1993 Geo Tracker

[cindyray]

We have a Tracker that doesn't run sometimes. It will die and won't start and then a few hours or days later, it fires up. We have changed the fuel pump relay and the ignition relay but it still have the same behavior. Any suggestions as to what it might be?

Thank you so very much

[fixkick]

8v or 16v engine? (head valve count 8 or 16?)
fresh spark parts, plugs wires cap...? (tuneup?)
when it wont start, do these>
1: see if wide open throttle will clear the possible flooding?
2:when it starts to die, can a fast right foot save, it?, (easy, tad hard, , impossible)?
3: when it dies and above not cure, are the spark tips soaking in fuel? or jet black plugs? or both black and soaking? tips?
does doing spark test fail? (classic way)?
4: if above seems ok, does test fuel , start it now" and for how long, if does.?
if spark is good, x4 , and test fuel fails?, maybe the cam belt slipped.?

the top easy way to see if belt slipped is spark timing goes way retarded.. (timing light)
or do the sneak a peek test
http://www.fixkick.com/t-belt/sneak-a-peek.html


harder is compression test. if the belt slips compression drops from 180 to 80 (psi) id drop more each cog that slips by.

[cindyray]

I don't know what 8v or 16v is. It is 1.6 engine. How can I tell what it is?

[fixkick]

sorry
the black top engine is 8valves. the silver top is 16valves and is marked 16valves on the valve cover.
both work different fuel wise.

see them both here. (left side in this page,view )
http://www.fixkick.com/find-parts.html

[fixkick]

back or silver top?
ever do a full tuneup this decade?
if the spark parts are bad, it will flood , misfire and die. every time, cant burn fuel with bad spark
and the 60k tuneup (repeats) the cam belt will fail. and compression drops to 80psi and now engine has power of a lawn mower... for sure.


http://www.fixkick.com/IGN_timing/tune-ups.html


ever do a 60k???? spark/filters and that cam belt? ever?

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for sure if 16v lots more causes, leaking injectors. and more.
i must know engine you have or all posts are wrong.

[cindyray]

It is the black top (8 valve) 1.6 Liter. We haven't had the Tracker very long. Husband says the wires and spark plugs are fine. He thinks it is a fuel pump fuse. I can't find anywhere online that says where that fuse may be. The neighbor was helping and sprayed some starting fluid in the carburetor and it ran for a couple minutes.

[fixkick]

is this a 2door, (wiring varies by door count so...)
there are many fuses that run EFI.
IG-coil
and FI.

so you have spark and test fuel runs.
does car start with gas cap removed (wrong gas caps fail here)?
on some older 8v engines, you can hear the pump run for 3 seconds key on. old pumps make lots of noise.

now the wiring.
does the CEL lamp glow key ON? (cluster lamp called CEL check engine light) if yes the ECU has power.

seen here.
http://www.fixkick.com/ECU/8v-tbi-schematic91to95.jpg

if the pump is dead.
check the fuel pump wire. behind the left tail light.
remove lamp. housing look inside car body there.
see that large pink wire there?, at the large connector. its must read 12vdc cranking.
if 2 doors, see the black wire screwed to body of car there, in side housing of body.
that is pump ground, (not rusty )?
http://www.fixkick.com/INJECTORS/PUMP/Tl2w.jpg

the pump ground is here G402 (2 door only.
http://www.fixkick.com/INJECTORS/PUMP/Pump-Ground1.jpg

check for 12vdc on the pink wire. if pump sounds dead.
key on, 3 times, with 2nd person at gas filler neck listening. buzzzzzzz , buz for 3 second each key on? y/n
if no check voltage on pink wire.
if yes, check pump pressure. per below 34psi typ.

http://www.fixkick.com/INJECTORS/pump.html

[cindyray]

Thanks for the information. It is a 2 door.

[fixkick]

yes, id check the left rear tail light
if the fuel line is dry at the trottle body.
if the pump is silent doing test above.
and if you suspect the pump at all.
make sure there is 11vdc from the pink to the black body lug ther G402>
cranking.
6v is no good. there are like 3 common fail pathes to the pump.
that pink and black at the lamp (tail)
then the connector center of bumper seen on my pump page. clearly
and then on top of tank the pump wires them selves.
all 3 love to fail, this old.
the correct voltage is
battery volts minus 0.5v.
so if battery is 11v cranking (cold day) then the pump sees about 10.5vdc cranking
the pink wire can drop up to 1/2v, or 0.5v spec.
called copper loses to a tech (normal wire resistance) or I squared R losses (power loss)

short list. given test fuel works, for 3 seconds a try,
when it dies or will not start.
does wide open throttle clear the flooding cranked that way? this cuts all fuel. this is first. as its free, and clears floods fast. spark good.
see?
if spark tips are white not black and not soaking in fuel but are bone dry that is fuel loss.
so the next check is:
key on buzz
?
and voltages above.

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on this year, 91+ G16 engines,
the pump runs for 2 or 3 seconds each keyon. this is called the prime mode. (some suzuki dont have this, eg. 1989 one example)
the pump will buzz each keyon, try that.
some new pumps are so quiet they can not be heard, (I have one) and i must take the cap off the tank and have friend keyon over and over.
it its silent? , the voltage must be checked next.
all guessing now, is costly


I hope nobody hot wired the the fuel pump relay? as that blows the ECU to hell.
and is the CEL on glowing?, this is always step one on all cars made.
the ECU on all cars fail one time, all do . here in usa,
all 89-95 the caps inside leak and dry out. and can be so bad that the ECU goes nuts.
but if it runs on test fuel, it should inject fuel.

the ECu cuts fuel if it thinks its got bad spark , even when spark is 100% ok. case in point a dead techometer line, for any reasons...
but most will power the pump keyon, under any errors at all. most.
all do cranking.

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keep in mind my answers are for USA cars.
not others that have immobilizers.... im sure yours dont.
the IMMO on suz, cut the fuel pump relay dead. is why i say this...

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i have not seen many canada trackers, only usa.
so can't answer if it has this option there. (IMMO)
ours do not.