I pulled my '82 Trans Am out of the garage yesterday and let it idle in the driveway. After about 2 minutes of running at idle, it died. Needless to say it will not start again. I seem to be getting power to the sparkplugs since the clutch fan is moving when I attempt to start the car. The starter is also working fine. Also when I attempt to start it, it backfires a little bit. My car has cross-fire fuel injection (dual TBIs). I looked at the TBI units which seem to be operating fine, however I do not smell any fuel in the TBIs. It has good 94 octane gas in the car and as much as I can tell no mosture has gotten into the gas system. This leads me to think that the fuel pump is bad. The 10 amp fuel pump fuse in the fuse box is also good. Tell me what you guys think, if I am on the right track, or if could be something else. I am however hearing the powering up of what sounds like the fuel pump when the ignition key is turned. Thanks in advance for any help.

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Disco Man

1982-83 Cross-Fire Trans Am Site: http://members.xoom.com/the305cfi/

1979 (L78/W72) 10th Anniversary Trans Am
1982 (LU5) Trans Am

 

hey whats up disco man

did you crank with the aircleaner removed to see if the injectors are infact spraying fuel?
youll wanna do that to rule out the fuel system
if its not that, then check out your ignition.. put a timing light on any given wire and crank it should flash, if you get flashing then your ignition is probably ok
its basically one of those two going out completely in a condition like yours, if you have fuel and ignition even if they are way off it should run or sputter atleast.

just basically run down the list of those things

i do believe there is also a fuel pump fuse right near the battery in a plastic plug (there is one on mine, not sure about an earlier car like yours) check that out aswell

best test is to just look for gas shooting out of the tbi injectors though

btw i finally saw a CFI setup in person right infront of me, pretty neat looks like something that could be fun to tinker with

[This message has been edited by Pablo (edited January 01, 2001).]

 

Look at the fuse and the injectors like Pablo said. I've had this problem many times over the last two years of owning these cars. The fuel pump is usually the problem. Next on the list is the injectors. I think the injectors are fine due to the fact it ran for two minutes which was probabaly the amount of fuel that was sitting outside of the pump.

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1989 Camaro Convertible
dark silver w/black top
305tbi, auto, all stock
posi w/drum brakes
Check out my site at: http://members.tripod.com/philsriceb...Boy%20Page.htm

 

Pablo and 89ragtopRS,
Thanks for the advice I will try those things tonight. Here is an update it looks like the fuel pump may be good, I am getting the humming sound from it when the ignition is turned on, it stops when the fuel pump fuse is pulled. However it is always possible foreign matter may be in the fuel pump. After that my battery ran out of juice, so I charged it up late last night. I will keep you updated as things progress. By-the-way what does that plug that the fuel pump fuse resides look like near the battery and wouldn't this fuse be working if the fuel pump is humming (powered up).

Pablo,
Have not posted here in awhile, been working on other auto projects and my 3rd gen has not needed any maintenance for the last 6 months until this lastest incident. Things have been going well except it is too darn cold outside. I must say trying to diagnose a car in 20 degree weather is no fun Yeah cross-fire is a neat system, when I look at it reminds me of those old muscle car setups with the dual 4 bbls. I think it has a lot of potential. So far my cross-fire T/A has been the most reliable car that I own. From the folks I have spoken with who have tinkered with modifying cross-fire, they say it is a lot of fun. There are now some good sites with a lot of good info on how to modify these motors. I have not done any mods on mine wanted to keep it factory stock. However I may get the urge for a few upgrades Good talking to you again.

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Disco Man

1982-83 Cross-Fire Trans Am Site: http://members.xoom.com/the305cfi/

1979 (L78/W72) 10th Anniversary Trans Am
1982 (LU5) Trans Am

 

Well, not to point the finger of idiocy at myself but maybe it might help you out. I spent the better part of two weeks trying to figure out a no start condition - one day my car just died on me on the way home. Checking it out I got no spray from the injectors, nada. All fuses were good. Since I had just been saying the night before that I had 200K miles on my stock fuel pump and wow was I impressed, I figured it had died on me.
I yanked the rear end out, yanked the exhaust out, yanked the gasoline tank out, and replaced the fuel pump with a Walbro HP pump. Got just a little spurt of gas but when all was said and done, still no gas.
I figured that since I got a little shot of gas maybe the higher pressure Walbro had locked up my injectors. Installed a Moroso Fuel Pressure Regulator inline - set it to 12psi. Installed 350 injectors. Still no gas. (Remember this is over a period of two weeks)
Getting ready to tear the engine apart looking for ECM grounds I notice while moving my spark plug wires slowly, that something moved quickly - hmmm... that's weird. Do it again. Come to find out that the plug that connects to the coil was sitting about a half inch away from the seated position. Praying that that was not the problem, I fired her up. Of course she ran nice as can be, though too rich with the 350 injectors. Figures, everything else was pointless - though it was probably needed anyway.

So, moral of the story - check all of the stupid little connectors first.

Steve

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Steve's Trans Am Temple

 

Guys,
Thanks for all the help, I have found the problem. After diagnosing the fuel system it checked out ok. I then concentrated my efforts on the ignition system using a amp/voltmeter and my trusty timing light which led me to find a little suprise inside the distributor cap. A completely broken up and shattered rotor (looks like it got loose and was pounded into several pieces). Well it is off to the local Pontiac dealership parts department tomorrow for a new rotor. Thanks again.

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Disco Man

1982-83 Cross-Fire Trans Am Site: http://members.xoom.com/the305cfi/

1979 (L78/W72) 10th Anniversary Trans Am
1982 (LU5) Trans Am