96 geo tracker - flooded

This is a Geo Tracker 96 4 cly 24 valve multiport injected 4w drive 2dr soft top automatic with manual front locking hubs and 2w / 4wl / 4wh manual shift transfer case - approx 96K miles.

I had just started the tracker and not quite drove a mile when the engine died. No smoke, sputtering or noise, just like the key was turned off.

It would turn over but not hit once. It did not sound any different that it normally does. It was about mid 30's that morning, we had gotten back from an 1100 mile trip 3 days before ( glad we were watched over ).

I checked the timing belt, it is in tack.
I checked fuses and looked for links, all good.
I pulled the 1st plug, grounded it and watched it fire quite well.
I used a timing light ( it clips to the battery and 1st plug ), when the key was turned on I could hear the fuel pump run a few seconds then shut off. The light fired right near TDC like clock work.
I made a nord light, it shows the 1st injector ( multi-injector engine ) firing.
I tried a small shot of ether right in the 1st cylinder - nothing. ( looking for some reaction to go with )
I started to notice, I thought I could smell gas.
Once it tried to start, noticed some white smoke.
I could not check compression at the time but that could not be an issue anyway since it can run.

It was cold again and I had no time so I took it to a garage - they have not had a lot of luck but he did pull the plugs, dry them and it started. It runs and can pull itself but you can't accelerate hard or it dies. It will still flood out a odd times. The computer he has seems too slow to get a reading he thinks. He said he can press the pedal down and let go before the scanner reads that the pedal is down but there is no real pattern to go off of.

I have not had the Tracker long, about 4 months, I can't remember ever seeing a service engine light come on before ( koeo )but I saw no light at all after it had died either.
One other oddity, when I got it, the guy told me he had replaced the speedometer cable and that it would not start while he had it unhooked. I do not know what all he had loose at the time but I have been looking into a missing ground as well, still it has ran well till now.

It seems that it will randomly flood and it throws no code to read why. Has anyone had troubles like this or close with ideas to test?

I am also wondering if the scanner from Whitlies being worth my investment.

Thanks for any help or ideas

kumado

This is a Geo Tracker 96 4 cly 24 valve multiport injected 4w drive 2dr soft top automatic with manual front locking hubs and 2w / 4wl / 4wh manual shift transfer case - approx 96K miles.

I had just started the tracker and not quite drove a mile when the engine died. No smoke, sputtering or noise, just like the key was turned off.

It would turn over but not hit once. It did not sound any different that it normally does. It was about mid 30's that morning, we had gotten back from an 1100 mile trip 3 days before ( glad we were watched over ).

I checked the timing belt, it is in tack.
I checked fuses and looked for links, all good.
I pulled the 1st plug, grounded it and watched it fire quite well.
I used a timing light ( it clips to the battery and 1st plug ), when the key was turned on I could hear the fuel pump run a few seconds then shut off. The light fired right near TDC like clock work.
I made a nord light, it shows the 1st injector ( multi-injector engine ) firing.
I tried a small shot of ether right in the 1st cylinder - nothing. ( looking for some reaction to go with )
I started to notice, I thought I could smell gas.
Once it tried to start, noticed some white smoke.
I could not check compression at the time but that could not be an issue anyway since it can run.

It was cold again and I had no time so I took it to a garage - they have not had a lot of luck but he did pull the plugs, dry them and it started. It runs and can pull itself but you can't accelerate hard or it dies. It will still flood out a odd times. The computer he has seems too slow to get a reading he thinks. He said he can press the pedal down and let go before the scanner reads that the pedal is down but there is no real pattern to go off of.

I have not had the Tracker long, about 4 months, I can't remember ever seeing a service engine light come on before ( koeo )but I saw no light at all after it had died either.
One other oddity, when I got it, the guy told me he had replaced the speedometer cable and that it would not start while he had it unhooked. I do not know what all he had loose at the time but I have been looking into a missing ground as well, still it has ran well till now.

It seems that it will randomly flood and it throws no code to read why. Has anyone had troubles like this or close with ideas to test?

I am also wondering if the scanner from Whitlies being worth my investment.

Thanks for any help or ideas

kumado
take all the spark plugs out and crank it to clear the flooding. I bet your fuel injector(s) are sticking open. You have the TBI or the MPI? you can send them off to be rebuilt or get new ones and replace them.

Thanks for the reply, been busy so been away :(

If I understand the tbi mpi correctly it is a multi port injected system.

It is still at the garage but I close out classes at the high school this week, He is probably done looking at it as well. If he does not come up with anything, I guess I will get it back and try something else.

I don't think the injectors are it only because it just plain dies. Can't imagine all 4 locking open at once unless something is making them all at the same time.

I am back to wondering if it has some sort of ignition problem.

I can't figure out why the computer does not fault on something, no service light at all.

TTFN

Kumado

Remember that engine codes relate primarily to emissions controls. A bad fuel pump or pressure regulator may not show a code, so test for flow and pressure. A pinched fuel line, pinched fuel return line, vacuum locked fuel tank, clogged evaporative cannister, clogged catalyst or other exhaust/fuel malfunction won't necessarily throw codes either.

In short check the systems that get the fuel into the engine and the smoke out of it; and don't replace anything unless it tests as faulty.

Good luck.

Thanks,

What I am thinking as well. Got to be something not puter related or the scanner or puter would say something.

Fuel pressure is good and so seems the pressure reg.

Thing is it just dies. no sputtering at all. Why I was going to go back to the ignition. Bout the only thing I know that can just flat out kill it without some death throws. At least I think.

:banghead:

kumado

MAybe this will help.
If the engine is flooding, excesive fuel, find the fuel pressure regulator, usually located on the side of the throttle body. remove the rubber hose that goes to the return line to the gas tank. If there is fuel in the hose then the pressure reg. is faulty. Replacement is expensive for this item, Maybe 125.00

Throttle position sensor, check first the fuel pressure reg. don't mess with this sensor until you have eliminated everything else.

Also, you may want to pull all the plugs, remove the high tension lead from the dist to coil wire and ground this wire.
crank the engine over and if you have fuel gushing out of the cyl9nders, then probably the fuel pressure reg.