Im trying to diagnos this problem, I've searched these threads and come up with lots of helpful tips, none seem to be te solution. I'll back half way out of my driveway then go forward and hit the brakes hard, and it seem like the shifting of the car from forward to back at a complete stop kills the motor, immediately. I'd like to figure it out without just thowing parts at it, fuel pump etc. I did replace the fuel filter. Grounds seem to be good, batt good, tested the igntion coil and swapped the module, good. Any help would be appreciated greatly. One thing thats weird, everytime it would die, i could crank it right back, but now it wont crank. It wont even attempt to start. I should also mention, i pulled the fuel pump, no screen on there, looked cut out. Theres a pic.

'89 Camaro 305 TBI

 

This may be way off but "It's the little stuff that gets ya!"

Once I had a '70 1/2 Camaro and while rounding a curve (rather fast) everything went dead. I looked under the hood and nothing out of normal. The second time it happened I was looking under the hood and noticed the the battery had slid just enough for the post to ground off on the fender which immediately shut down the electrical system. I slid her back in place, bolted her down tight and never had the problem again.

 

Thanks for the tip, battery's in there snug though. I hope its is something little that im just overlooking.

 

I don't think you need to throw parts at this problem, it seems to me to be a wiring issue. Check for the integrity of wires and connections, from battery to starter, through fuse links and ignition switch and back to coil and starter. Grounds are also useful..

 

Check the connector on the fuel pump relay, over time the insulation slides down exposing the bare copper wire, they may be shorting against each other and turning off your fuel pump.

 

Yall were right, it was initially a wiring problem and might still be. The car cranks now b/c i checked the battery more closely and its pos. term side mount was stripped and wasnt making a good connection. Thats fixed. But the same problem still exists, hard brake to a stop, and it shuts off. But it will recrank. Can it be the battery itself, shifting somehow, not necessarily a connection?

 

at the bottom of the column the ignition switch starts to act this way when failing or loose. good luck

 

Im starting to think that it is a fuel issue. I thought about how evertime that this happens, the tank is low on fuel. So I put 5 gallons in and the problem improved. I really have to try hard to kill it, hard break. Also, say im in reverse, if i barely give it gas, less than 2k, then let off, its struggles and most of the time shuts off. Its really inconsistent. I have to adjust how much gas i give it to keep a steady rpm. But adding gas did affect the shutting off on ahard break. Thanks for the help, im still out there testing things. Does it sound like the fuel pump? I havent had this car for very long, it was my bros and he gave it to me.

 

Sounds like the fuel is sloshing around in the tank and away from the pump. If the pump is sucking up air that would cause your motor to stall.

That year tank is supposed to have baffles in it to prevent this. Did your brother replace the fuel tank at some time? Maybe it's not the right year.

 

THe fuel pump screen have a tendency to fall off or rott over a long period of time replace the screen and filter with new never run your car with less than a 1/4 tank of fuel. fuel is what cools the pump. The problem is if fuel is low and hard braking your sloshing fuel away from the pick up ingesting air. not good to free wheel a fuel pump especially if a lot of mile on it. Burns them up. also where did the screen go in the bottom of the tank or up into the pump? Also install a fuel pressure guage and monitor FP while this happens if it falls off I'd suggest a new Fuel pump Should go with a Delco one and definitly a new screen to keep the pick up at the right position in the tank.

 

same thing happend to my old RS, but mine decided it was gonna cut out when I was turning left with cars coming at me they were all swerving around me blaring their horn, It kept dying, and finally I pulled it into the gas station like 20 ft away. That was a fun night lol

 

My brother thinks that they did replace the tank, with a smaller one. Everything yall said makes sense, thanks for all the help. I guess now ill go buy a fp gauge, then most likely drop the tank again and check it out more thoroughly. When you say 'pick up' that is just the screen side of the pump? Is there some other thing thats the pickup? How can i tell if it isnt the correct/original tank?

Thats funny 92RS, i wish i had been the car behind you and seen that, but not the cars heading straight for you.

 

Yes your right the pick up is the screen of the fuel pump. I believe they only madfe one style fuel tank for the camaro's hit the auto parts store and ask if they have an illustration of the fuel tank in their catalog. The price is kinda high by my standards for a new tank cause the filler next is actually apart of the tank and not seperable. Last time i checked it was about $300 for a new tank with filler neck. Be very careful when dropping the tank to not bend or crack the filler neck. You have to drop the exhaust and almost completely if not remove the rear axle assembly. its a pain in the *** to do but can be done if you take your time. Do all the research you can b4 doing the repair and most of take your time to do the job right. This is one of those things you don't want to do more than once Good luck. Hit me up if you have any other Questions.