seanconnery89

Hello all. My dad and I are new to the 3rd gen scene. This past spring my dad bought a really nice 1989 IROC with the L98 engine. It also has the G92 & N10 rear axle and dual cat exhaust system, the J65 4 wheel discs and so on. It is bone stock with 83,000 miles on it with one exception. In 1992 the 1st owner took it to his local dealership and had them swap in a 5 speed. They used all GM factory parts and it looks absolutely stock down to the last nut and bolt (even down to the shift gate sticker on the center console). Here is the problem:

The person dad bought it from told him that for the last 5 years he really didnt drive the car but 2 or 3 times a year. He said he would start and run it for 10 minutes every 2 or 3 months. He told us that the rough starting was probably because the gas was going bad and gumming up the inline fuel filter. That being said, the car was waay too nice to pass on, so Dad bought the car anyway and here's what were dealing with:

The car cranks over strongly but will not fire until at least the 3rd, sometimes the 4th or 5th time. It has a brand new interstate battery (the biggest that will fit in the factory location) so I don't think it's a voltage problem. It has brand new and properly gapped spark plugs, so I don't think it's a spark problem. I installed an OEM new inline fuel filter after considering what the previous owner told us, so it's getting fuel to the engine. The gauges read as they should except for the temp gauge that has the straight up needle problem.

What could be going on here? Its almost as if the car is carbureted and is flooded. Thats impossible with an electronic TPI engine right? There is a small hole in the exhaust in front of the muffler, but that shouldnt have anything to do with this? When it starts it runs like the idle is a little low and the throttle is very sensative (almost to the point of stalling). After sitting for a minute the car is ready to haul ***, and it does, but this issue is really frustrating!

Black88Z

Just because its got a new fuel filter doesnt mean it is getting fuel. And new plugs dont mean you have spark either.

Id start by checking fuel pressure, check vaccum, ohm fuel injectors. So far, i think it sounds like a fuel problem personally.

Try this. Prime the fuel pump 3 times. I believe you can use the diagnostics connector under the steering wheel to prime the pump but youll have to check on that. Make sure you have heard the fuel pump prime all three times! Then try starting it. Does it start on the first try now?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Id suspect a weak pump or gumed up injs. If they are stock multi techs they are prone to going bad. You could also replace the fuelpump relay. Sometimes they will stick open and make the oil PSI sending until kick the fuel pump on when it sees a certain PSI. That equals long crank times.
Pick up a factory service manual from HELM on ebay. its worth every penny.