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.

 

88 DOES have VATS. That might be your problem, but VATS usually disengages the car before it has been started... I would definatley check into that though.

 

Now I'm REALLY comfused. I know 2 guys w/ an '87 computer, so I borrowed theirs to see what it would do w/ theirs, well the car fired right up (with both their computers), but then died right away. Same result a few times. So then when I tried to start it up, I gave it some throttle to keep it from dying, but it died the second I pressed the petal....it's like the injectors wouldn't put out the gas the motor needed to keep up w/ the amount of air I let in. Same result every time...start up, die. I just put a TPI fuel pump in the tank....so unless it already messed up or they gave me the wrong one!! But it does come on and start the car. Can the fuel pressure regulator mess up?? Today I'm going to check the fuel pressure and try and read the trouble codes (w/ my computer). If anyone has any Ideas, PLEASE help, because if I dont get this fixed by monday when I go back to work, I'm screwed!

 

its prolly vats. Idiot *** guarage I took my car to one time was doing some ignition work and they told me they were gonna buypass it. So I told them "Its not gonna happen, good luck... I dont think you guys know your f-bodies good enough to do it" so they tried it. WOW IT STARTS *1-4 minutes later*
DEAD
"I told you so, dont plan on putting the first 2 days on the bill"

sounds like vats to me

 

TransamGTA-
I'll have to double check but I think that only the GTA F-bodys had VATS in 88, all the rest went to it in 1989. I wouldn't be too sure thats the problem. Iroc did say he blew a fuse for the injectors so I figure that he shorted part of the fuel system. Don't know how the injectors work but that what it sounds like the problem is.

 

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!

 

You'd do it all over again eh??
Want to come over sometime?

 

LOL....I'd said I'd do it all over again, but I'd also like to keep my sanity, so I'd better not.