I need some assistance. My 88 305 tbi will start up fine then begins to fire weird and eng light comes on. I will drive a few blocks and shut down then restarts and runs fine. My car has rotor, dist cap, wires and plugs new with in this year. I have installed the painless hot shot starter booster with no other problems. any info would help, thanks





edited 08/23 code 42.

 

What engine code are you getting?

 

42, I know it has something to do with ingnition/timing-est dist. but Im not sure what the actual problem is. any suggestions? made sure all plugs are tight.

 

Could be a number of things. I assume you've read it, but just incase you haven't code 42 is
"Fault at electronic spark timing circuit OR
Fault at direct ignition system OR
Fault at fuel cutoff relay circuit" as found in the tech data on this page.
It could be something simple like moisture build up in your dis. cap. Something like that can be cured by spraying wd-40 on the inside spark terminals (suggested in car craft I think). It may be something else, such as a faulty coil or any of the electrical connection/wires running from the distributor. Check all of your connections, especially where the wires meet the connectors. Hope this helps. If it doesn't, the electrical board may be able to help you isolate the problem a little better. Good luck,
Roy

 

Check your cap for cracks. better yet, wait for night and then go outside and start your ride. Take a spray bottle and spray the ignition wires with water. see if you get a light show. Even if you have just replaced them. you don't know how many times I have gotten brand new wires and they have only lasted a day because they were constructed cheaply and have poor insulation.

 

I treid the water on wires and got no show. I will problably end up replacing the cap and wires. does any one have any info on the fuel cut off relay?

 

does your car run like crap when you first start it everytime you start it? or only the first start of the day?
I know you said it dies and then runs fine after restart but what if you shut it off again and then restart it about oh say...an hour later. Does it run like crap again? Or does it run fine? I doubt fuel relay would do this but, I am only human.

 

My car will somtimes start fine during the day and almost everynight it starts funny. after the restart it does run fine and later on will restart w/o probs. I checkd the plug wires and all seem fine. Im still going to change the plugs and wires this weekend, and will inspect the dist cap.

 

Well wait. Before you do that why don't you try taking a look at your ESC. ( Engine Spark Control ) My car is doing something similar right now and it is pulling the same code. It fires right up but stutters and stammers. It kinda sounds and acts like it has a badass cam in it ... on crack. Lobes out and everything but it vibrates the whole car. doesn't effect performance too much but, it never stops. I pulled a code 42 too. So I would suggest checking that out first. Your ESC should be located around the master cylinder if I'm not mistaken. Keep in mind though that sometimes if you have low voltage in your EST connector it may pull a code 42 as well. but, more than likely it is the ESC. I mentioned the cap n rotor because yours didn't sound as severe as my problem so I didn't think it would be the same thing... holy crap we got a " 2 for " forum goin on here. Anybody got any suggestions for the both of us?