I recently bought a 93 pickup with the 2.4L engine in it. I bought it from my neighbor who was going to scrap it because it supposedly had a blown head gasket. He had taken the valve cover off and drained the coolant and oil out around a year to two ago and it has been sitting in his garage since. I just finished rebuilding the engine doing the following: new oil pump, water pump, timing cover, timing chain and head gasket all from engnbldr. I pulled the engine out and cleaned everything good without taking the lower block apart with brake cleaner. I had the head resurfaced at a machine shop. Upon putting everything back together, it started right up on the first turn. I let it run for approx. 30 seconds and then turned it off. Ran good but sounded like it had a bad exhaust leak somewhere in the back. Thought this was possibly due to the gaskets not being burnt in but wasn't for sure. Started it back up to check and adjust the timing and try to locate the exhaust leak. After starting and letting run for a min or two a few more times it started running really rough and not idling. Had to keep pumping throttle to keep it going and then it would still die. Now it wont even start, just keeps turning over with no fire. I thought it could be the fuel being old but dont understand why it ran so good at first. I ended up draining most of the fuel out and putting a gallon of new in. Also, upon checking the fuses the EFI fuse was completely melted but it appeared that the connection may have still been intact. I dont know if it was like that prior to it not running but have since replaced it. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated

Fuel Picture:


https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9P...GUxcGE1akhEMFE

EFI Fuse:


https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9P...k9FeVpPRVB5RVk

Starting Video:
[GVIDEO]https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9P9JRDBt4ZJdWdlekliWTVZaG8[/GVIDEO]

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9P...WdlekliWTVZaG8

 

I would use youtube for the vid's, man.... even signed in I'm having trouble viewing them. Only could see the fuel pic.

Very well could be your fuel.... Very old fuel can cause MAJOR problems... That doesn't look really cloudy or anything, so I'm only saying it's possible, ya know? I had a bad filter before rebuild, so replaced it... But I didn't flush the lines to the FPR from there, etc., and suddenly I had a clogged injector that had just been serviced. HOWEVER, ... I would first test the fuel pump to be sure it's still working. Cranking but no start, if fuel, could be the COR. It can easily be verified if the pump is cranking at the diagnostic port/ FP-B+ jumpered(I believe? Make sure in the book, I'm multi-taskin and can't remember at the moment... Pretty sure that's it). Jumper the FP pins and see if your pump runs. If not, there ya go, at least to start. They usually just GO OUT, not slowly go bad, so it's at least a 'POSSIBLE SUSPECT', ya know?

Check all the FREE and easier things first, right? CORelay, AFM gate opening activates the FP is part of the process as well(which is why you jumper it), and I WOULD DEFINITELY change the filter. (didn't see that mentioned... Would have done that before EVER turning it over, especially if the fuel is unknown dated).

Best wishes, man... gotta run, but I'll be back as I think of other things/see what you've tested in the meantime

 

I did check the fuel pump by using the terminals and it kicked on and seems to be working fine. I have a new fuel filter but wanted to try to catch all the old gas and any flakes in the old one before I put it in. I unhooked the output side of the filter and cranked it over quick and it seemed to discharge a decent amount of gas so I know the pump is working.

[YOUTUBE]http://youtu.be/IiNXIayHHbM[/YOUTUBE]

http://youtu.be/IiNXIayHHbM

 

After trying to start it, quickly pull a plug and see if it is "wet" with fuel. If not, there's a good chance you have a fuel blockage somewhere. (If you can get them all out that's better, as you might have three clogged injectors and one good one, but you have to work fast.)

Put your timing light on each plug wire to confirm that each plug is firing.

"Runs for a while then suddenly quits and won't start" sounds like a fuel problem, but you've confirmed "decent" flow from the engine side of the filter.

Fuel, air, spark: track those down and it has to run.