I've searched the archives...cant find anything. I have a 350 in my '89 RS...and just took off the old Lo3 TBI setup in favor of an '88TPI setup. When i finished up, started it up, checked everything, took it for a test drive...I got about a mile down the road, and the car just cut off while I was driving. Then it wouldn't start back up! I checked all fuses and the injector fuse blew, so i replaced it, but it wouldn't start back up. All fuses after that were fine, fuel pump is coming on (yes i put in a TPI fuel pump), spark plugs are getting fire, has plenty of gas etc. I got a test light grounded to the chasis and poked the red wire (power wire i think) to each injector (to open the injectors up), and the car fired up, but then died right away. So I thought it might be the ground to the injectors, but they were grounded. I didn't think to see if the security light came one...but I dont think '88 had vats (my '89 did thought...maybe that's a problem?) It cranks over and sounds like normal startup, but wont start. Keep in mind that it initially ran, but cut off WHILE I WAS DRIVING....I'm sure there aren't many things that would cause that. I need help BADLY....thanks guys.

 

Ok, now I'm REALLY confused. I have 2 friends that have '87 IROC computers, so i borrowed theirs to see what would happen. Well the car fired right up (w/ both their computers), but died right away. Same result every time. So then I tried to hit the throttle when I started it up to keep it from dying, but It died the minute I hit the pedal, as if the injectors wouldn't fire the gas needed to mix w/ the air I let in by hitting the throttle...same result every time...start up, die. Today I'm going to test the fuel pressure and trouble codes. If anyone has any Ideas, PLEASE help me out, because if I dont get this solved by monday when I go back to work, I'm screwed!

 

Did you try your 88 ECM again after putting in the 87's ECM? Also, was the harness also from an 88 or was it "patched" together?

Definitely check the fuel pressure and listen for the "2 second" buzz for when you first turn the ignition on but don't start the car to verify the fuel pump is "priming" the fuel rails.

 

Yes, pump comes on and primes....but I hooked up a fuel pressure gauge, I did't get a look, but my friend says it didn't even make it past 20PSI on start up....but he says (he's a GM mechanic) that the VATS will shut off the pump before it can even really build up its correct pressure. But it started, so shouldn't it have hit about 40 PSIs regardless?

 

You and I both have the same prob. At least yours drove for awhile. I have been continuously eliminating variables, and everything is pointing at my distributor module. It's a reman distributor, so I would not be suprized if it is bad. The module in it is still GM, which suggests they did not replace it! Anyways, look in my post (which you already found) and Junkcltr gave a process of testing the module. Try that, if that is your problem let me know, if I find that to be my prob, I'll let you know. It sure sounds like you have EXACTLY the problem I have now that the injectors fire.

However, look into that fuel pressure, mine has proper pressure, but if the ecm never opens the injectors, it does not matter.

I would think that if VATS was your problem, It would never have made the first mile drive or fired for that matter. Make sure you have a memcal/eprom with the VATS disabled.

 

Yea, I'm hoping that we have the same problem and one of us finds it! Here's where I stand now....I tried it w/out the MAF today...same result, checked for codes..none! Checked the fuel pressure...never got over 5 PSI!!! What could cause this?? My pump is new, no visible leaks in fuel lines, fuel filter only 6 months old...the fuel pressure regulator maybe?? I suspect it's VATS, would that cause this? But if it were VATS, it would throw a code correct?? As far as VATS not letting it drive that mile...I thought of that, but I remembered my fried who has an '88 V6 saying that someone stole his car, made it around the corner, and the car broke down (coulda been VATS, but he doesnt know a thing about cars, so he said it "broke down"). I highly doubt that my problem would be the distributor....I have the same on in there that was on my TBI setup, I may try using the one from my TPI setup...but I dont think that would have a thing to do w/ my fuel pressure?? Thanks for your help. Keep me posted on what u find, and I'll do the same thing.

 

I too had a similar problem when I did my TPI swap (from carb though), 2 actually. The first was that I incorrectly set the minimum air rate so it would stall when I cam to a stop. But with that one it would always start back up right away.
The other was a bad solder from the zif socket to the memcal. It would start and run but not long enough to move the car any. I checked it 3 times and turned up OK, the fourth time I tried I took out the prom and that was when I noticed the problem. You said that you tried other computers, but did you use your chip or the one that was in there?

Hope this helps.

 

Yea, both of the '87s had their own chip...thanks though. By the way, what are you running w/ TPI now?

 

Good question.. I forgot to update my sig. I only had a chance to run it once and my best time of the day was 14.6@93. As you can tell the motor has been modified but just to get the car running I decided to keep the TPI stuff stock, with the exclusion of an AFPR and ported plenum. Then the whole mess went south 3 weeks ago and is getting rebuilt with a CompCam and SportsmanII heads. And yes the same TPI stuff. I know it will choke the top end, but I'll change it later.

 

Problem solved guys! Turns out it was that little rubber hose in the tank...it split, causing the lack of pressure. Man, I've always said that when there's a major problem, it's usually caused by something REALLY simple. It's funny how a rubber hose no longer than an inch can cause such a huge problem...I'll tell you what though...I may have pulled some of my hair out over this, had to take out my fuel pump TWICE (and if you haven't done it....it's a PAIN), and not had a car for a week....but I've learned so much while trying to figure this out that I have no regrets, I'd do it all over again. Thanks for you help guys, you've been a big help! :lala:

 

Great. Wait till you make a "seemingly harmless change" to your eprom and you throw an SES code. Yet, when you go back to your original BIN...everything is fine. And what you changed doesn't make any sense whatsoever to the SES code being thrown.

Now that's fun. Betcha just can't wait.

 

HAHA....man, I'm not touching ANYTHING on that car for a while (We've all said that before...haha). Well at least not for a couple of days...haha.