Sly_dawg19

Hey everyone, my name is Jeff or Sly_dawg19

I just bought a 1988 Pontiac Firebird 305 TBI Auto Coupe for 900 bucks

I have put about 800 in it so far just doing maintenance items (Tires, oil, filters, etc...)

It runs fine, HOWEVER, I have 2 small problems. I will save the second problem (emmisions) for a different board.

But my one problem is I believe my TBI.

When I start my engine, everything is smooth as glass and is great, as soon as I touch the gas pedal, I hear a tick tick tick sound. When I shut off the engine, and restart it, smooth, yet again. I touch the gas, tick tick tick...

I don't think it is my cams, rollers, or lifters. I bought a stethascope and no clicks near those areas.

I hear it coming from both fuel lines (The metal ones near the tbi) and on the throttle body itself. I tried touching it to both injectors, but I don't hear it prominently on either one, about the same as the fuel lines.

Anyway, does anybody have any insight? I really don't want to have to replace the injectors...

Oh, and the engine runs great even with the ticks.

Thank for listening to my first post, Nice to meet you all,

- Jeff

RFmaster

Welcome to TGO

TBI injectors are noisy and it is very normal for them to be noisy. There are couple of other things that can make ticking sound that you are describing.
1) check your PCV valve it possible that it might be ticking away.
2) EGR vacuum control valve or EGR valve itself. Depending on calibration ECM may cycle EGR on-off depending on operation conditions.

What is the nature of your emmision problem - high NOx?

//RF

Sly_dawg19

bluish white smoke at cold start. probally my valve seals

ill get a new pcv valve today (although its already new) and look into a new EGR valve, thank you for your input