Will not start, low fuel pressure

Good morning.

What is the fuel pressure? did you use a gauge to test it?

The injectors could be an issue. additives have no effect on cleaning. the fact it sat for five years tells me the pindles may be carbon ed up.

Was the fuel pressure regulator checked?

Roy

Good morning.
Thank you for your response and knowledge..
I have not done that, I have just tested it via Phillips head screwdriver. No gas comes out.. I get a substance on my finger that resembles old gas. I do not have a gauge myself to test the psi. Does AutoZone or O' Reilys have one for the customers to borrow? I will test it today.
Do I need a psi gauge for the radiator cap also? I am a twenty four year old southern female who has no clue what the hell she is doing, just learning as i go! Thanks to YouTube i managed to successfully come this far.
I am changing the spark plugs today once my babies wake up and I can get them outside with me..

Okay, yes they rent tools at the parts stores.

The fact that there was something other than fuel at the test port tells me there is contamination in the lines that must be cleaned out.

Roy

How would I go about doing that? I was told by a friend of mine if I take the head gasket off, unhook air intake, take a few screws out, and move the wires out of my way I will get to the "gas flow intake thingy" and can clean it out that way, and I can get to spark plugs easier if I go this route..
Am I somewhat correct? I am trying my best to save money, and not go to a master mechanic.

It is called an upper intake manifold. Yes, it has to come off then you will have access to the injectors and the rail. the rail needs to be removed and cleaned out completely. the line back to the tank needs to be cleaned as well. change the fuel filter as that is in line.

Roy

So as I am replacing the fuel lines I should also change fuel filter again?
Okay so my to do list consists of.
Changing spark plugs, cleaning fuel lines, rails, and injectors?
Should I consider getting assistance? Or is it simple enough persay for me to give it a try myself?

I suggest assistance is you have never done it before.

you cannot clean the injectors has to be done from the inside with special cleaner. after you have completed the task, take it to a shop such as Firestone, Goodyear or one of the major chains that have good pricing and have them clean the injectors. it should run about seventy five to eighty bucks.

Roy

Thank you so much! I have a mechanic coming tomorrow to finish things up.
Thank you so much! I will update you to let you know the outcome.
Thanks again.

You are welcome. Keep us updated.

Roy

I have changed spark plugs and noticed a belt shredding and the shredding were wrapping around a threaded pulley type thing and seems to be coming off its bearing, I believe. i did some research and found out it is the idler pulley.
Would this cause such problems I am having? If not what kind of problems/symptoms would it cause?

Also it almost took me out me reaching those back three spark plugs, and the front three were so tight I almost considered an air impact.

Alright, so now it is just clicking when I turn the key over..
Oh my goodness, what could possibly be the problems now and/or resolutions?

okay, no the bad idler is not your issue. When it fails it will toss the belt off and the belt will get wrapped around everything.

never,ever use an impact on plugs, you will tear up the threads in the head.

make sure the battery is charged up and has 12.6 volts.

Roy

Battery is fine, just checked it. Thank God the ldler is fine.
It will not start its just making a clicking when I turn the key over, and also i can take the key out of the ignition while in the on position.

Okay, what is the battery voltage? it sounds like low voltage for the clicking and the key.

Roy

Not sure. I took it out of my other vehicle. It is a new battery, less than six months old.

I would still check the voltage. do not assume anything.

Roy

I thought it could be a security problem, so i did the "leave key in on position for ten minutes". no luck.
I do not have the key remote. Would that make a difference?

no, if that was the issue, it would do nothing and the security light or theft light would stay on after about five seconds with the key on.

Roy

With key on it flips through low fuel, battery, and security. Sometimes one will stay on for a few minutes then flip to the next.

that is the PCM doing it sweep test for the dash cluster.

Roy

So it is irrelevant pretty much? I have no idea what the PCM is nor the dash cluster.

Okay, PCM is the engine computer and the dash cluster is the dashboard that you read for gauges and speedometer .

Just paid for a brand new battery from O'Reilly's. Will let you know what happens once I hook it up.
Thank you so much for helping me.

No problem. we are glad to help.

Roy

And it still will not start. $165.00 for the new battery. But at least it is not clicking. it sounds like it is trying to start.
I believe I am just going to take it to a mechanic to get the fuel lines changed next.
So far I have put about $700.00 into this car.
It means so much more since it was my grandmother's. Lost my mom at fifteen (her only child) then eight years later she passed.
I believe that is why I am trying to fix it myself, but I had no idea what I was getting into.
This is starting to upset me.

Bringing a car back to life after siting for a long period is a time consuming and an expensive project.

Roy

But can be a reachable goal? I am hoping so. I am going to have someone come help me clean the fuel rail sometime today. Maybe that will help.

Okay, keep me updated.

Roy

Okay! Good news! It is running! (With a knock though) and the gas hand works. after my grandfather's mechanic told me the day i went and picked it up from his house the gas hand did not work and there was no need to go buy gas because it would not hold $10.00 worth since it was full (he was the one to clean the gas tank, replace fuel relay, and change the fuel pump and filter) .
So from him telling me it was junk, to scrap it nothing more could be done. I started the project myself with your help, a couple of friends of mine, and YouTube.
So from all that to getting a used battery, getting oil and filter changed, taking it to O'Reilly's told diagnosis was "too many misfires", putting fuel injector cleaner in it, changing spark plugs, changing bad fuses, buying a new battery. still would not crank.
This morning I was just thinking what if, what if I am out of gas? We all had trusted my pawpaw's friend. so nobody thought it would be out of gas.
After calling pawpaw to bring me gas and him telling me there was no reason. I called my aunt to bring me a jug of gas. I will be darned, I had to tap the gas twice and it started right up. I have driven it to town to fill up and back home. it never stalled, but there is a shake/knocking noise. I am going to upload a video of it.

okay, sounds like a plan.

Roy

Here is the knock.

Okay, it sounds like lifters are collapsed. Try adding some valve lifter treatment and run the engine at about 1200 rpm.

Roy

I just YouTube searched a few videos of valve tick and I have to agree, it does sound like that. I will go get some now. I will update you.
You are the best! Thank you!

thank you.

I bought Rislone engine treatment.. how much do I need to put? And I had diagnosis ran again.. this time time I wrote them down...
- B1001
U1000
U1096
P0300
P1381
The boy that assisted me had no clue about codes or what kind of valve lifter I needed.
I figured since I had already put fuel injector cleaner in gas tank that I needed to the kind to go in oil...

You can try the RisLone but I had 0 success with it.

1381 description

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) uses the rough road information to enhance the misfire diagnostic by distinguishing crankshaft speed variations caused by driving on rough road surfaces from variations caused by true misfires. The EBCM/EBTCM transmits rough road information based on inputs from the wheel speed sensors. If a loss of communication occurs which causes the PCM not to receive rough road information while DTC P0300 Engine Misfire Detected is requesting the MIL, DTC P1381 will set.

CONDITIONS FOR RUNNING THE DTC
^ Engine load is less than 87.5 percent.
^ Engine speed is less than 5000 RPM.
^ Vehicle speed is more than 10 mph.
^ A misfire DTC is occurring and requesting the MIL to be illuminated.

CONDITIONS FOR SETTING THE DTC
The PCM is detecting a loss of communication with the EBCM/EBTCM for at least 5 seconds.

ACTION TAKEN WHEN THE DTC SETS
^ The PCM will not illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL).
^ The PCM will store conditions which were present when the DTC set as Failure Records data only. This information will not be stored as Freeze Frame data.

CONDITIONS FOR CLEARING THE MIL/DTC
^ A History DTC will clear after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles have occurred without a malfunction.
^ The DTC can be cleared by using a scan tool.

DIAGNOSTIC AIDS
Inspect for the following conditions:

IMPORTANT: Remove any debris from the connector surfaces before servicing a component. Inspect the connector gaskets when diagnosing or replacing a component. Ensure that the gaskets are installed correctly. The gaskets prevent contaminate intrusion.

^ Poor terminal connection - Inspect the harness connectors for backed out terminals, improper mating, broken locks, improperly formed or damaged terminals, and faulty terminal to wire connection. Use a corresponding mating terminal to test for proper tension.
^ Damaged harness - Inspect the wiring harness for damage. If the harness inspection does not reveal a problem, observe the display on the scan tool while moving connectors and wiring harnesses related to the sensor. A change in the scan tool display may indicate the location of the fault.
^ PCM and engine grounds for clean and secure connections.

If the DTC is determined to be intermittent, reviewing the Failure Records can be useful in determining when the DTC was last set.

TEST DESCRIPTION
The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table:
2. Ensures that the EBCM/EBTCM is capable of transmitting serial data on the Class II serial data circuit.
4. Tests the Class II serial data circuit at the EBCM/EBTCM for correct voltage

So definitely need a mechanic... I'm taking him a copy of all of what you just said.
I didnt understand hardly anything.. now if it were math problems, I'd be alright..
But -
It would be great if you were in my area, I'd pay you to help fix it..

I'll put the remainder of the valve lifter in tomorrow.
Is it okay to drive? It still hasn't stalled but you still have to tap the gas a little to get it started if it's been off for an hr or so..

Short distances, yes, until it is determined what is the failure

So far I've been about 60 miles. No problems. The last two times I started it, it turned right over with out having to tap the gas...
It's still making a ticking noise.. I'm going to get a more expensive brand of valve lifter treatment this weekend.
Thank you so so so much!!!