Ok guys, finally gave up and took the car to shop. Lets see what you guys think and I will post results. 87 Firebird with a carb 305. Car ran great but carb had several leaks. Went in and repalced gaskets and put back together. Car went around block and starter seized up. Was busy so mechanic told me he would replace and while he was at it would tune up. Car never ran the same and flashed 41. It would drive great but at stop lights would surge. Lately it would surge when driving low speeds. Would also idle fine at 1000, but would run rough at idle of 500 and try to cut off. Tried everything. Thought it might be carb tried everything and gave up. What is your thoughts.

 

Is it the quardrajet carb on it....? if so then the code could be coming from the carb perhaps.... Not sure why a starter siezing would affect anything but starting it.. since it should not be engaged except when you turn it over. If the code is from the carb then there may have been something that was forgotten or was not tightend all the way or something causing the carb to malfuntion... ie making it surge... Could perhaps be an O2 sensor as well? Wish i had a code book for them lol...

 

sounds like a vacuum leak, check for them.

 

Code 41 would be the Distributor no reference signal, which would be there for checking the timing. Clear code and see if it comes back. Also, make sure the timing connector (four wire connector, or single wire tan w/black stripe) is connected. If Check Engine light is on, in may not be connected. Some carb cars take a while for the computer bypass to kick in when the timing connector is disconnected.

 

vacuum leak around the rods that butterflies are attached to. Needs to have bushings replaced

 

Ok, here is the latest. The mechanic pulled the carb apart and declared it DOA. He said everything in the carb was shot. Someone had put the bottom of the carb back together and used a gasket sealer. Anything electrical was bad, and choke wad chocked out. So a new carb is on order. $440.00. That includes setting up and adjustments. $30 for a tune up and its ready to go. I pick it up Wedesday. I know I could have purchased for a lot less, but I am a HVAC contractor and it was worth it just to pay someone else.

 

i would have laughed at him.. and then either just rebuilt the thing from the ground up, or just bought a new one and then had a person tune the car and i am pretty sure it would have come out at least $100 less

 

The body was probably warped and there may have been some stripped threads. And like Barry said, throttle shaft wear. A number of factors can make the entire carburetor garbage. And a new carb is better than a parts store rebuild any day. You never know what it was replaced for, and neither do the rebuilders paid at probably minimum wage. $30 for a "tune up" sounds a bit cheap, probably just plug replacement. Make sure the emissions are tested and you get the results. That way you know the cruise and idle emissions are adjusted correctly for best fuel economy and performance. If they don't have an emissions analyzer, carb adjustment would only be a guess and wouldn't show any other possible problems.

 

still a new quadrajet carb and tune should cost less than that i would think

 

Ok guys. Went to pick up car last night. They put the carb in a day early. Car ran like crap. Sounded like it was missing. In park upon starting cold only idled at 500rpm. I thought there was a fast idle on those things. Anyway also check engine light was on. Didnt even leave the lot, just droped the keys back off. They called me today said to pick up thuresday evening.

 

Well, this is the end to this thread. Finally, after a new carb, cooling sensor and speed sensor and repairing the work of a hungry mouse, the car runs like a bat out of hell. The car is "supposed" to have the anemic V8. I have not been able to find a tag on the engine yet. I would not call this car anemic, thats for sure. Oh, it ended up costing 900.00.

 

Speed sensor?

Is it next to the flux capacitor?

The coolant temp sensor is very cheap and takes about 5-10 minutes to replace. I hope he didnt get you on that one too?

 

i thought 87 firebirds did have speed sensors aka VSS mounted in the transmission

 

if im not mistaken that wasnt introduced until 93, when it became the 4l60. the shiftpoints in a 700r4 are controled by springs in the govener.


*edit* done some digging and it seems some 700r's had VSS, those that had electronic speed-o's got them. TPI models 89-92 from what i've read.

 

Well, thanks for the info guys. Fortunatly I repair Air Condition and not cars. Right now that I am slammed (thank ***) I dont have time to learn whats in the car like I did with my Goldwing.(explains sign on) I tried to figure out what was going on Took my car in and paid the cash Now I'm going to flip the lids and go riding with my wife

 

Speed sensor is mounted behind the dash in the speedo, code 24. The most common (99% of the time) cause of code 24 is the Park/Neutral switch out of adjustment. If the computer sees the engine RPM above stall speed and no MPH for about a minute and a half, it will set a code 24. Usually set when running the engine at @2500 RPM in park. The Park/Neutral switch (mounted on the steering column) is either bad, or is showing the trans is in R/D not P/N. It can be adjusted by pushing on it (plastic teeth keep it in place). You would need a scan tool to adjust. I doubt the speed sensor itself was bad.The speed sensor has been around since at least 81, when GM started streaming data so the computer would know the speed the vehicle was going. When GM went to the digital speedometer, it went off the trans where the cable would be.