Problems with my 92SE

[xzim]

I just found this place through a google search, and it looks like there's tons of people here that would offer some advice. Anyway, I don't know much about cars (although I hope to one day), so maybe someone here will know exactly what's going on *hopes*

What had been happening was the engine would turn and turn and turn
but it wouldn't ever start. I don't know if it was because there
wasn't any fuel flowing or what. This had been happening a couple of
times a week, and I'd leave it for a while and then come back an hour
or 2 later and it would start up like there was no problem with it at
all...
I though I'd change the sparkplugs and cables, so I did that, and
thought that fixed my problem, but lo and behold, today it wouldn't
start again. So that's not the issue (alothough it did greatly improve my milage)

When I talked to my dad about it, of course the first thing he asked
was "do you have any gas" and the answer of course was yes, I've had
over a 1/4 tank.

Now this had all been nothing more than a nuisance until yesterday,
when I was actually driving and the car died. Luckly, it was as I was
stopping at a red light so I was going very slowly and able to pull
up to the curb without any issue. But then again, when I turned the
ignition, nothing happened, but after a few more goes, it finally
took off, thank god.

Anyway, if anyone could give me advice, I'd forever be in your debt.
Because the problem doesn't stay, I was told that there's no easy way
to diagnose it...

I've been doing some research online, and I'm thinking it might be an issue with my fuel pump or something along those lines. I just paid for classes so I don't have much money to spend at all, so I figured I'm come to you all before I start buying things I don't need.

Thanks in advance!
-nik

[Aurora01]

I would check the sending unit which is located in the gas tank. The supply lines that come out of the tank are known to rust causing a hole in the system.

[pcv]

Does the vehicle not restart after you drive for a while, 1/2 hour or so? If this is the case, then you have a problem with the crank sensor. if it does not start when it is cold, then you have to identify which component is missing, is it fuel or spark and go from there. Post it here and some one will help you.
All the best.

[xzim]

Originally Posted by pcv

Does the vehicle not restart after you drive for a while, 1/2 hour or so? If this is the case, then you have a problem with the crank sensor. if it does not start when it is cold, then you have to identify which component is missing, is it fuel or spark and go from there. Post it here and some one will help you.
All the best.

It seems to be really intermittent as far as when it will start and when it wont.
I've yet to have a problem starting it first thing in the morning, then I drive to school, leave it in the lot for about an hour or so, then come back to it and it won't start... if I leave it, waste some time, goto my next class, and come back about 1.5-2 hours later, it starts up fine.
I've yet to have any issue starting it when I pull out in the morning, or any other time for that matter.
It might be worth noting that my driveway is inclined, so I'm always parking facing up hill. And now that I say that, it seems as though where I usually park for school is on a slight decline, I'll park backwards or something this morning to see if facing the other direction hasanything to do with the fuel getting to where it needs to be.

And now that I think about it, the last time it died, as I was driving, I was driving downhill.
I'm not sure that any of this matters as far as which way I was tilted, but I figure it's worth a shot.

Anyway, I'm going to the bank sometime today to take out a small loan so I fix whatever the problem is and hopefully tide me over till my next check (damned getting paid monthly).

So if/when I take my Bonne in, what should I have checked?

Also, what's a good place to get a service manual? I'd love to be able to do more work myself, but I have no idea where to start.

Thanks again!

[xzim]

Well, I've been able to get along w/ my problems until now...
My poor Bonne is now stuck at my Grandma's house in Portland

I'm now thinking it's not a problem w/ the fuel pump but something else (although I'm really not that sure)... Reason being, I can hear the pump start, and if I put my hand on the fuel line, either under the hood, or under the car, I feels cool, like there's plenty of flow through it...

I'm looking through my Haynes manual right now and thinking it might be an issue with the ignition coils or the crank or camshaft sensors...

Any ideas?

[DAVE K]

i had this happen once,turned out to be clogged fuel in tank.
blew in fuel line it seemed to fix it for 150 to 200 miles.it acted like it was out of gas than after say 15 min.would start run a few miles die