pattymac13

Hey everyone, looking for any help at all on this one. I've got an 1989 V6 pickup that won't start. It all started a few months ago when it wouldn't start usually shortly after I had been driving it around. If it sat for a while (sometimes a couple hours, sometimes a few days) it would eventually start up again. I replaced the coil, distributor cap, rotor, spark plug wires, spark plugs and opening circuit relay, but after driving it for a week it happened again and now I cant get it started at all. I'm becoming suspicious that it might be the igniter, but I dont know much about them. Is there any way I can make sure it's the igniter, because they are pretty expensive. Unfortunately I dont have a lot of electrical tools handy either, just the basics, because I'm already back at school. Just hoping to get it fixed myself without having to take it to the dealer to diagnose the problem. Any help or suggestions on what else it could be would be much appreciated. Thanks

bugs1961

Welcome to the Forum!

When you try to start it does the engine crank over normally?

If no: battery cables, battery, ignition switch, neutral safety switch, starter relay

If yes: Check for spark, fuel, codes

Search for start problems as there are a lot of threads about the same basic problem you're having.

pattymac13

yea the engine cranks normally

86smiley

Went thru this with my 86 22RE... turned out to be insufficient fuel pressure from the pump.. This apparently caused the computer to shut down the fuel injectors.

Changed the pump, and its been running fine so far... knock on wood...

pattymac13

Thanks to both of you for the quick replies. Im going to try to play around with it tomorrow again and see what I get in the way of spark and fuel pressure to try to further problem shoot this thing. The fuel pump is only a year old (because I replaced it while problem shooting what turned out to be a bad opening circuit relay the last time it wouldn't start, haha) but who knows, it certainly could be the problem. Thanks for the help, and Ill keep searching the forum to look for those who have had similar problems. Gotta love those old Yotas!

whitebullet3

hey pattymac im having similar trouble. how can u chek fuel pressure on the 22re, and what's the opening circuit relay your talkin about. let me know what u find. thanks

pattymac13

Hey whitebullet3, replied to your other thread but Ill send you something else here. Im no expert on this stuff but I'll tell what I've dealt with before. The opening circuit relay in my truck was located to the right of the glovebox near the speaker. Some older models I believe its behind the right side kick panel. It was starting really hard at the time and was obviously starved for fuel. I replaced the fuel pump and still had problems before I figured out it was the opening circuit relay (responsible for delivering electric power to the fuel pump I think) It only cost about 26 bucks to replace the relay. On my truck I also took a look at the fuel pressure to diagnose the problem. I hooked up a pressure gauge just before entry into the fuel filter. I dont know if thats excessible for your model or if its the best way to go about it, but thats what I did. Best of luck, and let me know if you figure anything out.

whitebullet3

im gonna try replacing the relay today and see what happens. thanks man ill let ya know if i figure anything out

ScottyC

iTrader: (1)

I had the exact same issue with my 88 3.0L. Replaced the ignitor with a used one and all was good. Never happened again.

I literally had two complete donor motors in my shop that I robbed every sensor from to try to fix it. It was the ignitor in the end that fixed it all.

pattymac13

Hey thanks ScottyC. I just played around with it and Im not getting any spark to the plug. The ignitor is all I have left to go on at this point, Ive replaced damn near everything else. Im looking around at some salvage yards to see if I can get my hands on one. Thanks for your time, Ill let you know if I get anywhere with it.