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1992 Cadillac Deville "Died In Flight" Please Help

Tiny
DILLON FEHER
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 CADILLAC DEVILLE
  • 4.9L
  • V8
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
Hello, I have a 1992 Cadillac Sedan Deville, FWD, 4.9L. It has roughly 190,000 miles on it. I garaged the car all winter and only have been driving it again recently. The other day I made a trip about 200 miles in distance to visit family. On the trip back, about 100 miles in, the car 'died in flight''. All my lights still worked, headlights, trunk and door lights. If I turned the key the car would would attempt to crank and turn over, but would never ignite and/or start. After many attempts, the car's engine stopped cranking completely. I have gotten the Deville towed back home. Please consider helping me. Thank you for your time in advance.
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Monday, March 27th, 2017 AT 9:42 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
First thing to do is determine what is missing. To do that, put a battery charger on it and let it charge up. Now get a can of starter fluid and shoot a bit into the air inlet inside the air filter housing. See if it fires or maybe even runs a bit. If it does the problem is likely the fuel pump or its control system. Rent/borrow a fuel pressure test gauge from a parts store and check to see if you have pressure. If you don't check the fuses for a bad one or a bad fuel pump relay. If you still find nothing you probably have a bad pump.
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Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 AT 8:07 PM
Tiny
DILLON FEHER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you for your response and taking interest in my situation. I apologize for my late response. I'm not always able to get to a computer in timely fashion. I have recently had a friend who is an experienced mechanic come take a quick look under the hood. We put it on a battery charger and made sure it had lots of juice, put a fuel pressure gauge on and tested. Came back reading 45 when the engine was cranked. He was able to come to the conclusion that I am not receiving any spark. He had to quickly rush of for family, but at least was able to tell me that I am getting the proper amount of pressure from the fuel pump. Any further advice, or tips would be extremely helpful. What should my next step be? Thank you in advance again.
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Thursday, April 6th, 2017 AT 8:30 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
OK, if you have fuel and no spark, check the ignition control module in the distributor. They are known for going bad, so are the pick-up coils in the distributor.

Keep in mind you can get a complete distributor with all new parts for just a bit more than the cost of those 2 parts.
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Friday, April 7th, 2017 AT 3:49 AM
Tiny
DILLON FEHER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Okay, before I begin checking that. I wanted to give some more information. I put the battery on a charger and after four hours of leaving it on, removed it, and noticed that the dash lights and sounds were fading as soon as I turned the key. In the ignition switch. I replaced the battery last year. How do I check the ignition control module? Any more advice or other suggestions would be extremely appreciated. I can upload pictures too if that would help.
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Sunday, April 9th, 2017 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Nuther Guy,

Gonna aid until STEVE W gets back. This may expedite your fix.

Mr. Battery sounds sick, even a brand new one can go bad in hours/ weeks/ months

Charge him- then take him back to the auto parts store for thorough testing. He may be fine, needing a longer charge, he may have a problem. The parts store trip may keep you from chasing your tail in the long run!

After you get him running, take your rig back to the auto parts store and have the whole charging system checked. These are normally free services.

You cannot really do a good proper diagnosis with a bad battery! 'Specially the spark part!

STEVE W should be back soon to continue.

The Medic
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Sunday, April 9th, 2017 AT 7:24 PM
Tiny
DILLON FEHER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I also want to state that when I first initially died in flight, I was found by state patrol in a mountain pass. They attempted to jump my car and my car cranked over once. The second time I attempted to start the car I got no cranking. I was hooked up to a state patrols SUV at the time. I'm just curious if a battery could be so terrible that even when it's hooked to another running vehicle, could it not start? I still plan on disconnecting the battery and taking it in to get it replaced with a new one Thursday. I have it under warranty with all the proper paperwork, and the store I got it from is not far. Thank you again.
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Sunday, April 9th, 2017 AT 9:23 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
Yep, a battery can fail to the point where it won't hold a charge at all. The question then becomes, did the battery just fail, or is there an issue with the vehicle that damaged the battery. That is what the charging system test will show you. Especially given being connected to another charging system. Once you get that solved it may solve the other problem as well as the computer systems need a constant voltage to operate.

Thanks to CJ MEDEVAC for jumping in. More hands make lighter work.
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Monday, April 10th, 2017 AT 2:34 AM
Tiny
DILLON FEHER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Okay, I wil disconnect the battery and take it in and get a new one under the warranty. I will most likely get it done on Thursday and keep the post updated. Thank you again for your input.
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Monday, April 10th, 2017 AT 7:36 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Maybe this will help.

Keep in mind this criteria changes over time, you may have to do the homework that I had to do to make out like a bandit! You may also have to Copy Cat this technique for different store. It's all about the treasure hunt!

See my link

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2001-dodge-neon-milage-just-want-put-fliuds-their-locations

Let us know how everything is working out.

The Medic
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Tuesday, April 11th, 2017 AT 6:07 PM

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