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Car died and won't start. Help!

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Started the car today and pulled out onto the road and I accelerate going down to between 1/2 and 3/4 throttle when my su88 gl wagon with spfi ea82 and 3at pops/backfired from the engine compartment area and died and would not restart, at the same time it developed a click click click when the car cranks from the steering column, I pulled the intake off the it does not appear to be getting g fuel but when the key is turned in the fuel pump does make noise like it is priming. Does anybody have any ideas?

Does it sound like a normal cranking rythm?  RRrrRRrrRRrr?  Or is it kind of uneven? 

 

The description you give is common for timing belt failure. 

  • Author

I checked them for that reason and they are just fine cranks normal

With the engine cold, and the intake boot off, you can see the injector spray fuel while someone else cranks.  At least a burst for the first cold start attempt.  IF you try this, beware of the possible fireball if it backfires, so don't be watching from too close!  Use light and or  mirror to have a decent view down the throat. 

 

Also, check for spark. 

  • Author

I can check the screw tomorrow but there is no fuel at all, not even to prime when I turn the key to the on position or cranking

T in a fuel pressure gauge after the filter? Check power to the fuel pump? Run fuel pump by connecting wires from the battery to it?

  • Author

I will check for fuel after the filter today

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

I don't know what happened but I went to start it, I cycled the key a couple times and it started up just fine

Engine shutting down while driving sounds like a fuel pump issue.  This can come and go for a while until one day it just won't work anymore. 

 

The clicking problem when trying to start the car is usually a problem with the starter needing new solenoid contacts with the addition of a starter relay. I'm not sure if your model has a starter relay, but some did not, and adding one helps.

  • Author

I've already installed a relay and the starter is almost brand new

  • Author

So It died again today, it was just idling this time, I have no fuel and no spark after it died, it was just fine and then it died, it has the click as well, the screw on the rotor is tight, it is cranking over just not starting, I have fuel going into the throttle body when the car is cranking but it's not making it to the injector. The coil is brand new but I'm not getting spark from it either

  • Author

The fuel pressure after the filter doesn't seem very strong it will shoot out a little bit, I do not have a gauge to measure psi

you really need a fuel pressure gauge.  not one on the car, get a hand held one at harbor freight or something.  should be under $10 for a basic pressure gauge, it only needs to go up to 20 or 30 psi.  the most important tools in your kit are the diagnostic ones.

  • Author

So I found what was clicking under the dash, I looked up the number and it says it's an ignition relay, tried to get a new one but every new one is layed out wrong internally, I can plug it in but the diagrams on the relay don't match up

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