Will not stay running

Tiny
CLINT NIGG
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 CHRYSLER IMPERIAL
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 168,000 MILES
So, this was a barn find vehicle bodies in great shape low miles for being 30 years old. It needed a battery and after going through it realized it needed rear calipers as they were stuck. Replace calipers and pads. The vehicle wouldn't stay running it would start and die figured it was from sitting in bad gas so drained fuel, new added and changed the filter.
Start it up fine and ran. We went to test drive after the brakes would not start would only start and then die. Fuel pump was replaced by somebody else in the last couple of years could tell because it wasn't as rusted as the collar. Thought that due to the filter being very clogged to where you can barely blow any air through it that maybe it burnt out the pump. Got a new pump and put it in. If I used ether the car would stay running but the injectors would shut off. Verified that the injectors were cycling by using a noid, but not fire after about 2 seconds. Replaced all the injectors and still having issues. The fuel pump relay and the shut off relay all are good and have tried bypassing and still the same start and then dies. Fuel pressure sensor good,
So, the big question is what would allow the car to start momentarily and then kill the power to the injectors?
Like I mentioned before, if I give it fuel through the carburetor or use ether the car will stay running so it's not losing spark plug spark it's just losing the power to the injectors to inject fuel.
Is this a ECU problem?
Thanks
Sunday, May 1st, 2022 AT 3:46 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Hello, this sounds like an auto shutdown relay is not working correctly. Here is a guide to help test it with the relay location in the diagrams below:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Check out the diagrams (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

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Monday, May 2nd, 2022 AT 2:40 PM
Tiny
CLINT NIGG
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
We had checked that and even bypassed it. The noid comes on for a second then stops, the car will crank but never fire again unless I turn the key to off then if try to start again car fires once, still has spark and if I squirt fuel in intake it will run, but noids are not lit.
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Monday, May 2nd, 2022 AT 4:43 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Yep, this sounds like the engine computer is bad which was common, here is how to replace it and the location in the diagrams below.

Removal

1. Remove air cleaner duct from PCM.
2. Remove battery.
3. Remove mounting screws.
4. Remove wiring connector from the PCM.

Installation

1. Connect wiring connector to PCM.
2. Install PCM and tighten mounting screws.
3. Install battery and connect cables.
4. Connect air cleaner duct to PCM.

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.
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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 AT 10:53 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Yep, this sounds like the engine computer is bad which was common, here is how to replace it and the location in the diagrams below.

Removal

1. Remove air cleaner duct from PCM.
2. Remove battery.
3. Remove mounting screws.
4. Remove wiring connector from the PCM.

Installation

1. Connect wiring connector to PCM.
2. Install PCM and tighten mounting screws.
3. Install battery and connect cables.
4. Connect air cleaner duct to PCM.

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.
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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 AT 10:53 AM
Tiny
CLINT NIGG
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Replace the computer still doing the same thing we're checking the grounds to see if one is corroded.
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Thursday, May 5th, 2022 AT 3:12 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
I think you may have a shorted fuel injector that is intermittent. When the fuel injectors lose power try to unplug them and use the Noid light to see if the signal comes back.
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Friday, May 6th, 2022 AT 10:15 AM
Tiny
CLINT NIGG
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Would anti-theft be doing anything to shut off fuel supply power? Have spark and fuel pressure, just no power to injectors after one second. It will run if we provide fuel by either putting in carb or ether.
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Friday, May 6th, 2022 AT 1:14 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Is the security light flashing? If so, this guide can help us reset the system:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-reset-a-security-system

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Friday, May 6th, 2022 AT 2:34 PM
Tiny
CLINT NIGG
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Not flashing.
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Sunday, May 8th, 2022 AT 3:55 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
A shorted injector can cause the injector driver inside the PCM to shut down. I would test each injector. This guide can help us test the injectors:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-fuel-injector

Please run down this guide and report back.

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Monday, May 9th, 2022 AT 10:36 AM

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