91 Camaro ran fine and now its dead...need help

[DrunkenMcGee]

Over the past few weeks my car has been running worse and worse and after dumping alot of money into this and that cause of mechanics and all around general knowledge of what could have been the problem....Started out with ruff idle and then stalling when i came to a stop...i changed the plugs ,distrbutor,wires,coil,fuel filter,egr system,vacumm lines and everything else that could have been a problem and then yesterday it lost all power and stalled out on me besidethe road and now i cant get it started back....

If anyone out there would know the problem or how to fix it i would be greatful, if not i going to junk it and be done with it....

[wrightz28]

"Lost all power" as in the eingine fell on it's face, or all electrical power?

Which motor do you have?

Did the shops ever check the fuel pressure and test the ICM (ignition control module)?

[DrunkenMcGee]

Its the V6 3.1 liter. 3800 series..everything electrical is fine but the motor just wont start now and if i does start it runs horrible for like 1.5 seconds before its like someone just choked the life out of it...
Shops cant tell me anything cause it wont run long enough for them to check anything and as of right now its on the side of the road cause thats were it left me yesterday i wont be able to tow it until tommorow or friday

[wrightz28]

I would check the fuel pressure first (which the eninge doesn't need to be running to check).

For the record (not being a wise ass or anything) the 3.1 and 3800 are 2 entirely different mtotors. The 3.1 is 3100cc motor and a 60 degree v6. The 3.8 conversely is a 3800cc motor at 90 degrees like a v8.

[DrunkenMcGee]

no offense taken on telling me something, only reason i said the 3800 part of it is cause the egr system is the same on the 3.1 as on the 3800 from another car...

if i had a problem with fuel pressure wouldnt the shop have told me when they did the fuel injectors a few months back?

i have went the the Hanyes book and also the dealership mechanics book for my year car and everything i have seen is not the problem the books and the shop i talked to today said either Cats or something electrical , but what are the chances a cat will just drop out like that and screw everything up?

[Genopsyde]

sounds like a dead/dying fuel pump to me.

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by Genopsyde

sounds like a dead/dying fuel pump to me.

I was diverting from that one until the fuel pressure is confirmed. All too often folks are quick to jump up and assume that the pump must be the culpret and spend alot of time or money to replace and come to find it was something much easier to get to and far less expensive.

And yes, and in the same logic, I did not throw a cat problem out there yet either, but it is possible. Again, i'm sure you're already getting distressed at the fact that you've already put some money into "shotguning' the problem and being stranded.

I would follow through and check the system pressure, if it is ok and all fuel systems function properly, then I'd start to eliminate the ignition components (of which the 3.1 DOES HAVE a inherent problem area there),

[DrunkenMcGee]

i really dont think fuel pump is an issue, the car is getting plenty of gas it has a real rich smellof gas when i can get it started like its almost flooding but the choke and everything else on the throttle body is working fine as well....Could the thottle position sensor be a part of this problem as well?


ok thanks for all the input now i just have to figure a way to get it to the shop and pray its not gonna cost more that the car is worth

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by DrunkenMcGee

Could the thottle position sensor be a part of this problem as well?

Yes, it can be tested, and the shop should know how.

[Morley]

You may have an injector stuck wide open.