I have a 97 3.8 and a problem. I've had a miss under load for a little while went to start the other day wouldn't fire would crank and everything just no fire. had to let sit for 2 days went back after checking seeral forums thinking it was coil packs ( have replace fuel pump/filter about a year ago) tried to start it before checking anything and it fired right up. checked the coil packs anyway ( still had a miss) found 2 that were not up to par, replaced them, car ran great, all my power was back, no miss. got in it this morning and no fire again. What am i missing? is it the control module? Crank sensor? I have no codes even when it had the miss under load. Any help would be great. Don't want to take it to the shop if I can avoid it.

Thanks
D

 

You need to check what you are loosing when it will not fire. Do you have fuel pressure? do you have spark? Do you have signal to the injectors? in that order.

Sounds like a failing fuel pump to me.

 

I had thought fuel pump at first as well, but I just changed it maybe a year ago along with the filter. Could it really go out that fast? first one lasted to about 150,000 mi. How do you check for signal to injectors? Never done that one before. I'll check fuel pressure and spark tonight when I get off work. Just strange that it will work one time and not the next.

 

I put in 3 fuel pumps in in my 96 so far. To check for signal you can use a volt meter, jus be sure it is a volt meter that can work on computers. Some of the older volt meters draw too much amperage. You can also ge a EFI node light, I think most auto stores have them.

 

Well guess what, it was the stupid fuel pump. got home started and ran great went to a friends garage (it was raining and i don't have one) checked fuel pressure (40lbs)turned it off, waited half hour no start no fuel pressure not a sound from fuel pump. calling the garage that put it in tomorrow see if there is a warranty. Thanks

 

well i've been thru testing fuel pump, testing the relay, and now after talking with my mechanic i'm down to the ignition switch. anyone have this problem before? I have no power to the pump. does this sound right to anyone?

 

How about to the pump relay? If no power going to that then it's time to look into the ignition.

 

ya no power to relay either. i changed it just to be sure, fairly cheap although all of this is starting to add up. I think the only thing left is the switch let ya know if that fixes it.

 

On my 96 the fuel pump power goes thru the security system. Does the 97 still have the little resistor on the key?

 

ya it's got the resistor. haven't really had any problems with the security system before tho. not that that matters really, anything can go wrong at 160,000 mi. it has had pretty good maint. over the years. I've had it since 2001 and have kept up on the mechanicals religously.