1984 deville died while driving

[chris c]

I have an 84 cad sedan deville, 76000. 4.1.  Ran like a champ till a couple months ago.  Driving home, it died while driving, like it was turned off at the switch.  No bad noises.

The fuel pressure dropped when cranking so I replaced the fuel pump, filter, sock.  Now it shoots a guiser of gas out the schrader valve (did not before)

Cranked with a fuel timing light connected, get 1 light, every few sec.  Cranks slowly.  Even when jumping.  

Replaced plugs, wires, cap, rotor.  Tested coil, tested good compred to one off the shelf.  Plugs were heavily carbonized.

Computer gets a 53.  Sounds like it wants to start, then nothing.

I am better at my 65 corvair, then the modern computerized.

Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[JIM CLC # 15000]

04-04-05
Chris, did you change the in-line filter in front of the drivers side rear wheel? I know you said that you had changed a filter, but you didnt ID which filter.
Good Luck, Jim

[bob Chesnutt 21760]

The 80s GM cars have a problem.  If the fuel pump shorts out it takes the circuit out of the computer that gives the initial squirt of gas to get engine started.  If it dowsnt get that the computer cuts of power to the fuel pump.  Then after you replace the fuel pump, it still will not start.  To determine if that is the problem, have someone try to start the car and you listen back by the gas tank to see if pump is running when trying to start it.  If it is not, you will need to replace computer.

Good luck.  Bobandhelen@aol.com

[Brian Rachlin]

Chris,

There cars are prone to many different types of failures.  check out http://www.ht4100.com TARGET=_blank>http://www.ht4100.com  and read the posts on the message board there. Also specialized maintenence on the cooling system for these cars.

Are you getting gas at the throttle body while cranking?
Are you getting spark at the plugs?

1. Make sure that your distributor rotor is turning.  The cam gear that drives the distributor and the gear on the distributor itself may be work or broken, and you may not be getting any movement of the rotor.

2.  MOST likely, you have a bad ignition module and pick-up in the distributor.

3.  Sometimes the wires on the oil pressure switch deteriorate and fall apart, and the fuel pump circuit is open, resulting in a no-start.

I have had several of these cars over the years, and the pickup/module is usually the problem when they die like you have described.  It is easier to just get a rebuilt distributor and drop the whole thing in as a unit.

Good Luck,

Brian