1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Same problem from a few days ago on my '87 900t. Pattern continued of starting up, then cranking and not starting at random times.
Was not starting in the morning yesterday so I checked spark via an extra plug...definitely orange and weak looking. At the same time, I checked fuel at the rail, and got nothing but a weak dribble so I'm thinking aha, it's a fuel thing since there is SOME spark. Not so fast, luckily Roger D was there to accept my phone call and let me know that the weak spark could be causing the fuel system to not be pressurized ( I don't remember exactly why, sorry!). By the end of the day, she was starting again, so I took the opportunity to check for spark (big and blue!) and cracked the fuel rail banjo bolt again (much more pressure) which are all clues.... So I got a multimeter for 5 bucks at harbor freight, hoping that the car would NOT start this morning so I could do some system checking a la bentley and townsend....
I got my wish. No start this morning. Before I got into the different Bentley checks, I figured I better check my distributor cap and rotor...they were really oxidized and cruddy. So I scraped then down. A little embarrassed I didn't do this to this point, but live and learn. My indy looked at it before this, and replaced a fuel pump relay but never seemingly opened the distributor...I'm starting to get that I HAVE to learn this stuff if I want to keep her running in this rural place.. Also I just wiggled the hall connector....and she started right up! Don't know if it was the crud on the contact points, or the wiggling. or just dumb luck and she's gonna quit again any minute. Pulled of hall connector and sprayed down with contact cleaner.
I am curious, since spark and fuel rail pressure are so connected, when you would get fuel rail pressure and no spark at the same time? Definitely some gaps in my knowledge...
I'll be keeping my phone charged and AAA card at the ready until she shows me she is solid for a while again...
Also, would it be worth going through all the no start electrical diagnostic bentley and townsend stuff still even when she is running, or does she have to be down for that stuff to show failure?
posted by 75.111.27...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |