i bought a 91 firebird, and it was running fine until about a week after i purchased it, it died on me on my way home, i was on e so i thoght it was out of gas, well i have a full tank now and i was on my way home, it started spittering and sputtering and then died, now it won't run, i gave it a tune up the same day and the plugs are all fouled up now, it will turn over and idle VERY rough tho and as soon as i give it gas it dies out on me....any suggestion on what it could be?

I hate to be the one to say it but do a search man. These questions just like this come up about 3 times a week. I dont want to be the *** man but just do a search. Then after all that if you still cant get it running then post back in this thread and we will help you.

thank you for the response, unfortuantley i did look and none of them are representing my problem...i do have some more info tho, i was in my shop today and i was checking it out, the EGR is blowing black smoke from it and its throwing 4 codes at me

Codes: 33,35,43,44
Code 33: Map Sensor
Code 35: IAC Sensor
Code 43: Knock Sensor
Code 44: Lean Exhaust

Well those are all in conjuntion if you think about it....your car is thinkin there is a wrong amount of air and temp of air(? i think) coming into the car which causes the car to lean out the mixture causing a lean exhaust reading and also a knock from the lack of fuel. Sounds like you have a major intake problem to me. As far as the EGR pouring black smoke out that seems like it would have an insuffiecent cumbustion causing excess carbon to try and tract through the egr valve back into the intake. If its pouring out that sounds like there is a leak though. Have you done a vacuum test? It sounds like you have quite the problem. Hopefully someone can chime in on this one. Ive never experienced this one so i can only hypothesize the problem.

I would look at your 33 and 35. They are likely causing 44.

Also, if your EGR is blowing black smoke, that may cause 33 and 35.

43 is not so much of a worry unless you live in a very hilly area, or drive the piss out of it.

i would replace the map sensor and clean the the hell out of the throttle body and upper intake to clear up that carbon build up. idle air controll could just be carbon fouled and need a good cleaning and reinstall.

Depending on where the EGR is broken at, it may cause false readings on the MAP and IAC. So he needs to start with it. Then MAP, then IAC.

If the EGR is blowing out black smoke from around the gasket, it may be that the cat is clogged. No place for the exhaust to go.

As for spitting and sputtering and dying, check the ignition module and the injector resistance.

RBob.

ok, so im going to work on the car tomorrow, and see what happens after the cat and egr are replaced, thanx for the help guys!

replaced the cat, and the fuel filter, ran fine from 9am til i went to leave at 11:30pm from work and it died, now the fuel pump does not kick on...so could the pump be out of it now, it turns over, but won't fire

test your fuel pressure. The tool is about 20-25 bux, works on about any multiport injection system.

i did, there's none...i work at a repair shop...now is there a chance that could be injectors, or do i have to replace the pump to know?

Likely its your pump system. As you said, you cant hear it kick on.

Somewhere there is a relay, its the same style as your a/c relay. Swap the two around and see if it starts running. If not, start on the pump.

thanx dale, check ya tomorrow

To check just the pump look for a red wire protruding from the harness around the relays (drivers side firewall under hood). The red wire will have a fast-on type connector on the end and be about 6" long. Run a wire from the positive battery terminal to that pigtail. That will power up the pump. No need to key-on.

Note that this test uses the NC contact in the relay. So the relay needs to be in place. Note that this other contact is not normally used, so it is rare that it is bad.

RBob.

thanx RBob, i have pressure now...after i replaced the pump, unfortunatley did not cure my problem, i did however trouble shoot it for about 4 hours, seems to me the pressure regulator is bad along with my IAC valve, my ignition module was bad also, it had a bubble in the side, so now it will sit and idle all day, as soon as i go to drive it, it dies...so ill keep posted on what i find after today

well i thought i had a bad fuel pump, i exchanged for a warrantied one, same problem, took it to the shop i work at and the mechanich said the brain was bad so im replacing that tomorrow

Ive never heard of a brain going out. I'm sure it can, but not heard of it.

Now, on the 3.1/v6, the fuel pump gets power thru the oil pressure sending unit. It can still give oil pressure reading, but not send power. This is a commen issue on the 6.5TD motors. Not heard of this on the v6, but possible also.

ive read it on here when i searched my problem, i think it was back in 01 or 02 when posted tho so...but i have seen it one time

when i pulled the line off and checked the pressure to the back of the plenum, it sprayed gas everywhere...just like it was supposed to...my next question, could this still make it cut out at the oil pressure sending unit/switch?

if your getting constant fuel pressure at the rail, your pump works. May be weak, but works.

Inorder for the pump to work...
Good fuses in fuse box(on multiple items)
OPS unit working on both sides
Relay on firewall working
signal from ecm

w/o looking at a wiring diagram, I forget how all that mingles, but I know all of that is needed.

i replaced the brain and now im driving it again no cutting or nothing, and my codes are gone thanx for the help guys!

well guess what, im back, and its doing the exact same thing that it was before i replaced the brain, now im stumped, its missing, sounds like something in the distrubtor...or could it be injectors...thats what ive narrowed it down to

Next steps, clean out your EGR. If your EGR was blowing black smoke then it has a lot of gunk in it. Also, check your injectors.

did, replaced all 6, runs like a dream now thanx guys

Where did you purchase the injectors from?

my local advance auto parts..its my place of work

was that not a good move?