1988 Oldsmobile 98 starting Problems

[mikecorky]

My brother has an 88 Olds 98 he wants to give my newly licenced son. The car has never given him problems in the past. My brother owns a body shop so this car sat on his lot for awhile but every time he needed to move it it started right up. All of a sudden the car won't start. The engine cranks but there is no spark or fuel. He's tried different batteries. He's thinking it may be the computer. Any ideas?

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, not much info, what does no fuel mean, no pressure at the rail, pump won't run, no injector pulse?

[lrssms]

I had an 89 with a similar problem. I read this on the net and it worked every time for me - or atleast until I bought a used ECM on ebay.

Try starting the car. Instead of switching the key to the off position, leave it in the on position, wait 5 secs and then try to start again.

The ECM is programmed to reset each time you turn it off. If the car doesn't start on the first try, by switching it to the on position and waiting 5 secs, the ECM will override and start the car.

[maxwedge]

Please clarify what you mean here, there is no such thing, other than the fuel pump relay is re -energized.

[lrssms]

Perhaps that was it. All I remember is that I was told that the ECM "resets" when you shut the power off and that leaving it the on position invokes an override function. All I know was that it worked. I had a cowoker who had a buick lasabre. Same problem, and it worked for him too.