Hi,

We have a 2001 olds alero. It is a 2.4l 4cylinder with apporx 153k miles. I have had the car since new.
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One day my wife’* car wouldn’t start. It didn’t seem like it was getting gas. So I threw in a fuel pump and filter. The car was then able to start although it was hard to start. This lasted a week and the car would no longer start. So I thought it might be the fuel pressure regulator. I replaced that. Nothing. Still won’t start. Then I think to myself the cheap pump that I bought might be my problem So I bought an A/C Delco pump. When I installed this pump I made sure all my connections were tight. Before putting the tank up I thought I would try to start it. Nothing. So then I did some more research and decided to replace the crank and cam sensors. Nothing. Then I decided to check the fuel pressure at the rail. So I disconnected the line going to the rail and hooked up a gauge. It peeks out at about 60psi and drops. I hook up the rail and disconnect the battery and leave it over night. The next morning I hook up the battery and try to start. BINGO. It starts. But it was hard to start.
She has been driving the car this way for the last several days. It runs fine but is hard to start. I have done a lot of reading on the net and I can’t find anything on why this is happening or how to correct the problem. I am NOT getting any codes. It seems I am getting the proper pressure in the rail but the injectors are not getting the fuel right away. I am pretty sure it is fuel or fuel control related.
Again here is a recap
2 fuel pumps (lines tight)
Fuel pressure regulator
Fuel filter
Crank sensor
Cam sensor
Fuel pressure is ok
No smoke at start up (leaky injectors)
Also I don’t think it is the passlock system because I am not getting a security light.
Anyone have any ideas? I would really appreciate any input.

how fast does the pressure drop? anything happen to the vac line to the regulator?

ya know...I never really paid attention. When it peeked at 60 it seemed to fall pretty fast. I hooked it up to the supply line to the rail and turned the key. It seemed that once the pump stopped it went down pretty quick. But I can't remember now. I know I have all the lines tight inside the tank because I double checked. Is that normal? If not what else could be causing that?

I wish this thing had a test port on the rail to hook up to. it would make life alot simpler.


As far as the vac line...I checked the plastic tubing. It holds vacuum pretty good when sucked on.


this problem is driving me nuts. Any one else?

pressure shouldnt fall fast, usually its the regulator, but you said you replaced that. you have any fuel leaks, some are hard to see a smallish one may cause that

When I hooked up the fuel gauge it was to the supply line of the rail. So it was unscrewed from the rail. This was the only way to test the pressure. Due to a lack of a test port. So the only area tested was from that line to the tank on the supply side.

I have no leaks that I can see or smell.

Scott, did you ever get to the bottom of this issue? I think i have similar symthoms.
thanks,

hi,

the best I can tell was there was a leak in the complete fuel pump assy/housing. I replaced just the pump cause it was alot cheaper (3 in fact), fuel reg, and a bunch of other things that I can't remember. I even tried an in line check valve. Once I replaced the complete assy the problem went away. the car started acting normal with the exception of the gas gauge not reading full when it was. then the ignition switch was getting stupid and had to disable the passlock. then...I sold it and bought a nissan. LOL.

Also a pit fall to stay away from is spraying carb cleaner down thru the plastic chamber that goes to the throttle body. I did this several times without a problem. then one time I sprayed it real good and she wouldn't start so the wife and I went to dinner. came back and tried to start it and BOOM!!!! the plastic exploded into pieces and landed 50 yards into the back yard. So don't do that. I spent the rest of the night putting it back together with rtv and aluminum duct tape.

I had my car since new. It was a great (too strong...OK) car. Then it started leaving us stranded too much. the problems were weird. just weird!!! So that is when we got a Nissan and all my problems went away. When it breaks it is something that is stright foward that I can fix. Which has only been once. And I knew that it had this problem when I bought it. That was why I got it cheap.

Good luck with the devil alero. they can be a real bear to figure out.


scott