1993 3.2 V6 Engine Trouble

[HcCCRI]

I got this car for free, it is cherry on the outside. The tranny is smooth.

the engine on the other hand is not so smooth.

the car did not start for about 6 months, I replaced the battery, The Sparkplugs, and the fuel filter. randomly the other day it started up.

The car has a rough idle, and stays rough until about 2000 RPM then is Smooths out. If i push it quick to about 5000RPM it just dies.

If i let it idle it dies in about 30 minutes in park, and about 10 in drive.

If it dies, I have to wait another 20 to 30 minutes to start it again or it will just crank.

My questions are is this somthing i can fix,

Or will i need to bring ti to a mechanic.

Also About how much money Might this cost, i know its a vague description but its all the info i could gather for you guys.

1993 Isuzu Rodeo
3.2L V6
Automatic.
164,000 Miles.

New: Battery, Sparks, Tires, Wipers, Fuel Filter.

Old: Everything Else.

Thanks for the help

-Jake

[surferfletch]

Simple stuff - cap rotor wires?

[amigo-2k]

it could be a plugged fuel filter or dirty injectors.

[Ramblin Fever]

Ok, truck didn't get ran for 6mnths - is it still on the same tank of gas it had 6mnths ago?

If so, I would drain the tank, fill with fresh and through in some Techron fuel system cleaner or Marvel mystery oil (into the tank).

[HcCCRI]

I put half a tanke of premium in, but never drained it in the first place.

How do i drain the tank, and also how would you clean injectors.?

I will also go out and get new wires.


thanks

[Ramblin Fever]

Probably have to drop it to drain it. If you sit in any part of the country, with the exception of the southwest, I'd drop and drain that tank before trying to fire off that truck again.

This time of year, it's probably got a lot of moisture in that gas - and if you go changing out all the plugs and try to start with foul gas, you'll probably find yourself doing a tune-up all over again.

Bad fuel will torture the fuel injectors as well.

Just my

[HcCCRI]

i just realized somthing very strange, when i open the Fuel Cap on the gas tank, It hisses, as if there were back pressure. Isnt there a device in a gas tank which prevents this from happening, and could this inability of the tank to compensate for the consumption of gas be casueing my problems.

If the tank cannot equalize the fuel will not be able to go anywhere.

Or am i not making sense at all

what would cause backpressure.

[trooperbc]

Originally Posted by surferfletch

Simple stuff - cap rotor wires?

not on a computerized fuel injected system. but it is possible that the electronic ignition module is giving problems; when it's going, it can get intermittent and go when the engine compartment heats up. that said, my intuition and guess is that is not the case. but.... (btw, the wires could be bad, but wouldn't cause the truck to stop running like that.)

Originally Posted by HcCCRI

i just realized somthing very strange, when i open the Fuel Cap on the gas tank, It hisses, as if there were back pressure.....
Or am i not making sense at all

yes you are not making sense at all... ...just kidding. but you are maybe starting to overthink this thing (not that i'm not). that hiss shows that the cap is working. it will release pressure if it gets too high, but it should hiss when you go to fill it up. if you are concerned about it, test it out. run your previous idle tests, etc with the cap off.

there is a clue in there somewhere from your description, but i'm not quickly hitting it, so give some more info? and maybe something else will click.

good luck

//bc

[HcCCRI]

The Vehicle Still doesnt start all the time, Gas cap wasnt the problem though it does seem to idle much nicer with it off, and it never stalled with it off either. But After i leave it alone for a while and come back the Truck wont start.

It will Somtimes Sputter and make banging noises when attempting to start, Then just start to crank and nothing.

2 hours later it will start.

Maybe we didnt do the sparks right, i mean i gapped them correctly and purchased the correct ones.

Coult it be timing...i am just so out of ideas.

I will be Getting new wires and trying that out.

Hope that information helped i have no idea what the banging noise from under the hood is.

[surferfletch]

Check that module. Sounds like spark to me. How about a coil pack? Good luck!

Looks like '93 was the first year for the 3.2L distributorless ignition V6? GM 3.1L with distributor before that?

[Ramblin Fever]

Yes, 91-92 were 3.1L GM engines with a distributor.

I could be wrong, but I still say there's got to be a lot of moisture in the tank. Not saying it's the only issue, but it surely doesn't help.

On a truck of that age, no known history, and hasn't been drove in a long time, might need all new wires for sure, if not a coil pack or two.

Also, when it is running, does it have the sound of a loud sewing machine or perhaps a light rod knocking?? If so, could definitely be related to timing - in which, if it is really off, it will not run right. First hand experience with that one last February.

Another thought - though could be a long stretch, what's the voltage on that baby? When it is running, where are the volts registering on the gauge.

[HcCCRI]

i will Put new wires on it, Maybe a coil pack or two as said but how do i know which ones to replace.

Voltage in next post.

[surferfletch]

Pull the plugs to see if any are fouled. When I had a coil pack go bad, it was very clear the #4 plug was fouled due to cylinder misfire. I'd be curious to know the state of the timing belt and tensioner, too.

[HcCCRI]

i know its been a while scince i posted, been busy with school scince the last post, BUT i think i may have figured out the problem.

Fuel Pump: Works correctly fuel is also making it to the engine.
Spark: Plugs are new and correctly installed, When starting fluid is introduced the car almost starts.

My final deduction is that the fuel in the tank is just to far gon to start the car with, to much moisture, I used dry gas thats when the car actually started, and i haveto let the fuel sit a LONG time in order for the vehical to start again, I will drain the tank with a kit from the local hardware store, and put in half a tank of premium.

Do you guys have any tips on draining the tank that i should know>?

[dawnnewsome3]

If you can get a hose in it just drain it into a container , if you don't mind the enviroment drain it on the ground . but don't be supprised if it isn't more then water in the fuel . My truck is driven maybe once a week to the mail box and it has had the same half tank of gas for over a year . A bad fuel pump can cause these symptoms fuel pressure is a big factor with fuel injection. So it may be good at start up and start acting up after is is run for a while and warms up ( The fuel pump not the truck) and stop working properly , then when it cools off work half ass again.