Same old story--'96 Lumina Will Not Start.

[eusadnama]

Hi guys,

My problem has actually been a continuing problem for a few years now. There has always been a lose vacuum hose that sometimes becomes completely disconnected from the engine block and causes the car not to start. Yesterday, the hose disconnected three times and three times we replaced it and continued on our way. We made about a 400 mile trip from Shreveport, La. Dallas, Tx. with NO problems after the last incident of the vacuum hose becoming detached. Today, we drove the car two or three times, and this evening we went to start it and it would not start. No big deal, we went to reconnect the hose, but it did not work this time. We found a completely destroyed vacuum hose other than the one which pops off and replaced it, still no luck. The car is turning over, the lights and accessories are all on, it just will not start. Can anyone tell me what they may think the problem could be? Thank you.

--Amanda

[jeffcoslacker]

Is it backfiring through the intake, and blowing these hoses off/apart?

[eusadnama]

Sometimes it will backfire and there will be a whistling noise after the hose comes off, but most times it there is nothing to warn you the hose is disconnected other than the fact that it will not start.

We replaced the fuel rail vacuum line, and now we wonder if maybe there is something else that needs to be done from there, or if maybe it is just more screwed up now because we messed with the hoses.

--Amanda

[jeffcoslacker]

That line goes to the fuel pressure regulator. If the regulator is shot and not allowing the rail to pressurize, it would cause it not to start.


Try shooting some starting fluid into the intake, see if it starts up on that.

[eusadnama]

How would I go about shooting starting fluid into the intake?

[jeffcoslacker]

Loosen the screws that hold the air cleaner lid down, pull it up and shoot a good long shot up the duct towards the motor.

Try to start it right away, you don't have to put it back together first.

If it starts up on that, it's a fuel delivery problem. If not, you've got something else wrong, module or something. We'll cross that bridge when we reach it. Try this first.