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95 Chevy Lumina, major repair, not starting.
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Lumina
New User
Jan 2, 2014, 9:38 AM
Post #1 of 9
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95 Chevy Lumina, major repair, not starting.
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Hello. We are working on a 95 Chevy Lumina. It's 3.1 L engine and mileage is I believe 170k give or take. We cannot get it to start at all.
Here's the story. We got this car, drove it for two weeks, the engine blew in it. We replaced it with a new engine and tried to start it and it won't start. It turns over but does not start. Battery is new and also tested and checked out fine. Lights, radio, etc all work. Gas smelled bad (car had been sitting about 3 months and who knows how long before that) so we put cleaner and new gas in it and filled it up. My fiancee bled the system and new gas made its way up out the tube and sprayed out. After we thought new gas got up into there we have still been trying to start it. Same thing. Cranks but no start. Our retired GM mechanic said try exchanging the coil pack before anything else. Did that. No change. Well, next we did fuel filter yesterday. Still not starting. We tested the pressure on it and it reads out at 30. Next guess was fuel pump...but what else is going on here? I will list out what is known so it's easier. It DOES START WITH STARTER FLUID but does NOT stay running. As soon as you let off the starter fluid it dies immediately.
KEY THINGS
-Turns over but does not start just with key.
-Starts with starter fluid but does NOT stay running.
-Engine was replaced in car. (same model, everything as old engine).
-Coil Pack replaced.
-Fuel filter replaced.
-Pressure reads at 30 and stays at 30-35. No higher.(tested a friend's Lumina yesterday and his runs at 40)
-Battery is new and checked out fine and is charged.
Now, at one point after trying to start it many times, VOLTS light came on on the dash. After doing some reading I found some different answers for that, one being the battery and alternator are not working together.
I think I have covered everything we have done to this car. Really would like to know some more opinions on what could be going on before going any farther spending extra money. We need to get this car going asap as we have another really old one we don't know how much longer it will last.
Thank you.
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kev2
Veteran
Jan 2, 2014, 10:39 AM
Post #2 of 9
(2482 views)
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Re: 95 Chevy Lumina, major repair, not starting.
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I am not fond of starting fluid (boom boom juice) for repeated - more thab once - use carb or brake clean to sub as fuel.
fuel pressure is LOW you want 41-47 - you are very LOW with posted reading.
simple checks-
Are the injectors pulsiing- noid light is the tool here -
you could ck is there 12v at injectors with key on?
is the Check Eng Light (CEL) on?
Does the CEL come on at every start-attempt- for @2seconds then go out?
I would concentrate on getting it running then tackle charging issue
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 2, 2014, 11:21 AM
Post #3 of 9
(2473 views)
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Re: 95 Chevy Lumina, major repair, not starting.
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kev2 is right about checking for injector pulse and yes the fuel pressure is low; but it should fire with what you have. Especially if you can get it to run on starting fluid.
You could try unplugging the throttle position sensor. If it's shorted to power in might have send the computer in to clear flood mode and shut the injectors down?
After this it's time to get a proper scanner on the thing and find out what's up. The anti theft may have also tripped for some reason?
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 8, 2014, 6:50 AM
Post #5 of 9
(2402 views)
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Re: 95 Chevy Lumina, major repair, not starting.
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Just thoughts: Don't worry too much about dash lights as it isn't running yet.
Not too sure just yet but do keep battery charged up with all the attempts it will go low on you.
You known it lacks fuel delivery but does show at least low not zero. It's not totally common but connections may be weak along the way to fuel pump and right at it.
As DanD said it may think it's in "clear flooded" mode so do that test. Easy with staring fluid but will say it does spray at colder temps than other tricks. Put all intake parts back together if used and stand back when cranking as it sure can explode in your face,
T
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Lumina
New User
Jan 12, 2014, 9:29 AM
Post #6 of 9
(2374 views)
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Re: 95 Chevy Lumina, major repair, not starting.
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Well, we had a friend come out last night who used to work on cars for work. He said he was willing to bet it was a fuse causing all our problems. Tried starting it up and he forced the starter fluid into it until it backfired a few times to figure out if he was right, then pulled a burnt fuse out. Fuel Injection fuse was blown and everytime it tried to start again blew. Put a new one in and the car started right up and ran!
Amazing! He thought maybe it was pulling too many amps so we got higher fuses at AZ then came home and tried it again. Car started right up and ran for a couple minutes then slowly died. Started again and he tried to gas it and it died. Didn't want to keep running when gas was hit, fuse blew again. Him and my fiancee took apart the engine cover and found a short in the injector wires from an old set that was burned wires on part of it. Luckily we have a known working set from the engine we took out and we will get the wires put in. He's positive it's the burned wire shorting that's keeping it from running! Crossing fingers that when we get the new wires in all problems are solved! Will keep everyone updated.
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Lumina
New User
Jan 13, 2014, 1:29 PM
Post #8 of 9
(2357 views)
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Re: 95 Chevy Lumina, major repair, not starting.
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Actually, no, seeing as he was the only person who got it to start I have a little more faith in him right now. But, he is not here to help now.
However, while we got it to start a couple times, there's still got to be something wrong along the line here. We replaced the wires and it's still burning out fuses.
Now, we know it's getting gas. Many people thought it was not (including shop mechanics, home mechanics), including us for a while. But it get's gas fine. So, what's going wrong here burning out the injector fuses immediately?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 13, 2014, 1:34 PM
Post #9 of 9
(2355 views)
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Re: 95 Chevy Lumina, major repair, not starting.
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The circuit has a short circuit somewhere. That's the reason they put fuses in the first place and when one blows, putting a larger one will do nothing but keep the fire department busy. Somebody with some electrical knowledge, apparently not that guy, will have to systematically isolate the short and repair it.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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