car cranking but not starting

[brougham]

this morning i went to go to work any my car wouldnt start.
i went thru the car wont start check list
i have spark, i have air so i changed the fuel filter i needed to be changed badly. my ga still wont fire . i checked the fuel rail and gas came out now im stuck any ideas???:(

[brougham]

If the fpr is not working will the car start??

[rixGAphx]

If the fpr is not working will the car start??So the engine cranks fine, but just won't fire.
If the FPR is failing, it's little internal rubber diaphragm will allow fuel to leak into Intake Manifold through that little vacuum hose.

If too much fuel gets into the intake manifold (because the key is 'on' and the fuel pump is pumping it through), then the intake will 'flood'.
Flooding is a mixture so rich that it won't burn, and you can smell that unburned gasoline out the tailpipe.
Try cranking the engine, and press the throttle pedal all the way down and hold it for several seconds or until the engine catches; pressing this pedal does NOT cause additional fuel to flow, but rather allows more AIR through the throttle body.
The added air evaporates the 'flooding' and the engine will fire; might be kinda a rough for a few seconds.

But a faulty Fuel Pressure Regulator usually has subtle warnings in the weeks before it fails, like rough idle and poor starting; but not suddenly No Start.

Is the 'security' light 'on'?

The problem maybe a faulty fuel pump.
That test port will always leak a little bit when first you depress the pin, unless the FPR's diaphragm has a hole that allowed the fuel to leak out.
What matters is does it re-pressurize after you turn the key 'on'?

If not, then it is probably a faulty fuel pump, FP fuse, or FP relay.
Do a search on here for that, and of course for 'Passlock' which disables the fuel pump and illuminates the 'security' light.

[brougham]

the security light isnt on that was the first thing i checked i can hear the fuel pump when i turn the key on. i checked all the fuses and the relay im not sure how to tell if its ok. the car was running fine last night the only time the car run a little off was when i stopped on a incline. so then im guessing i need to replace my fuel pump

[angrysk8r]

before you do that you can buy or rent a fuel pressure gauge, attach it to the fitting at the end of the fuel rail by the power steering pump and put the key in the on position to prime the system, iirc the pressure should be around 40ish psi when you do this (someone correct me on this if I'm wrong).

[rixGAphx]

Fuel pressure should be about : 36 psi at idle/low rpm, with vacuum pulling against the FPR.
45 psi 'static' (key in 'run', engine off) and with engine running at higher rpm, when throttle plate opens and vacuum drops.

Test the FPR with the 'suck test':
Key out.
Remove vac tube from intake manifold, and suck against the FPR.
You should get strong resistance, like sucking on a soda straw with your finger closing the end.
If there's no resistance, or you get a mouthful of gasoline, then the FPR diaphragm is leaking.
A vac tester works best of course; be careful of that gasoline; spit and rinse a LOT if you get any. :yuck:

Have you opened the air fliter box and sprayed 'Winter Starting Fluid' (or Carb Cleaner) into the air intake as somebody cranks the engine?
If the engine runs briefly while spraying, or even kinda 'coughs', then you have spark.

The engine gave some trouble when you were stopped on an incline.
Is your gas tank nearly empty?
Don't trust the GA fuel gage.

[brougham]

I had about a quarter tank when i was on the incline..
i will try those things first i really hope its not the fuel pump i dont wanna take the tank out

[rixGAphx]

i dont wanna take the tank outIt seems like an insurmountable mountain if you haven't done it.

But it really isn't so bad a task if you have a clean, dry hard surface to work on. An assistant and an empty tank are bonuses.
Mebbe 30 minutes to drop it; add 15 mins to finnagle the exhaust out of the way if you have the dual-muffler setup.

There are a couple threads on here with tips.

I did it alone, and rigged a couple 8-ft 2x4's under the tank as scaffolding, with some rope over the roof to allow me to lower/raise it.

It's just the cost of the damned thing :banghead:

[brougham]

the fuel pressure tester is reading at zero psi does that mean it is fpr or the fuel pump???

[gt00]

the fuel pressure tester is reading at zero psi does that mean it is fpr or the fuel pump???Sounds like you fuel pump is bad , just because you can hear it , doesn't mean it's OK ... ;) FPR , would be bad only if it's leaking fuel , or fails a vacuum test .

[brougham]

so i have the tank out now are there any tricks to take the fuel pump out?

[brougham]

well iits offical the fuel pump was the problem.. thanks every body for your help