Well I went to the GM EFI Shootout at Maryland International Raceway this weekend and had all kinds of problems. First it was about 75 or so all day, and i swear these TBI motors get red hot after about 2 minutes of idling. I didn't have a single run where my temp gauge was below the 220 mark! The best I ran all day was a 15.3@90mph.

That pissed me off, but it got worse.
During the Bracket Racing protion of the event, I won my first race against a 12 second 4th gen, but after getting back to the line up for the next round, I shut the car off to try to help keep it cool during thoose long waits till my next run. BIG MISTAKE! General Motors fabulous theft deterrent system pick this time(so i guess) to decide NOT to allow my car to restart..DISQUALIFIED. Bitter.

Oh well going up last sunday there open in november. With out the temp stuck at 220 degrees every run, and my AFPR I expect to pull of some mid 14 second runs, I'll let you know.

If anyone knows any info about the PASS KEY issue, let me know I was stuck at MIR for 2 hours after the event ended, and just after i called for a ride, my car decided it was time to start. f*ucking chevy!

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1990 Camaro RS
305 TBI Auto
K&N Open Air Element, Edelbrock Performer Intake, Edelbrock Headers,Catco Hi Flow Cat, Edelbrock Exhaust, Hypertech Underdrive Pulley's, Jacobs Ignition, Fast Chip PROM, B&M Shift Kit, B&M Mega Shifter, 3.73 Rear with Auburn Limited Slip, KYB GR2 Gas Shocks and Struts, Eibach Pro Kit Lowering Springs, Edelbrock 3 Point Strut Tower Brace, Baer 13 in. Slotted Rotors with Metallic Pads, American Racing Torq Thrust II 16x8 Wheels with Toyo 245 50 VR 16 Tires, 3 in. Cowl Hood, A little weight here and a little weight there.

 

if you really think it's the VATS i recommend trying this:
unplug the battery.
take the cover panel off the underside of the
instrument panel (driver's side). look for the plug with two wires coming from the steering column to the panel. if i remember right it is one of the lowest ones down there. lowest meaning lowest connector from the trunk of wires that come from the column.

unplug it then connect a voltmeter to it. insert the key but don't turn it. check the ohms resistance on the meter. turn the key and watch the reading while you do so. the reading should be the same at the "start" and "run" positions. if they aren't then the contacts inside the lock cylinder are shot, replace it.

another thought:
you said you had the car idling for long periods and the temp was high to begin with.
ever heard of "heat soak"?
the heat from the engine and headers could be overheating your starter to the point it won't work. the solenoid gets too hot and refuses to move. it won't even make a "click". put some kind of shield between your starter and headers. it may seem like the anti-theft because the car just sits there and makes no noise at all. i've ran into this problem before.

good luck.

 

thanks for the advice, I'll check it out. I think the heat might be the problem, because this has happened to me about 10 times in the 3 yrs i've owned the car, and i can't remember it being cool any of thoose times. Plus between the idling and all the 1/4 mile runs the thing was messing up and not starting all day, that could definitely be the problem. thanks alot.

 

Hey Mike, I totally agree with u on the heat thing. For some reason these TBI cars heat up if you don't have good cooling stuff. And the bad part is that these TBI engines run REALLY good cold and REALLY sh*tty hot. My friend had a stock LO3 and he was in that bracket race thing u were doing. It was a cold day there and he ran a 16.1 stock (auto) couple of days later he went to the track again (for some competition bracket racing thing) it was really hot that day, car ran a 16.7 at best! Just because it was hot out!

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Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI (ZZ4 summer of "01")
ASCD Ram Air Hood-3" custom exaust-Flowmaster 80 Series-No Cat-Edelbrock TES Headers (coated)-March Pulleys-TBI Spacer-K&N Open ELement-TransGo Shift Kit-B&M Supercooler 28,000 GVW-Hypertech Thermomaster-160 Stat-3:42 GM Gears-Auburn Posi Unit-Edlebrock Strut Tower Brace-MSD Superconducters-Accel Cap & Rotor
-Rapidfire Plugs-265/50/R15 Tires-Emmison's all Gone

http://hometown.aol.com/J007Golden/index2.html

 

it might not be your vats. When my sister had this problem with the Firebird we thought it was the vats but the starter was getting to hot and not working. the fans are wired to be on now all the time when the key is turned forward. it never goes over 220 now. it sits a line or 2 before that.

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-Tas
'89 Formula WS6

305, TBI, auto, 14x3 chrome flat based open element with K&N, functional Formula hood, cross-flow Flowmaster, '99z28 rear pipes and tips....

Super GRK_Taz World
EFI & Intake Options
AOL IM: superGRtaz
ICQ 82881207

 

180º thermostat and a 185º fan switch and my dad's 92 RS never goes above 200º.

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1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.25 @ 107.18 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

I wired mine wide open all the time and it never exceeds 150

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91 RS W/carbed 350, Vortec heads, performer rpm, Comp cams Xtreme energy 280 grind. BFG Drag radials. 3.42 posi,Corvette servoed 700r4, ****ty stock converter
13.24@104

 

It happened to me once, i took one of the fuses out, i forget which one, and the car started right away.

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Mods:Hooker Aerochamber 3" exhaust, gutted kitty,
March 2 piece underdrive pullies, smog pump gone,;these two made a very noticable difference.
14x4 K&N open air element filter-the best mod so far
Eibach springs with KYB's all around.
Appearance: Harwood cowl hood, Z-28 wing, painted black(7/20/00)-original color was light blue
*All these mods were made this year
Stock Options:117,000 miles on motor, 5spd, TBI, 305, T-tops
Run a best of 16.7 @85mph with traction problem. Have to try again sometime.

 

TBI cars have this problem of running hot. I'm a mechanic and I have a 90' RS just like yours. Take off the plastic cover that covers the top of your radiator and your condensor. There will be about three pounds of garbage sandwiched between the two. Blow it out with an air wand and replace the cover.