van problems, HELP!

[tmorgan34]

Hi, I am writting again about my olds Silhouette (1995) 3.8. Nobody responded so maybe nobody has had this problem. I can go to a store and the van runs fine, I come out and try and start it and it will not start. However, I wait about 10-30 min. and it will restart and run fine. It has also done this when I have turned a corner. It is starting to become more frequent. I had the fuel pump changed, didn't work. THen had it hooked to the computer and it said the cam shaft was bad, so we changed it, well it did not start after I went to the store. I would be so grateful is somebody had any suggestions. THank You, Tammy

[diesel1962]

Hi.Maby it could be the iginition module?? Or the coil packs?Any it sounds like an iginition problem. Something is getting hot and shuts down the engine,then after it cools the engine will restart.I know on older cars when that happened,it would be a bad iginiton coil.Next time that happens,could you pull a spark plug and see if you are getting spark??Let us know what you come up with.Have a good day.Diesel 1962.............

[94 Jimmy]

Try a can of starter fluid available from the car parts store. If it won't start on that it has to be the ignition. Also when your having the problem, put your foot all the way to floor, the full open throttle tells the computer that there is a flood condition so it shuts off the fuel injectors for a time to allow fresh air to purge the rich mixture out of the cylinders.
Does the engine try, but fail to start or does it just crank without any indication of cylinders firing.
When did you have a tuneup last, the oxygen sensor doesn't last forever, it should be changed every 60-70,000 miles. It often fails and gives the computer bad info about the fuel mixture and causes the engine to run rich or lean. It can do this without setting a code until it fails often enough.
Watch those ignition wires, they can give you a nasty shock and can damage ignition components if left off the plug. If you want to visually check the spark, hook up the ignition wire to a spark plug and ground the threaded portion. This will allow you to see the spark across the gap without requiring the spark to jump an inch or so. The longer spark requires a higher voltage that can feedback into the ignition system and cause damaging breakdown. Modern ignition systems can generate 50,000Volts and considerable current, which can really make you sit up{or down} and take notice, or maybe kill you, not something to take lightly.
Just some thoughts.
Good luck
94

[Mz98olds]

Hello!

U R not loosing it! I am having the exact same problem!! It will start with no problem 10xs in a row and them all of a sutten I come out and it won't say a word! I've had it towed to the repair shop twice (2 different ones) and they both put it on the machine and told me nothing's wrong with it! Because by the time I have it towed to the shop IT START WITH NO PROBLEMS!!!! This is very fustrating and I'm tired of getting stranded!!

[rockwood84]

how old is the battery? a lot of batteries will act like this when a cell is dying. get the battery load tested.also check the posts for corrosion in the inside and cable ends for build up of corrosion under the plastic

[Will Help]

Crankshaft Position Sensor will do the same.

[rockwood84]

the starting after it cools off tends to lean toward the ignition module

[83cutlass]

If it crank crank cranks forever but won't start, I second the ideas of crankshaft position sensor or ignition module. If the starter just clicks but won't spin the motor over then it could be a starter problem.