94 3.1 starts and dies

[CivicCommuter]

Hello all,

My wife's APV just came up with an issue at 201k. It refuses to run although the engine catches immediately at cold start.

Turn the key the engine turns over and runs.
5-10 seconds later it lags and dies.

fluttering the gas can keep it running extremely rough for maybe another 5 seconds, with it catching and missing then dying. After that there is a smell of gas in the engine compartment.

I haven't dug into it physically yet as i tend to overthink and overdo and take waay too much stuff apart, any suggestions would be great.

thanks in advance,

Carl

local weather is 70's with average humidity, gas is regular, oil is 1000 miles old, was tuned 20k ago give or take a k.

[LMP]

WIll it restart after a few seconds or 1 minute? Or does it get worse and worse each time?
NOrmal wisdom always apply: needs fire and fuel. If you can visually see fuel injected in the throttle body, this will leave fire as the probable culprit. THen of course, check for spark by connecting a spare spark plug to one of the ignition wires.
Crank sensor packed in the distributor of the 3.1 and ignitor/ignition module are easy to replace and not expensive.

[CivicCommuter]

It will rinse and repeat the start and then die pattern as many times as I try.

I removed and cleaned the injectors and got a good spray pattern from the primary and the van ran for about a minute. I turned it off, and the problem returned. I sprayed cleaner into it and had my wife start it up, it ran off the cleaner only, the injector wasn't pushing any fuel.

Since then I've tried listening for the pump with key on and can't hear it, but I have bad ears. My next step is to test the voltage and circuit on the fuel pump relay, but I haven't heard of one of those failing intermittently. I'm hoping I don't have to drop the tank for a fuel pump swap.

Update: I brought my son out as an extra pair of hand/ears and the fuel pump turns on at key turn and when you apply 12v to fuel relay socket with key off. When you turn the key to start, cranks and nada, so im thinking fuel relay.




Thanks a lot for the reply, its most appreciated.

[timothy47129]

Are the fuel injectors spraying when you turn the key to start?If they arent spraying the fuel pump wouldnt kick on because its all ready done its job of building up pressure and has kicked off.Which wouid mean the injectors arent getting the signal to open.

Tim

[CivicCommuter]

Just swapped in the new fuel pump relay and nada.

The pump whines as if it's priming but the injectors do not spray. The 3.1 TBI has an automatic bleed on the fuel pressure whenever the engine is switched off. So I'm thinking now maybe the pump can't build the pressure to where it needs to be.