87 302 150

Hello people!

I drove my van 5 times trough Canada since I have it. It spent 2 winters stored in the snow. This summer it worked ok as usual. Now I've stop using it because winter is here again. I had to use it a few weeks ago and the temperature was about 17 fahrenheit (-8 celcius). It had been sitting for about 10 days. It started really bad. It would start fine and die. Then I would start it and give it some gas and it would keep going. If I would release the gas, it would die, or go so close to death that the whole thing was badly shaking then the rev would go up again and quite fast. Then back to death like, and rev up again. When it got hot it was fine, but still running The idle was regular but the engine sounded. That was 3 weeks ago.

2 days ago I wanted to wake it up a little bit. A little colder. Same pattern but this time I never got to let the pedal go, it would die. When I put it on D or R, it helps a little but eventually it dies. It took for ever to heat up even if I was keeping it on high rev. I could push the pedal pretty far and it took forever to make a difference, and if I would push it about half way down, it sounded like I was only pressing it a little bit. Sometimes the rev would go way up all of a suddent, responding to the pedal depth, then go down again. Also, when the rev goes down, all the lights are dimming and of course they get brighter when the rev goes up. That light problem was here for a long time tough.

What could be wrong? I'm no pro here, but here's what I think. Could it be a map sensor that hates cold weather? I'm pretty sure the alternator needs to be changed. The TPS was changed this summer and drove a lot since, no problem. Before my last trip of 6000km, I changed the spark plugs (gap checked), timing redone, cap and distributor changed.

One more thing: the last night I spent in man van before reaching my destination, it was below 0 celcius (I'm up north). I started it early in the morning and nothing went wrong. I gess letting it sit dosen't help but I never got that kind of problem before with the 6 months storage.

Thanks you guys

 

Maybe it accumulated some water in the gas tank that freezes. Try some of that additive you put in the tank to break down water. I forgot what it's called but I used to use it in the winter when I lived in New York.

 

Hello, it's getting worse!

Here's what I did: it was about -8 Celcius and I poured antifreeze in the tank. Then walk to gas station, and added 10 litres of gas to blend everything. Today, surprisingly, it's above 0, +3 in fact. Good time to try running it again, if there is ice in the fuel system it is supposed to be melted (and antifreeze on top of that). But it's doing the same thing.

I tried driving it around but of course it dies as soon as I let the pedal go. In fact it dies even if I press the pedal and hold it down. I have to pump it. So I went around my appartment building and that was it. It's too freaky to drive now. What the hell is wrong? I really need help here... : (

 

You say you poored antifreeze in the tank, was it gas line anit freeze or the green stuff? It sounds like you need to replace the fuel filter, and possibly the air filter.

 

Don't worry, it was gas line antifreeze! Thanks for the tip.

To replace the fuel filter I need the special gas line removal tool right? I'm really stuck here, it's cold, and I can barely drive to the garage or dealer...

 

Babin, those tools are about $10 at autozone.... It a little plastic tool, that slips into the line to release the clip.

 

Yeah I had to deal with those tools when I changed my engine. The thing is, I'm canadian, autozone doesn't exist, and the cheapest I ever found was a whole set for 20$, wich sucks. Can't have them individualy. Anyway I gess I'll have to try. Must kick my butt because here it's cold and I don't have my hydraulic jack... I might wait till spring.

A soon as I have the tool, it's pretty simple to change right?

Thanks for your help!

 

Yeah, it's about a 5 minute job. We paid $25 at napa for a universal set of metal ones. They worked better than the plastic ones, but are more expensive.

 

The first time I was going to change the filter on my 92 I saw that you need that tool to do it. When I saw the price for the tool at Napa I decided to make my own. All I did was take a piece of 3/8 copper tubing and cut it down the middle like a hero sandwich about 1 3/4 in. and bent about 3/8 of an inch up on each end. I put them around the fuel line and pushed them into the coupler to release the filter. I used them again for the fuel lines when I replaced the fuel pump.

 

Hello,

I just changed the fuel filter. It runs a little longer before it dies (3 sec instead of 2). It sure helped (the gas dripping out of it was dark brown). The gas pedal is more responsive but still, if I don't "pump" the pedal, it will die (lets say it's close to die, I press the pedal a bit and hold it there, the rev goes up and then it dies). Can it be the TPS? I changed it this summer and it has about 8200 miles in it. Do they don't behave in cold weather? Can I try heating it with a hairdryer? aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrggg.....

Anyway I'm going back outdoor to remove the air intake and inspect it.

Thanks for your help,

a little depressed guy

 

Ok the air intake is all right. I ran the van with it removed. Nothing different. I unplugged the IAC, it seemed to run a little longer but idle was extremely slow and it would die anyway. I also adjusted the idle screw to the max (opening). I tried the unplug to TPS, but it was barely starting (just trying stuff )

I suspect the IAC to be part of the problem. I have this sound that I used to ear only when the van was not warmed up. Now, it's pretty hard for me to describe it. It seems to come from the air intake or the IAC. It was louder once the rubber air ducts were removed. It could be compared to air sucking in with difficulty and it varies according to the rev or gas pedal depth.

Well, I'm relying on you guys, my knowledge is way to limited to solve that.

Thanks

 

Get some cleaner that is throttle body approved and clean the IAC and the TB. It sounds like it's dirty.... Have you checked the fuel pressure? It may be a weak fuel pump.

 

I will work on checking the fuel pressure first because I cleaned the IAC and the Throttle Body this summer. And if it was dirt related, wouldn't it be progressive? The problem totally poped in. And I don't know if its cold related...

Thanks

 

Map sensor...

 

Since you have gotten the fuel filter out of the way, check the temperature sensor and/or connections to the ecm. Then check for any fault codes.