[pauledude]

started fine. Idled for a few. Then drove it 4 or 5 blocks. Then it just quit. Not driving it hard. normal smooth driving. no sputter.

So as I wait for a tow I start to look. I have spark. I have pressure at the fuel schrader valve. Not sure how much. It will start on starter fluid in the intake, then just die.

I am searching posts but finding nothing exact.

I cant find the 2 fuses under the hood. Not behind battery.
Van is at friends house now. I am off work tomorrow, but dont want to take it in since I am in Vegas, and I have ohio plates. They already got me for $2000 for fixing my ac. But thats another story.

 

[Matrixx]

Hi pauledude
It could be a number of things causing that. Weak spark (when was the last tune-up done?). Low fuel pressure (when was the fuel filter changed last?). To have it quit "cold" on you like that without a stumble before quitting, leads me to believe it's spark or spark related and would be the first place I would check personally.

You did mention you had spark, but didn't say what color the spark was or what side of the cap you checked for spark (Coil side or Plug side). I would have a good going over the spark end of it first, then work your way into the problem from their. Do you hear the pump boot up when you turn the ignition to the "on" position for about 2 or 3 seconds? Please keep us updated, and I'm sure others will chime in if they can. Thanks.

 

[pauledude]

Good spark between coil and cap. Spark between the cap and plugs ok.

It starts no problem on Starting fluid. Then dies. Make me believe it is fuel injector related. Electrical.

 

[Matrixx]

Hi pauledude
Ok is not good enough pauledude. You need a bright blue spark from the cap to the plugs to get the fuel to light off properly. Ether (starting fluid) has a very low flash point and will light off with the weakest of sparks, gas won't do that. It could very well be the injectors or fuel, but I would eliminate any possibilities with spark first.

Once you have done that on the spark side of it, then the next step would be tohave the fuel pressure tested, then look at the electrical pug-in the feeds the injectors. There is one fuse under the dash marked "fuel" I believe and the other is a relay in the fuse block under the hood . It's a small black square box, The A/C relay "should" be the same (read the part number) like my year, if they are, then maybe try swapping them around and see what happens. Hope this helps. Please keep us updated, Thanks.

 

[Big_kid]

Try priming it with small amount of gasoline, just like you did with the ether. If it fires up, it fires up. I know I sound like a broken record sometimes, but check the engine ground too. That can't hurt. Next I'd put a pressure gauge on the fuel system & see what it reads. I'd also look around to see if a wire or plug came loose. I'm leaning toward something electrical here, but I could be wrong. I've only had my Astro about 5 months.

Good luck, let us know what you find.

 

[pauledude]

Thanks all. But I needed it for work, so I took it in to a shop. They replaced fuel pump and filters. Runs again! $435. But it beats missing a day of work. I would rather miss when I got wheels an can do something. lol

I would thik it would have sputtered when the pump went out. Guess not.

 

[Matrixx]

Hi pauledude
I'm glad to hear you got the problem fixed either way. Thanks for letting us know the outcome. Take Care.