Starting Problems! please read

chadwick_90 · #1 10-03-2006, 05:43 PM

Alright I'll try to explain this to the best of my ability. I drive a 1990 Chevy Lumina 3.1 I have had a problem for like the past month. Every morning when I first leave the house for work my Lumina Starts fine. Lets say I Drive around for like 10- 15 minutes then I stop at a gas station and shut it off. When I get back in the car and try to start it it cranks but doesnt start. If i wait for about 15 minutes then try again it starts. This has happened like 5 times. I dont understand why it doesnt start but when I let it sit for like 20 minutes it it starts. It seems to start perfectly fine when the engine cools down but when I try to start it when its warm it does the thing i just described. If anyone knows what might be wrong I'd greatly apreciate it. thanks

rhandwor · #2 10-03-2006, 10:42 PM

Sometimes the module under the coil packs heat up and the car won't start properly.
Advance auto will check them for free. You can also check the crankshaft position sensor and the camshaft position sensor. A ohm meter should go from zero to 1 when cranking when it is disconnected. Drive in a circle so you are back at the house after 15 miles and then test it. Check and tell us if you have spark when you are turning it over. A loose ground wire for the fuel pump can cause problems.

jeffcoslacker · #3 10-04-2006, 05:22 AM

Yeah, heat soak to a crank sensor or module is a common cause of that...I might try letting the motor cool off all night, then heat the module up real good with a hair dryer and give it a whirl, see if it refuses to fire...then there'd be no doubt what you are dealing with.

richtazz · #4 10-04-2006, 08:56 AM

Just for clarification, GM didn't use a cam sensor in the 90-93 3.1 Vin-T. The rest of rhandwor's advice is sound. The module and coil packs are a PITA to get to on your car to remove for testing, so have fun.

chadwick_90 · #5 10-04-2006, 05:10 PM

alright thanks i'll try that if not i'll just have auto advance check it out.

chadwick_90 · #6 10-04-2006, 05:12 PM

oh yeah and i was also wondering how much it would cost to get that replaced or fixed if it that was the problem and could it be the ignition relay or the starter?

chadwick_90 · #7 10-04-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

Yeah, heat soak to a crank sensor or module is a common cause of that...I might try letting the motor cool off all night, then heat the module up real good with a hair dryer and give it a whirl, see if it refuses to fire...then there'd be no doubt what you are dealing with.

Alright well I just bought the car pretty recently and I'm still figuring out where all the parts are and such could you tell me where the module is located so I can try heating it up to see if thats the problem?

rhandwor · #8 10-04-2006, 09:05 PM

Look on top of the engine in the back all six spark plug wires are plugged into the coils. The module sits under the modules. Three sets of wires plug into it.
Unplug the three sets of wires. Then unscrew the mount and place it on your workbench. Remove the coils and take the module to advance or auto zone.
Take a hair dryer with you and heat up the module. Don't overheat it if you put a drop of water on and it starts to boil stop. Normally they will trip before then. If the module is bad I would either buy a delco, echlin or standard.
My former napa sales rep said he went to class where they cut apart competitors modules and the cheap brands didn't have all the parts. He recommended echlin or standard.I had a friend who had a kem for three o four of years and it went out. The parts store gave him 3 PDQ in a row and all three were bad. I told him to insist on another Kem which they complied with.

chadwick_90 · #9 10-04-2006, 09:08 PM

So i have to take it off of the car if I wanna take it to autozone? Would I be able to just drive my car their and have them check it out there?

rhandwor · #10 10-04-2006, 09:13 PM

Stop and ask them I have my own module checker and I have to remove it. And I'm unsure if I can check this one.

chadwick_90 · #11 10-04-2006, 09:19 PM

If it is the module and coils do u have any idea of how much it would cost to get a new one and have it installed?

rhandwor · #12 10-04-2006, 09:43 PM

Call and get a price on a module from napa or bumper to bumper. You can reuse the coils. Surely you can do this with a small screwdriver and a 1/4 inch socket set.Just be careful and pull up the wire locks so you don't damage the wire.
If you are real cheap ask a parts changer working in the auto zones parking lot to do it. If you have the part he will do it for a price. Maybe a friend who does his own work.
Ask an independent garage tell him you only want the module changed a napa car care center. He will call get a price look in the flat rate manual and give you a price. They like this type of work no diagnosis just change parts.

chadwick_90 · #13 10-04-2006, 10:31 PM

alright thanks for the help i'll just try taking it off myself and bring it to autozone to have it all checked hopefully I will get it fixed thanks

richtazz · #14 10-05-2006, 09:09 AM

On a 1990 model, the ICM/coils are bolted to the front of the engine block, just above the starter and below the exhaust manifold (behind the radiator). There are 3 bolts that hold the bracket the ICM is attached to. One on each end, and one on the top (PITA to get at) between the first and second coils (left to right). Make sure you disconnect the battery before attempting removal, as that top bolt is VERY close to the starter solenoid and you could do unexpected arc welding if you leave the battery connected. You may have to remove the radiator cooling fan(s) to have enough room.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD