1990 3.1L Lumina - My Problems

[tblake]

I had that same wierd acceleration problem with my 1990 2.5L 4 banger before I sold it. It would accelereate just fine unless I canned on it, then it would stumble and sometimes die. I never did get it fixed because I just traded it in for a 2001 Lumina, but I would almost have to say to check the cat converter. It may be plugged. If the fuel pump pumps up good, and the pressure stays, and the motor runs good without a load, and then stumbles and dies with one, chances are its a plugged up cat. Good luck.

[tblake]

How about an O2 sensor? Have you ever checked yours out? There is a way to test these I believe, to keep from buying a new one. Jeff, help him out. I believe you have to heat them up with a torch for a specific amount of time, and measure output voltage (or is it continuity)? and it should be within a certain spec. I'm not totally sure. I'm sure you can find tutorials on the net about this. Whats your take jeff? Or maybe just replace it, its only about a 30.00 part, or free if you know the right junkyard. (he he he)

[jeffcoslacker]

Re-reading the original post, he changed the 02 sensor, blake. Houston said CPS, that sounds likely to me.

This car has so many issues, though it'd be tough to tell in person, much less at a distance. We'll try, though.

[mattsdominion]

Originally Posted by jhouston77

I had my CPS go out in January. It just stopped and wouldn't go at all. I also have 1990 lumina 3.1 liter and your problem sounds exactly like mine. My car will start and idle just fine. you give it gas though and it just will stall out. I have replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel screen, tried a new computer, tried a new ECM. all this and the problem remains. I hop0e you solve your problem. Maybe it will solve my problem.

well, apparently the CPS wires melted together... and abraded against the frame... that problem is solved... hopefully my car runs when it's re-assembled...

I'm having serious issues getting the oil pan back in place though...

I ripped the car apart, changed the CPS... checked the timing chain...
cut my arm, smashed my hand with a hammer...

and i worked from 9am to 1120pm. on the damn car.

I have to get it re-assembled... which will occur tomorrow afternoon, when i get out of work.

Pray it works.

[mattsdominion]

Originally Posted by mattsdominion

well, apparently the CPS wires melted together... and abraded against the frame... that problem is solved... hopefully my car runs when it's re-assembled...

I'm having serious issues getting the oil pan back in place though...

I ripped the car apart, changed the CPS... checked the timing chain...
cut my arm, smashed my hand with a hammer...

and i worked from 9am to 1120pm. on the damn car.

I have to get it re-assembled... which will occur tomorrow afternoon, when i get out of work.

Pray it works.

edit:

I ran new wiring, and replaced the CPS with a new one, just to be safe.
the timing chain is good, and i'm replacing the gaskets.

I just have to figure out how to get the oil pan back in... i had tough time getting it out in the first place.

[mattsdominion]

Originally Posted by tblake

I had that same wierd acceleration problem with my 1990 2.5L 4 banger before I sold it. It would accelereate just fine unless I canned on it, then it would stumble and sometimes die. I never did get it fixed because I just traded it in for a 2001 Lumina, but I would almost have to say to check the cat converter. It may be plugged. If the fuel pump pumps up good, and the pressure stays, and the motor runs good without a load, and then stumbles and dies with one, chances are its a plugged up cat. Good luck.

I may have found the culprit finally...

there was a rigid air hose attaching the manifold, and the PCV.
It had snapped, and i'd replaced it with a flexible generic one.

I just ordered today, a new rigid air hose that is specially shaped and won't collapse flat under vaccum. Hopefully, my car will be running again when it's in, and there are no other problems.

Because, the cat i have is a little more than one year old... i had to replace it last time i got my car inspected... cause it had broken honeycombs.

I managed to get the oil pan in, and i re-assembled the entire Crank case cover, and accessory mounts. the car is back together, and i'd re-loomed EVERY wire in the entire car, as it was apart anyway.

I'm glad i replaced all the crap that i've already replaced...
I kinda got a crash course in mechanical, and car repair here. I did it almost entirely on my own, with minimal input from anyone while i worked on it.

I never imagined i'd be ripping apart my car the way i did.

I'm gonna cross my fingers, and hope that once i replace the air hose, from the manifold to the PCV... it'll run again without any problems.

[mattsdominion]

How do i bleed the radiator? I'm probally not looking in the right spot.

[jeffcoslacker]

Bleeder screws located above the water pump, on the bypass pipe, and at the thermostat housing, where the upper hose goes to the back of the motor.

[mattsdominion]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

Bleeder screws located above the water pump, on the bypass pipe, and at the thermostat housing, where the upper hose goes to the back of the motor.

It's still stalling out on me.... idles beautifully... stalls out.

I'm at a complete loss for words right now.

I haven't a clue what to look for next.

[mattsdominion]

heh. I feel like a real idiot. Guess what was wrong, that was never checked? The freaking alternator. It went bad in two of three stages.

At least i finally fixed it. granted, there was still a problem with the ignition coils, and a wiring problem, and melted wires everywhere...
(which have all been addressed)
At least i now know what kind of condition my car is in, and will be ready to handle any problems that arise.

These last two weeks, i got a crash course in auto repair. Not half bad. I feel better, because of it.

Next up,

1 - 100amp Alternator
4 - Tires
4 - Rotors
4 - Sets of brake pads
4 - Struts
4 - Shocks
1 - Rear Mono leaf spring

I'll be sure to update if i have any problems with the struts and leaf spring.

[mattsdominion]

nevermind... it's still not working right.

When you pull the wires to the alternator, (new or old) the car runs and idles beautifully...
once you plug the altenator in... it goes haywire...

I'm going to trouble shoot the wiring to it, tonight.
This is insanely frustrating.

[richtazz]

check all your belt driven pulleys. I bet you have an A/C compressor, water pump, or tensioner pulley bearing dragging. It's the only thing that makes sense since it runs good with the belt off but not on. With the last post you put up about unplugging the alternator, I would say that your wires running to the voltage regulator are shorted, and causing the alternator to reverse polarity and draw down, acting like an electric engine brake.

[mattsdominion]

Originally Posted by richtazz

check all your belt driven pulleys. I bet you have an A/C compressor, water pump, or tensioner pulley bearing dragging. It's the only thing that makes sense since it runs good with the belt off but not on. With the last post you put up about unplugging the alternator, I would say that your wires running to the voltage regulator are shorted, and causing the alternator to reverse polarity and draw down, acting like an electric engine brake.

I'll check the voltage regulator when i get out of work..

All the accessories are rotating nicely... nothing seems to be dragging.... but the tensioner is bouncing like something might be hanging. the water pump is rotating really smoothly... and the ac seems to be rotating smoothly as well... so i'm not quite sure what else to look for.

When the belt is on, and the alt is plugged in, i have problems..
when the belt is on, and the alt isnt plugged in, it works..
when the belt is off, it works, and the alt. state has no effect on the car's preformance.

[mattsdominion]

I'm beyond stumped at this point. I'm taking it to a mechanic, and then if it's a rediculous amount of money... i found a beat up 3.1L about 20 miles from my other house. I'm going to buy it, for cheap... pull the engine and whatever other parts i want... and then junk the smashed frame. It got smashed on the passenger side panels and doors... that's about it.

[Bridgett]

Ok..I need help also. I have a 1990 Lumina 2.5 piece of junk. I swear to you this car is POSSESSED!! We have changed everything imaginable...all sensors, plugs, wires,computer...several fuel injectors because we were convinced we were being sold the wrong one because only the old one seems to keep the car running...problem is...the car will sit and idle ok but as soon as you give it some gas it either stalls right away or backfires then stalls. Sometimes it takes 10 trys just to get it out of the driveway!!!! Does ANYONE have ANY other ideas on what is wrong with this thing???? Thanks for any help!!