Something stupid??? I HOPE!!!

[yzpilot]

Hey guys. I am a new Z owner, 3 Corvette but first ZR1. Ok, history first. Picked up the car from a buddy of my brothers, he said it wouldn't start...cranks but won't start. This guy was in some financial trouble and picked it up for...wait for it....3,000.00!! The car could use a good buffing, but immaculate interior and only 41,000 on the clock!!! So it was definitely a worthwhile investment for me! So...the story goes this kid was given the car from his father, 2 1/2 years ago, he was driving it to the gas station and it just died. He brought it home and didn't have the money to get it checked so it just sat for the last 2 1/2 years. So...of course I changed the battery and dove in to try to bring her back to life. Like he stated, cranks over but doesn't start. It sometimes seemed like it wanted to start, but then just drone down to cranking over and over. I checked the pressure at the rail and holy crap!!! The fuel was like oil and stunk like a 5 gallon jug of 2 stoke gas that sat in the sun for years! I changed the plugs and dumped a little gas down each cylinder to see what she would do. It fired right up and then promptly died and just cranked. So I turned to Jerry for new plenum gaskets, fuel rail seals and wires. I also ordered new coils, and all injectors. While I waited for shipping, I accomplished the fun and exciting task of dropping the fuel tank. Cleaned it out and blew out all the fuel lines as well as installed a new filter. Last night I replaced all the parts I received and was excited to see what would happened. Fuel pressure was great...turned the key...no dice! Same thing, just cranked over. After some research I found that some guys had issues with the ECM as it controlled the injectors. I pulled a plug after trying to start, and it sure looked dry! No fuel on it. So today I picked up a reman ECM, switched the PROM and figured I would be cruising right now! NADA!! Same thing!!! So now my hair is white and at kinda of a loss on what to look for or where?? ANy advice guys? Maybe a good direction of where to look or what to test? I really don't want to have to take it to the shop!! Oh BTW...before swapping the ECM, when I would turn on the key you would hear the norm...fuel pump charging, and some noise under the hood for a few seconds. When I put in the new ECM and turned the key...the cooling fan comes on and there is a valve on the inside of the front drivers side fender that is blowing air out. Both of these key running as long as the key is turned on. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I love this car, and just can't wait to take it for a drive!!!! I am a active duty Marine and there is a combination of pride in not wanting to go to the shop, as well as the fact that as you all know..we enlisted servicemen are not exactly rich!!! Thanks again guys!
Erik
Erik

[yzpilot]

Needed to add- the car is a 1991! Can't believe I forgot that!

[Franke]

Hello YZPilot, welcome to the forum. Reading your post tells me that the car will run if fuel gets to the cylinders as per your test. That also tells me possibly your injectors are not pulsing. Did you check the injector 1 fuse? That drives the primary injectors to ground in the ecm. Do you have any codes stored?

[ZZZZZR1]

Hmmmmm

Have you checked the fuel pumps?

Sounds like no fuel.



David

[Franke]

ZZZZZR1 that is a good question too. YZ, you checked the fuel rail but did you pressure test it? Should be between 48 and 55 psi.

[yzpilot]

@Franke...I did check the fuses...all good. You know how it goes when your in that worried parent mode! In fact I checked every fuse on the car. Everything looks good. I put a OBD I computer on it but I just keep getting a "cannot negotiate with the car" message! UGH!!! Not sure if you can get these to flash codes on the info panel or not? Guess I should check that. The lack of pulsing is the conclusion I have come to...so now it's just a matter of finding out what is not sending the command to pulse.
@ZZZZZR1...I checked both pumps, working great...I have good pressure at the rail and it holds steady. The fuel is getting to one side of the injectors...it's just not coming out the other side! Lol!
Thanks for the responses guys! It's good to be a member...and owner!!! Even if it doesn't run yet! ;-)

[jimmy b.]

I'll give ya $3500 for it, LOL just kidding

Like David just suggested did you actually check the fuel pressure with a gauge? the pressure has to be within specs. Get a factory service manual it will help greatly. These manuals have good trouble shooting sections...jimmy

[ALZR1]

Originally Posted by yzpilot

Hey guys. I am a new Z owner, 3 Corvette but first ZR1. Ok, history first. Picked up the car from a buddy of my brothers, he said it wouldn't start...cranks but won't start. This guy was in some financial trouble and picked it up for...wait for it....3,000.00!! The car could use a good buffing, but immaculate interior and only 41,000 on the clock!!! So it was definitely a worthwhile investment for me! So...the story goes this kid was given the car from his father, 2 1/2 years ago, he was driving it to the gas station and it just died. He brought it home and didn't have the money to get it checked so it just sat for the last 2 1/2 years. So...of course I changed the battery and dove in to try to bring her back to life. Like he stated, cranks over but doesn't start. It sometimes seemed like it wanted to start, but then just drone down to cranking over and over. I checked the pressure at the rail and holy crap!!! The fuel was like oil and stunk like a 5 gallon jug of 2 stoke gas that sat in the sun for years! I changed the plugs and dumped a little gas down each cylinder to see what she would do. It fired right up and then promptly died and just cranked. So I turned to Jerry for new plenum gaskets, fuel rail seals and wires. I also ordered new coils, and all injectors. While I waited for shipping, I accomplished the fun and exciting task of dropping the fuel tank. Cleaned it out and blew out all the fuel lines as well as installed a new filter. Last night I replaced all the parts I received and was excited to see what would happened. Fuel pressure was great...turned the key...no dice! Same thing, just cranked over. After some research I found that some guys had issues with the ECM as it controlled the injectors. I pulled a plug after trying to start, and it sure looked dry! No fuel on it. So today I picked up a reman ECM, switched the PROM and figured I would be cruising right now! NADA!! Same thing!!! So now my hair is white and at kinda of a loss on what to look for or where?? ANy advice guys? Maybe a good direction of where to look or what to test? I really don't want to have to take it to the shop!! Oh BTW...before swapping the ECM, when I would turn on the key you would hear the norm...fuel pump charging, and some noise under the hood for a few seconds. When I put in the new ECM and turned the key...the cooling fan comes on and there is a valve on the inside of the front drivers side fender that is blowing air out. Both of these key running as long as the key is turned on. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I love this car, and just can't wait to take it for a drive!!!! I am a active duty Marine and there is a combination of pride in not wanting to go to the shop, as well as the fact that as you all know..we enlisted servicemen are not exactly rich!!! Thanks again guys!
Erik
Erik

He did mention the fuel pressure was great,so it's not that.
I'm thinking anti-theft system.

Al.

[Franke]

YZ, you can enter diagnostic mode by a jumper from pins A to B of the ALDL conn. A is the first terminal from the right of the ALDL connectors top row and is Ground. B is the second terminal from the right of the ALDL connectors top row and is the ECM diagnostic term. it will flash the SES light code 12 three times and then give any stored codes 3 times as well. Turn the igniton to on after grounding the "B" term. Do not start the engine.

[Kevin]

been a long day...fuel filter? I doubt injectors are the cause of it not running even with a few dead injectors it'll still run, though they need to be changed i'm betting