engine keeps shutting off

helping a friend work on a '94 DOHC non-turbo. it has spark, fuel pump works, fuel pressure is good,and there's power to the injectors. this car will only fires up when the spark plugs are completely dry. it will start right up and die right out. we've change the plugs and still the same thing. each time we get it to start once....we would have to pull the plugs out to dry them to get it started again. it seems like it losses spark once it's started. i've tried stepping on the gas pedal right when it starts up...that did nothing. i've check all the sensors to see if maybe there's one that's loose...but all of them are connected properly. it feels like it wants to run...but seems like something being restricted or cutting off right when it starts up. has anyone had this problem or may know what could be causing this problem(s)?

Working with the same problem on a friends car, after cranking for extended amounts of time 20 sec or so it starts up. Its kinda odd. The only stock part of his fuel system are his injectors, so we dont think its that.

Make sure the MAF is plugged in, that can cause the same problem.

we've checked the connection. unless it's a bad sensor...how would you check to see if the maf is working properly.

is your pcv valve connected

Its possible the FPR ruptured. I have heard of it going out and causing fuel to just dump into the cylinders causing flooding and stalling.

pcv is connected...as for the FPR...is there a way to test it? is this a common problem?

check the timing!!! one morning my car wouldn't start---and it ran fine the day before. sounded like it wanted to start: it cranked and turned over, but just wouldn't stay running. turns out the timing tensioner failed and so the belt slipped a few teeth. (no valve damage--just replaced the belt and tensioner). so check your timing, sounds basic, but its probable and worth checking out.

we thought it could of been the timing too...but timing is all lined up. could the TPS or IAC cause this problem?

my friend w/ the 3kgt has a cowork w/ a 94 diamante that was willing to let us try out some of the parts off his car. we've tried fuel pressure reg, tps, iac, and main relay (all w/ same part numbers). still same problem. however, i disconnected all the injectors...started it...it ran (longer than w/ injectors connected). i'm thinkin it may be leaking injectors now. only problem is how do you determine w/ one is leaking? does anyone know how to check the injectors w/out buying a special set of tool? my friends coworker had to go before we had a chance to check the injectors.

If it ran longer with the injectors unplugged then its definitely dumping fuel. I never thought about it but maybe the ECU is messed up, like the caps are leaking causing your problem.

we got the diamante to come back so we can check out the injectors. both injectors are almost identical except that the ones off the 3k has a nozle that splits the spray...the diamante didn't. looks something like this if you like straight on w/ the nozles: 3k- (oo) diamante- (O). that's the best description i can give. we tried those to only lead to the same conclusion. the only thing left is the ECU like stealthee said, crank position sensor, or cam position sensor. only problem is we don't know how to check those things and we don't know anyone that has another 3kgt like his. it would suck to have to buy one of these components to only find out it's not the problem and can't return it since it's an electrical part. well...at least that's the way the return policy is here. we've tried local salvage yards...apparently 3kgt's are hard to come by in a salvage yard.

I cant see the cam or crank sensor being at fault here. Usually if they fail then spark fails, or at least thats my understanding. Something is going wrong and causing the injectors to dump fuel. Only other thing ither than the ECU that controls fuel would be the o2 sensor but I cant see it telling the ECU the car is running that lean without a CEL. Good luck man. I know what its like chasing down gremlins.

we'll give the ecu a shot. like to thank everyone for their input and advice. we'll update once we can get ahold of a ecu to test.

Try the regional section of 3si, perhaps it will assist you in finding a local fellow 3S owner who would be willing to help/lend parts.

we tried looking for an ecu and only found that the dealer has them. couldn't find anywhere else. also read up on the caps leaking issue...from what i have read...this is a problem pertaining to the 91-93 models...we're working on a june/94. is there a way to check the part numbers of 91-93 ecu to a 94+? igovert500...we checked out that site...only to find out you have to pay a membership fee...so i wasnt able to post.

no you don't need to pay a fee to access the majority of the site...trust me, I'm a member and never paid a fee. You only need an acceptable email address...they don't accept any web-based email addresses such as yahoo or hotmail...so you have to use the email address from your service provider.

Maybe these threads will help:

http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread.php?t=270281

http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread.php?t=269127&highlight=engine+dies