When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hi guy,I have a 1988 Trans Am with 305 TPI engine. 97k original miles.
It was running fine yesterday,then I parked it for about 4 hours and went to start it and it would just crank but wouldn't fire up right away. After trying to start it three or four times it finally sputtered to life and the rpms would build. Drove it on the freeway after and it went 70mph no problem and was fine. Shut it off and it does the same thing all over again,very hard to start.
It sat overnight and I tried starting it this morning and again it wouldn't start until I tried about 4 or 5 times and then it would sputter and slowly the rpms would build until it idled normal,then it was fine and drove fine again.
Can anyone here help me out? So far it's been every little thing with this car.
I need this car to be reliable.
Ok,now it's started four times since then just fine. I am thinking it's a fuel pump relay issue. The auto parts store shows two different relays. An Ar255 and an ar146
Which relay does an 88 305 tpi use? Is this the relay near the battery?
I think it might be the farthest from the fender. Grey is usually out to pump. Green/white strip from the ecm to control the relay for prime.orange power from the battery fuse next to the battery and black for ground.
Last edited by Tuned Performance; 04-23-2017 at 09:59 AM.
Reason: Image
Thanks again "Tuned Performance" for once again helping me out. So it's the furthest one from the fender then. I am curious,in the photo you posted of the white car that has a similar really set up to mine, what is that white ****? My car does not have that
Do they still make this relay? None of the parts places show this one. When I search online under 14078907 the only ones that come up are used. Anyone know what the new part number is for this piece?
Ok,so supposedly 14078907 was superseded by 10094701,which is also no longer available and is now replaced by standard ry-121 or four seasons 36083
This relay must have multiple applications as most list it as a fan clutch relay.
Ok,so I bought A new relay and replaced it. Everything was fine,then I parked the car for about 5 hrs,went to start it and it did the same thing again,had to crank it for a while for it to start. Anybody have any idea what it could be? Did I replace the right relay?
You might want to see if the ecm is supplying the relay power for the 2 second prime on the green/white stripe wire. If it is than its either the power to the relay, ground or out to pump wire.the schematic above should be accurate.
... or you could jump the relay next time it refuses to start
or check your fuel pressure next time it refuses to start
an intermittent no start issue could have multiple causes, before swapping fuel components I'd verify lack of fuel and not an ignition issue first. Simplest test would be to spray some starter fluid into the plenum when it won't start and verify good spark. Go from there.
04-22-2017, 07:58 AM
