Vehicle will not start after sitting for ten years

Tiny
COWBOYTINY
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 ISUZU RODEO
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 194,000 MILES
I got this vehicle from this guy who parked it ten years ago just parked it. And just never touch it again prior to parking he had some work done to the vehicle like timing and all that saw a receipt for $800.00 worth of work. Anyways, I flushed the motor, drain the tank, put fresh gas in it and now the fuel pump is not activating. I bypassed the relay and get the fuel pump to work, but it continuously pushes the fuel through the system and back into the tank. It does not build pressure. So I was wondering what would be the cause for that? The only way that I have been able to get vehicle to start so far is to spray some starting fluid down the throttle body. The vehicle is like a barn find never never had a bunch of people tinkering around with it. It is all straight factory dude parked ten years ago walked away without touching it again. Ran perfectly fine when it was parked so it should have been just flush the motor and the tank put a battery in it and it should have fired right up. Unless, there are a couple of steps I am missing? If you could give me your input though I will greatly appreciate it because I am getting tired of walking around town really could use a car right now.
Saturday, January 27th, 2018 AT 3:11 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
It sounds to me as thought you need a new fuel pressure regulator.
Autozone has one for $52.00. https://www.autozone.com/fuel-delivery/fuel-pressure-regulator/gp-sorensen-fuel-pressure-regulator/79969_594834_0_11258
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Saturday, January 27th, 2018 AT 3:53 PM
Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,295 POSTS
Any car that sits for ten years, completely untouched, is going to need more than just a flush, a battery, and fresh gas. The fact that it fires at all (granted it is with starting fluid) is borderline amazing. Electrical connects corrode. Vermin get in and chew up wires and such. Things rust. Sorry but sitting is like a death sentence for a car. As suggested above, a fuel pressure regulator is probably needed. It could also be that the pump is too weak. A fuel pressure gauge can tell you exactly how much pressure you are getting.
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Saturday, January 27th, 2018 AT 8:06 PM
Tiny
COWBOYTINY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I got lucky the car was not chewed up not one rat at all made it its home. I will definitely get a new fuel pressure regulator, but that still leave the anti theft keeping it from starting. Does this year model come with a remote for the alarm or how do I fix it with out remote?
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Sunday, January 28th, 2018 AT 12:23 AM
Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,295 POSTS
Well there was an available fob. Not sure whether yours had one or not. If it did, you should be able to get one from the dealership. I would suggest getting it from the dealer because they will also be able to know if your truck had one to begin with, and they will be able to do the necessary programming.

However, not having the fob does not mean you cannot disarm the system. It should automatically disarm when you put the key in the door lock and turn it.
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Sunday, January 28th, 2018 AT 3:51 AM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
If there is no security or theft light on, I would start with first checking the fuel pump fuses. I see a fuse #2 in the fuse relay box under the hood on the right fender.
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Sunday, January 28th, 2018 AT 6:19 AM
Tiny
COWBOYTINY
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All fuses are good. It has a little light next to the lock on the door. Got the alarm to go off the other day had to disconnect the battery to shut it off.
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Sunday, January 28th, 2018 AT 12:58 PM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
If you have a voltmeter or at least a twelve volt test light you should use it to be sure the fuse has battery voltage on both sides of it. Then if it does, first try a new fuel pump relay and if the fuel pump still does not work, use the voltmeter or twelve volt test light to check where you are loosing the voltage, but first put your finger tips on the fuel pump relay and feel if it clicks once when the key is first turned to run.
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+1
Sunday, January 28th, 2018 AT 1:19 PM
Tiny
COWBOYTINY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Relay is good is good, fuse is good, no power getting to relay when I turn the key.
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Sunday, January 28th, 2018 AT 3:42 PM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
That comes from the ECM, so make sure the ECM fuses all have power on both sides. I see a number one that goes to the ECM relay. Number eight fuse as well.
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Sunday, January 28th, 2018 AT 5:04 PM

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