1995 GMC Jimmy HARD STARTING AND POWER AFTER START

JOHNAKOV

MEMBER
1995 GMC JIMMY

Engine Performance problem
1995 GMC Jimmy 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

It has 200,098 miles on it. I changed the fuel pump about 10 months ago, changed distributor cap & rotor, wires and spark plugs 2 months ago and just changed the fuel filter. I drove it about 200 miles one day, and the next day it would not start. I sprayed starter fluid, and it started, but had no power. It would not go any faster than 30 mph. It won't start unless I spray the starting fluid about 3-4 times.

Someone has told me that the either the fuel pump has low pressure or the catalytic converter is plugged. Is there any other thing to check short of checking fuel pressure? And how can I check a catalytic converter?

Any help would be appreciated.

1 Reply

FACTORYJACK

MECHANIC
4,159 POSTS

If you can get it to start with starter fluid, and it continues but is low on power, fuel pressure could definately be a factor. To check for a restricted exhaust the technical way, there is an exhaust backpressure gauge, anything over 3 psi is failed. One other way is to remove the Oxygen sensor(whichever is easiest of the 2), and drive to see if symptoms are no longer present. Otherwise you could disconnect the exhaust in front of the cat if there is a provision for it, and drive it. It will be noisy.