Guest Dutchvelvet Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 hi,My 17 year old son has a decent Reatta giving him trouble starting. The problem goes like this: upon cranking a cold engine, he can crank forever without starting if he keeps on the key. However, if he "pulses" the key-quick crank,stop, quick crank,stop,etc for sometimes 12 or more tries it finally fires and starts. If you hit the key right after starting it will start easily and run fine. If it sits for say, an hour or longer, the same hard start situation appears.I just replaced the crank position sensor today, with no effect. cold weather is coming and I know this will complicate an already bad situation. Any thoughts? 150.000 miles, well taken care of engine. Just replaced coolant temperature sensor, and oxygen sensor. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Dutchvelvet,Welcome to the AACA Discussion Forum. You are much more likely to find someone who has experienced this in the Reatta Forum rather than the General Technical Forum. I am moving your post to that location in hopes of finding someone who can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Sounds like a dying fuel pump or the old PROM (what is the ED99 PROM id. If not 8064 you may have the old prom with the short FP cycle).The old PROM gave a 2 second FP shot through the relay. Fast cycling should give a 2 second shot each time but may not be getting every time or if the relay is bad, FP will turn on when oil pressure reaches 6-10 psi.Might want to monitor the fuel pressure on the fuel rail - spec is 38-40 psi, needs at least 20 to start. The question is when do you get pressure ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jak 1963 Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Trouble shooting any engine. Fuel, Spark. compression. If it runs fine sometimes it has compression. check for spark by looking at the strobe on your timing light. If you don't have a timming light hold the end of the plug wire. the strobe should show a steady flashing while crancking. install a fuel pressure guage. turn the ignition on dont crank you should have fuel pressure if not its your fuel pump. if you have spark, fuel pressure and compression while the engine is cold. V.A.T.S. your vehichle antitheft system. if your ignition key has a electrical contact on a raised plastic rectangle at the base of the shank you have to use a noid light to detemine if your injectors are recieving a signal from your computer if no pulse is detected it could be your key your ignition tumbler, the vats signal generator or your computer. the vats system had to be one of gm worst ideas of all time if a new key or new tumbler dont work scrap the car. it's a shame cause the 88 riv was the most thecknologicaly advanced car of its era the 89 well mabey not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 The 1990 was the start of the V.A.T.S key... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry yarnell Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 ...and bad VATS won't allow cranking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 "Extended crank time" (by any method) can be either a clogged fuel filter or a fuel pump module which is dying due to having to work against a clogged fuel filter for an extended period of time--or BOTH. Until the fuel pressure builds to at least about 55psi, the injectors will NOT fire.VATS key resistor chips will wear flat with use, so much that they might not even register on the VATS key decoder box at the dealership. That will not cause the problem described.Fuel filters are inexpensive enough . . . start there. THEN get the fuel pressure checked at a shop. If it doesn't build quickly enough, the pump module will be the next thing to replace, very possibly.Enjoy!NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 "Extended crank time" (by any method) can be either a clogged fuel filter or a fuel pump module which is dying due to having to work against a clogged fuel filter for an extended period of time--or BOTH. Until the fuel pressure builds to at least about 55psi, the injectors will NOT fire.VATS key resistor chips will wear flat with use, so much that they might not even register on the VATS key decoder box at the dealership. That will not cause the problem described.Fuel filters are inexpensive enough . . . start there. THEN get the fuel pressure checked at a shop. If it doesn't build quickly enough, the pump module will be the next thing to replace, very possibly.Enjoy!NTX5467You must be posting about a different car than the '89 Reatta. Unless the fuel pressure regulator is defective it will never build 55 psi. 38-40 psi is normal. The '89 Reatta didn't have a VATS that I'm aware of... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I cheat. I pour a 1/2 oz of gas directly into the manifold through the octopus. If it fires then quits it is a fuel problem. If nothing happens it is spark. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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