89 3.8 runs for only a few seconds

hello, i have the above vehicle, 89 lesabre, replaced fuel filter, and patched some lines. car ran excellent for about 20-25 minutes, even drove around street 1-1/2 mile with no problems, now i went to start, ran fine, 1 min later backed into garage, parked, accelerated little in park, and then Kicked on Ac, engine ran little rough, went to step on gas, she wanted to quit, shut it down, now it restarts occasionally and will only run like 3-4 seconds. any suggestions? only 30000 miles whats up here?

sounds like a fuel obstruction. Recheck your lines and make sure they are not pinched or leaking somewhere.

i should also add, that it completely just cuts out when you touch the gas, this problem did not happen until i turned on the Air conditioner to make sure it was working, that was when i got the rumble and she started to quit. now when i try to restart, with the AC off, it will only fire for a few seconds, for periods of time, it wont fire at all, i have not tried to restart with the AC on.

thanks, mike

It's possible that the A/C clutch is sticking. Try disconnecting the electronics at the compressor (don't take any hoses off..)

ok, now it seems that the engine is not firing at all, although at times it seems like it wants to, it has spark, and the plugs(well the one i pulled out) are wet with gas, they are in fine condition. i am not sure where the A/c thing is located, can you point me in that direction?

well, i am not getting fuel out of the line, i split the connection where i replaced the line, and no fuel comes out when i turn the key to run.(DONE MULTIPLE TIMES) can someone explain how to test the fuel pump relay, and the oil switch

well, i am not getting fuel out of the line, i split the connection where i replaced the line, and no fuel comes out when i turn the key to run.(DONE MULTIPLE TIMES) can someone explain how to test the fuel pump relay, and the oil switch


hey Gogart i have similar problems, 1990 lesabre, would run for a few minutes than quit, and not be able to start. dump gas in throttle body and fires right up for few seconds. today i changed fuel pump, but started to check for power to run fuel pump before reinstallation into
tank, but i don't have juice to run pump. i think it must be a fuse but i can't seem to fine the right one, can anyone help my problem.

where is the fuel pump, will i need to remove the tank?

The pump is inside the tank. The relay is most likely under the shroud on the firewall. Not sure which one it is because there are a few in there. There is a fuse for the pump as well located in the fuse block.

Well, i rechecked all fuses today, the main one i checked was a fuel fill rel. not sure if thats for the pump, but its good. i havent had time to take a look at the relay, but i found a green wire, and when i hook a ohm meter to it. i get a small amount of power for about 2 seconds when the key is turned to run. I amassuming this is the fuel pump relay and that its working correctly. I am really thinking that its electrical related. i did slam my trunk a few times before this happened becuase the auto-release was sticking. any suggestions as to where else i should look? will i need to remove fuel tank to access pump, or is there an access panel?

Well, i rechecked all fuses today, the main one i checked was a fuel fill rel. not sure if thats for the pump, but its good. i havent had time to take a look at the relay, but i found a green wire, and when i hook a ohm meter to it. i get a small amount of power for about 2 seconds when the key is turned to run. I amassuming this is the fuel pump relay and that its working correctly. I am really thinking that its electrical related. i did slam my trunk a few times before this happened becuase the auto-release was sticking. any suggestions as to where else i should look? will i need to remove fuel tank to access pump, or is there an access panel?


the pump is in the tank, it is a job to remove it. I put mine back in and
it works, what a relief. before i put the tank all the way in, i hot wired
the pump, (i just replaced the pump and filter, not the whole assemply,
like most gm dealers or garages do, but than they charge 600-1000 too.)
you could hot wire yours before you take it all the way out. the two bolts
that are on the end of the straps going under the tank need to be loosened about an inch, than you can get to the wire connection to the tank, on passenger side, back towards the trunk, when you get connection apart, hook a hot wire to the gray wire, and ground the black
one, if the pump works you should be able to hear it, let it pump for about 5 seconds and try to start car, if you can't hear pump or car don't
start, you probably have a bad pump. you have to remove lines by fuel
filter, and filler hose to tank. i use a floor jack under the tank to ease it
down and drain the gas. helps to also loosen the mueffler straps so have
a litle more room, i've replaced about 5 so far it doesn't seem to get any
easier, good luck.

There is also a wire somewhere under the hood that you can hook a 12v dc power supply to, and the pump will start to run if working. Not sure where it is on the 89s, but mine is front passenger side next to the battery.

well, i unhooked the wire connection to the pump, and could only find 2 black wires, a white wire, and a red wire, anyways i put a voltimeter negative on the black one and tryed the positive on the other black one and got nothin, then i moved it to i think the red one and it had power whenever the key was in the run positon. then i moved it to the white one and the key was on for 2 seconds, so im sure i have power to the pump and sending unit. So i removed the tank, removed the fuel pump and hooked it up outside the tank, i got nothing when trying turning the key to run. So i ordered new everything, pump, sending unit, tank, and straps. my total bill ends up around 200 for all the parts.

I'd replace the fuel filter first. If it runs a few seconds then quits, it may be partially clogged. After sitting awhile, enough gas may go through to start it, but not to keep it running.

i just picked up all my supplies, the fuel filter is brand new, i unhooked the fuel line where my rubber patch was about 10 days ago and got nothing coming out with ign in run. the engine was running on the fuel left in the rail, after about 10 cranks and starts, i got nothing else. thats when i went to the patch, and from there i removed my rusty tank/straps and then took a look at the pump. i connected the pump outside the tank to see if it would work and got nothing. i had tested my to pump electrical connection and got power as stated before for about 2 seconds, that tells me it was getting power and the relay was working. from there i hooked the pump directly to a battery, i again got nothing. so i will proceed with new tank, straps, sending unit, and pump. now i wont have to dick around anymore. thanks guys for your help, will post a follow up within the next few days.

I see where you already replaced the fuel filter. Might check the ground wire to the pump to make sure it is good and grounded. They tend to get a little rusty and dirty under there. One of the black wires must be a ground. Does the gas gauge work okay? It is likely using the same ground.

the fuel gauge was working correctly. i am sure the pump is bad, as i have already tested multiple points.

i had a very similar expeirence (except the ac) in my 94. it turned out it was the computer going haywire and telling the car it was too hot. After sitting several hours to a day. The car would run for a good 15-20 minutes after i hit the gas harder it died. The mechanic got me a junkyard comp for 100 dollars. It runs like a champ.