Serious Problem! Need expert advice!

[Saizo]

I have a 3.1 (6 cylinder) 1994 Chevrolet Beretta. The car will crank up and run just fine. I can drive it down the road and all around town as long as I don't shut it off. After driving it about 5 miles and shutting it off, it will refuse to crank back up. When I try to crank it, it will run for about 3 seconds then cut off. Pressing the gas revs it up but it doesn't help to keep the car running. If I keep trying to crank it, it'll drain the battery.

If, by some miracle, I do get it to crank, then the motor will rattle and shake the whole car. And if I try to drive it in that condition, it will act like it's not getting any power (on and off while driving with motor shaking) even though I am pressing the pedal to the metal. Then it'll s shut off on me while I am driving and won't crank back up until a few hours later. After waiting a few hours, it'll crank like nothing's wrong with it and the motor would run stable....

I figured that the gas filter must've been clogged, and it was. So, I put in a brand new filter and saw a slight improvement but nothing major. It didn't solve the problem. Then I put in a new fuel pump and saw a slight improvement in performance but still, it did not solve the problem.... I've even put in a new battery after the first one got drained to death (I needed a new one anyways).

So guys, I ask you, what the heck is the problem?

[DTMAce]

Issues with the injectors probably. May want to check for loose grounds, bad wiring, etc. Also some injectors go bad when they warm up. I seem to recall an earlier MPF version of the 3.1 that someone on here was having a very similar problem with. They ended up finding 4 bad injectors.

I would check your fuel rail pressure, just to be sure its within tolerance. Should be at least 35lbs I think it was.

My 94 may be experiencing some of the same issues as of late, but not sure myself yet, as its sporadic and not happening every time.

[Saizo]

Yeah, mine was sporadic last year and slowly got worse over time. I will have someone check the injectors, wiring, and fuel rail pressures and see if we find anything. I was going to have them check the ignition control module (underneath coil packs) tomorrow as well. I think that it may be heating up and causing the car to shut off.

[spacecadetz26]

i would check your crank position sensor or ignition module, you can take the module off and have it tested at a parts store. Do you have a tach cluster? the tach should move as your cranking it. if it doesnt its prob the crank sensor.

[Barry]

Do you smell fuel when it dies and won't start again? I think its probably ignition related

[3X00-Modified]

i would check your crank position sensor or ignition module, you can take the module off and have it tested at a parts store. Do you have a tach cluster? the tach should move as your cranking it. if it doesnt its prob the crank sensor.

x2, crank sensors will typically act up badly when they get hot, same goes for ignition modules.

[Saizo]

Ok. Checked the wiring and replaced all 3 coil packs and the ignition module. Same results. You guys mentioned the crank sensor. I guess I'll replace that too and see if it helps any. And I do smell fuel when it dies and won't start again. When I try to crank it up again, the motor'll make a loud sput sound and then I'll smell fuel.

[Saizo]

I forgot to ask, where exactly is the crank sensor located? Is it easy to get to?

[3X00-Modified]

Its on the back of the block.

Here is a pic of it on a 5-speed... obviously much easier to get to than an auto... You can see the crank pulley in this pic for reference.

[lucky#four]

be careful, you sound like you're having the same problem as i am, i'm a little further in than you though as i have already replaced the icm all three coil packs, crank position sensor ( which i had do drill and chip out since appearantly it liked it's home and didn't want to leave) all six fuel injectors and the ecm... it runs amazing...until that same problem you're having randomly pops up. i'm still clueless but too stupid to quit, i'll keep you updated if i solve it

[beretta]

My 88 ran great and one morning it just wouldnt fire at all. turned out it was the crank sensor. when i tryed to pull it out it just broke off, so i ended up dropping the oil pan to push it out from the inside.

it has a 1 piece rubber oil pan gasket so you should be safe to drop the pan if needed and not have to replace the gasket, i re used mine and its never leaked.

If you lucky the sensor will come out. its kinda a bugger spot to work on unless you got it up high. i suppose if you put some tape on vise grips so they dont damage it as easily and didnt clamp it super tight you might be able to wiggle and jiggle it and ease it out, but i bet it will just break anyway. or i maybe drill a small hole into it and screw and screw into it and pull on that if you can get a drill in there.

if the crank sensor is going, it could have stored codes in the ecm, you should get it scanned and see if there is any codes..

to me it sounds like maybe a bad injector, sticking once in a while or a few of them, ive had that probably myself, running rich and like crap and other days it was fine, i had 3 bad injectors.

[spacecadetz26]

can you hear the fuel pump prime when your turn the key on? your fuel pump relay may be flaking out when its hot.

[Saizo]

can you hear the fuel pump prime when your turn the key on? your fuel pump relay may be flaking out when its hot.

Yeah. We checked the fuel pump a few times and we even put in a new one. It does make that sound when I turn the key half way. Turns out I had a bad ignition control module so I replaced it with a good used one. It still did no fix the problem. So, it has got to be that darn crank sensor.My 94 Chevy has two of them and one of them is around the oil pan. Is there anyway to check it and see if it's defective because AutoZone, Nappa, and another place say they don't check crank sensors.