pull spark plug wire, use tester in boot, ground metal part of tester to metal part of engine, watch for spark, engine cranking. If you have spark everywhere, use a gage and check fuel pressure. When it stalls, are the dash lites on?

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Sunday, December 19th, 2010 AT 7:54 PM

CAW333

MEMBER
7 POSTS

This problem was a little tricky cause it had no codes and wasn't the obvious. Had spark and fuel pressure. And after changing out all those pricey parts the problem was the fuel injectors. After doing some research on the net I found a guy who was having the exact same problem as I was and after he changed everything out he changed the injectors and it worked. Bought some used injectors off ebay just to give it a try and so far so good. The injectors on these early 3.1 mpfi motors are all tied into one another and from what I was reading was if one fails or shorts once it heats up it will cause all to stop and the example I use is its kinda like those old christmas lights that if one bulb goes out then they all go out. Thanks for the reply and hope this might help someone else who has an early 3.1

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Tuesday, December 21st, 2010 AT 5:44 PM

JDL