Joat_65

98 Lumina, started and let idle for 5 minutes, stepped on the brake an the engine died. Unable to start. Were do I start troubleshooting, the brake switch?

jeffcoslacker

Vacuum line to the brake booster?

Did you notice if there are brake lights?

The ignition system shouldn't have anything in common electrically with the brake light circuit.

I'm assuming it cranks but won't start?

If not, I have no idea what happened.

__________________
You made three mistakes. First, you took the job. Second, you came light. A four man crew for me? F**king insulting. But the worst mistake you made...

...empty gun rack.

Joat_65

Vacuum booster is good, brakes lights illuminate, and I am getting spark. Yes, cranks but won't start.

Probably a coincidence that it died when stepping on the brake but I was thinking there could be a relation to appling the brake to put into gear.

I'm picking up a fuel pressure test gauge this morning.

jeffcoslacker

Yeah I don't know, unless the brake pedal lever physically shorted something out.

Usually that's limited to poorly routed accessory wiring though...

Check the fuse for the injection and fuel pump just for kicks though...

__________________
You made three mistakes. First, you took the job. Second, you came light. A four man crew for me? F**king insulting. But the worst mistake you made...

...empty gun rack.

Joat_65

Additional information: Lately, it's been 20' or colder so that's why the car was idling for 5 minutes. After it died, we pushed the car into a heated garage were it sat overnight.


I purchased the fuel pressure gauge today and connected as required. Turned on the ignition and the fuel pressure went up and stayed. Turned the key to start, and, you got it, it started. Fuel pressure was a little irratic but soon stablized.

Aside from a frozen fuel line, anything else to check for?

rhandwor

Put some dry gas in the fuel tank it usually works unless a lot of moisture is present. They draining and skimming gas off the top is required. With this amount the engine will stall frequently.

Joat_65

An interesting development;

Last night, my son (the owner) takes the car out to put in some SeaFoam http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm (to get rid of the moisture) and fill the half-empty tank with premium. While he’s out, decides to run a few errands. At the last stop, he gets back into the car and it won’t start. Calls me up to come get him and I bring my new fuel pressure gauge with me. Hooked it up, turned the key and . . . no pressure, BAD fuel pump.

As we leave the parking lot discussing how to get the car to a repair shop, I’m thinking, why is this problem intermittent? I drove back around to were the car was, relieved all the fuel pressure and, sure enough, it started.

The theory is; if the system is pressurized and the (weak) pump is on the power stroke, it will fail. If there is no pressure, the (weak) pump will start, and once working will continue to work. Now, referring to my original problem, “Stepped on the brake and it died”, the theory here is that by stepping on the brake, there was such an electrical power fluctuation at just the right time it caused the pump to fail (who knows if I’m right or not, but it sound good).

Anyway, he drives the car to our local CarX for a fuel pump replacement. This morning, CarX calls and for $1,200.00 they’ll replace the pump, sending unit and filter. The car is only worth that much, give me a break. My son calls around and found a Chevy Dealer who’ll do for $950.00. Calls CarX back and they matched the price.

I guess this is just an FYI story in case you hear of something like this.

Thanks for the comments,

jeffcoslacker

Makes some sense...if the pump was requiring max amp draw just to operate due to some internal friction, the sudden drop from the brake lights might be just enough to seize it.

Might want to check body grounds back there before replacing, just in case there's something weird happening there...

That pump and sender runs about $325 IIRC, they must be really playing up the labor to get the bill that high...we did that job in our shop for around $525 or so....but that's been several years...

__________________
You made three mistakes. First, you took the job. Second, you came light. A four man crew for me? F**king insulting. But the worst mistake you made...

...empty gun rack.