Hello all! Today just having the car idling, listening to the radio (fairly loud, heh) the car all of a sudden the engine vibrated violently and shut off. Tried to save it by jabbin the throttle but nothing, she just died. After cussin and hollerin at it I tried crankin her. It would crank but no fire. Then the battery went dead after 20 seconds. It would crank really slow. I was like ok, maybe she just needs to cool down. Tried 5 minutes later, it cranked really slow. Then all of a sudden it cranked at normal speed. Still no fire. After cranking it at its slow speed, letting off the key, I can hear some kinda pump making a weird gargling noise. I was gonna throw the battery on the charger, but a violent thunderstorm went through. I might try later. Right now im kinda thinking it's the fuel pump or filter since it won't get and fire. Still, id like to hear some opinions. Hopefully it's not the fuel pump cuz thats a bitch to do in a 1987 Delta 88. Thanks for taking your time to read this. (BTW the check engine light came back on a week after the O2 sensor was replaced, wtf!?)


-Adam

Ok, got the battery all charged up. Got it to run, but it runs really, really, really (and so on) rough. I had to hold the throttle to get it to start, had to hold it to keep it running. Thus, it still died after 10-13 seconds. Didn't think to look in the mirror to check for smoke, I was too concentrated to keep it running. It runs like a car thats really outta timing IMO.

sounds to me like an issue with your idle air control valve (IAC). Its the little solenoid on your throttle bodt that controls airflow during startup and idle. It is fairly easy to replace and can be bought at any local autoparts store. One question to make sure it is the IAC: when the car is running and you are hittingthe gas pedal to keep it running, does the car run smooth then and at what rpm are you at? if the car is running rough at normal operating rpms then it is something else. If it runs smooth at normal operating rpms then it is definitly your IAC.

I dont have a Tach to see the RPM's. It runs rough at idle, very rough. You can actually hear the valves rattleing, so that seems to be an internal problem...

TIMING CHAIN!!! change your oil, and see if plastic and/or aluminum peices and shavings drain out of the oil pan. If this is the case, have your timing chain changed before you run the engine again.

If the chain slipps and you continue to try turning it over, you will BEND and break valves, and that would likely call for a new motor, or major overhaul anyways. So, for the few bucks it costs to change oil, try it first.

After that, and no dice, post back, and maybe you'll have to check out your ignition system.

Not the timing chain. Got her to idle for about 15 seconds then die. It would idle very smooth (fact smoother then ever) but when you got on the gas it stammered and wanted to shut off. For some reason I didnt hear the valve rattle like before. Friggin weird. Im leaning twords the fuel filter or fuel pump, personally, but still open to ideas... If I do have to do a re-build, I got that taken care of.

It could be that some of the nylon teeth have come off and thats what caused it to stall. Those teeth can plug your oil sump, and if they do, its major engine problems. It is definintely worth checking out IMO. I dont thing a fuel problem would cause that sort of vibration that you described. I would think that it would chug like it was out of gas. Maybe the pushrod or the lever on the fuel pump is bent or broken... Just throwing that out there, idk if that could actually happen.

The mechanic next door came over and took a look at it. Soemthing with the mass airflow sensor. A new one is like $300. He hit it and the car started right up and ran. (after messin around in the yard, see if it would start, it did) He also said he has worked on the car dozens of times before, it's a lemon for sure. Gonna take the losses and sell it, I don't have the time or money to have it nickle and dime me to death.

Hi 87Delta, hello all,


There is some good information and some not so good information on the subject, Here.

I'm waiting for one individual to correct his last post, then I'll clean up the rest of his mess and you might learn something that will change your mind.

I like your sig, it mirrors my philosophy. I know who I am and what I've got, and I have no need to prove anything to anyone.

Regards, Norm

Ok, it may be a stupid question, but deciding to have another go at the Delta I checked the spark plugs. Turns out pulling one of the spark plug wires off I happened to notice one of them had separated where the wire and the metal piece that goes on the spark plug. I presume this is why it seemed to run outta time. Its all weird becasue yesterday I had it idling for about 20 minutes, revving it once in a while, then it shut off. I am thinking it has clogged injectors as well. When it wants to shut off and die now it will just idle down real low.

HI 87Delta, All,


There are no stupid questions.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of stupid answers and statements.


Might have saved yourself 300 bux.


Differing descriptions of the same symptoms are the reason I normally do not get involved in diagnosis over the internet.

A "miss" caused by a faulty plug wire cannot make an engine sound "out of time", and I don't believe your problem to be timing related.

As we now know, your description was inaccurate and led to those answers that were unrelated to your problem, now we can continue.


A tach is not needed to perform the above test. Idle, off idle, cruise, accelerate, or WOT can be used in place of RPM numbers.

The test is free, quick and simple. It should be your main focus, since it actually relates to your problem.


Please explain why you think so. Your answer could lead us to your solution.

When you post back, we can continue.

Regards, Norm

From what was happening with the car, it wasn't the IAC. When it did run it would be fine, smooth power throughout all the throttle.




When it did run, before giving me starting problems, it would seem to hesitate and sometimes bog down when stompping on the gas to pass a car on the highway. It may just be in my head though.


When it was runing and about to shut off, it was more like a missfire then it being out of time, I really didn't have words for it, thanks for clearing that up. Sorry for all the confusion. Should of bought a moped to get around town, heh.

The spark plug is a great way to diagnose engine problems....have a look at this:
http://www.dansmc.com/Spark_Plugs/Spark ... talog.html
Can tell you if your running lean...clogged injector/s...could also be fuel pump, in which you would need to measure fuel pressure with a guage if all the spark plugs look lean.

If you press the gas pedal and it hesitates, that could be the TPS sensor or throttle cable.

TOC Admin
Brando

Hi All



87Delta: Asking questions is qood; it's how we all learn.

All: Above is a good example of why I do not normally get involved with internet diagnosis.

I'm outta here.

Regards, Norm

Checking the fuel filter or just replacing it would also be a good start. Also doing a fuel pump volume test would help to determine if it is fuel related. Also check your lines and hoses for cracks. That would be a good start in my opinion.