Questions and Answers

Oldsmobile 98, No Check Engine Light Q. Vincent, My name is Richard and about two weeks ago I e-mailed you with a problems on a 1985 Oldsmobile 98. It,s listed on page 88 or 89 in the GM section. Since then I had the same problems and can't seem to get any where with them. I'm going to try one more time before I park this thing and grow flowers out of it. This e-mail is a little long so if you don't answer it I will understand, this thing has got the best of me.

It's a 1985 Oldsmobile 98 with a 3.8 liter multi-port automatic transmission P/S and A/C. Car has set up for 8 years has 100,000 miles on speedometer. Car was gave to me to get it out of someone's yard, I play with the car on Saturdays trying to get it going.

One of two problems, first I replaced fuel pump, fuel filter, tune up, pulled out injectors cleaned them and cleaned the fuel rail also. Checked injectors and hear all of them clicking like they are supposed to.

Put fuel pressure gauge on fuel rail and cannot get but 20 pounds of fuel pressure key on engine off. Start car and still cannot get but 20 pounds of fuel pressure, pinch the return fuel line and still cannot get but 20 pounds of fuel pressure. Put vacuum on pressure regulator with vacuum pump and the pressure still doesn't change, still 20 pounds. I replaced all this except the fuel pressure regulator.

The problem is on the first start of the morning it takes about three starts before it will catch up, drive it, say three time, on the back streets say 10 to 15 miles and it runs great. Let it sit for a while and start it again and take off and it wants to pop back like a old car with a carburetor. Play with the gas pedal a few times and it will smooth on out. And it only does it say on the fourth or fifth start up.

I know the book says I should get 40 to 45 pounds but it's not there, only 20 pounds. If that isn't enough I have one more problem, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON DASH DISPLAY. Hooked up my AutoXray scanner With CAN-Controlled Area Networks, just thought I'd throw that in. With scanner hooked up I'm getting all kinds of crazy information on the scanner the PROM code keeps changing. The car scanners reads all crazy thing like the car is sitting still and the scanner reads 75 miles a hour just crazy reading on all information.

So I go to NAPA Store and buy a new computer, ECM, and put in the car and still NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT on dash. No temperature light, no amps light, no lights at all on the display when you turn the key on. And still getting the same crazy reading on my scanner as before.

I know this is a long e-mail but I think I'm finally getting that Good GM Feeling. Thanks again for you time. This is the last time I will bother you with this problem, I mean problems.

Thanks for your time again...

A. You need to get to a library to get some info on this system. There is a chart to diagnose the fuel problem. You either got the wrong pump or there is a restriction in the line, clogged fuel filter, or bad fuel pressure regulator.

As for the check engine light, are there any blown fuses or fusible links? Maybe it's a bad cluster?