Jeff f

I have a 1988 firebird formula it has a 305 h.o tbi engine and a 5 speed transmission. I can crank the car up and it seems to idle fine (as far as I can tell as it hits about 1 on the tach but I am not sure if the tach is working right)

I take off and it will get up and go until I get going down the road. About 20 mins later the check engine light will come on and it seems that while in 5th gear getting from 50 to 60 mph is a little bit harder. (i have to give it more gas)

when I stop the car I can smell what seems to be exhaust mixed with a gas like smell (guessing on smell)

I used the paper clip method and found that codes 32 and 54 are showing.

one more thing if I just creep around going really slow (30 mph or slower) the lights will never come on.

also I found a broken vacuum line and I fixed it but I did not hear a difference.

my question is where should I start. egr valve? fuel relay? maf sensor? I have little mechanical knowledge so explain in kindergarden.

vin is 1G2FS21E0JL261305 amd it has 87000 miles on it if this helps

Jeff f

62 views and no reply?

87IROC-DAN61

Hello Jeff f!!

There is a whole bunch of info on the dreaded code 32 in these forums, and if you look a little bit deeper, there is an actual explanation about it too!! (The actual location escapes me at this time, but I will look it up for you) Basically the code 32 tells you that the diagnostic switch attached to the egr valve has not reached it's proper operating temperature, therefore it sets off the ses light, and gives you a code 32!!

I would check to see if the wire is still attached to the switch on the egr valve, they have a habit of breaking off after 20 something years!!

Check the operation of your egr valve, lift up on the bottom of the egr valve to see if it actually moves, they sieze up from time to time, and they also stick shut or partially open!!

Check the egr solenoid's electrical connection, the wire may have broken off of that also!!

Check the egr solenoid to see if it actually functions, apply 12 volts to the contacts and listen for a clicking sound, no sound, no function, code 32!!

Check the vaccum lines to the egr solenoid also, broken lines equal no function of the egr valve!!

Lastly, check the egr passages to the egr valve, they may be plugged, and as a wild stab in the dark, check your catalyitic converter to see if the substrate inside has crumbled/broke, this could cause the code 32, and give you a hard time to get/maintain a speed of 50 to 60 mph, and cause you to smell an exhaust/gas smell!!



Hello again Jeff f

The article on the code 32 is under the Technical Articles on the home page, click that link, and then go to the General Repair heading, it's the first one there!!

As for the code 54, fix this one first, then clear all codes, and if you still have a code 54, we can tackle that next!!

Jeff f

I wanted to add the fact that I looked under the car and there does not seem to be a catalyitic converter. there is a muffler but that's it also I found a vacuum line that was unplugged so I plugged it back up and it did not change anything.

Youngs92

iTrader: (1)

Any word on your fix for code 54?