88 Corsica mystery death fits!

This is driving me looney-tunes. 88 corsica, 2.8, at, first two days I had the car it ran beautifuly. third day after driving for two hours and then shut it off for an hour. When I tried to start it, it woukd only run for 2-3 seconds and die. I let it set overnight it started up fine a drove great for thirty minutes, first time I shut it off then tried to start it would not stay running for more than 2-3 seconds. let it set overnight, next morning started on first try ran for 10 minutes and died, let it set overnight it ran ten minutes and died. There is no distributor or I would replace pickup-coil. the map sensor i also replaced as there was originally a stored trouble code identifying it. strangely enough the first two days check engine light stayed on, car ran great now the light is not on car only runs ten minutes a day?????

 

First locate the schrader valve on the fuel rail. It looks like a little tire valve. Then start the engine and as soon as it dies, turn the ignition key off and push the schrader valve down with an ink pen. If you have pressure = good, you'll get a little spurt of fuel out. If no spurt/no pressure = fuel system problems = regulator, pump, filter or no fuel in tank.

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

that was the first thing I checked, have fuel at the schrader, full tank of gas, etc...but thanks for the help!

 

Crankshaft positioning sensor going out maybe?

 

Even though there appears to be "some" pressure at the rail, I think I would be inclined to get a gauge on it just to be sure it's "enough" pressure. Might also try reading codes; pretty easy on an OBD-I:

http://www.troublecodes.net/GM/

 

I had a pontiac 6000 once that did that but ran longer...

Turned out to be one of the coil packs, Once it warmed up had weak spark...

Mike

 

Id say take the coils and the ignition module off and have them tested FREE at Advance Auto or AutoZone.