I am trying to help my sister by getting her car running safely. It is an 88 sport coupe with the 305 TBI. At this point it won't start, unless starter fluid is sprayed in the throttle body where it will fire and run for a few seconds. I watched the injectors while I had a friend crank the car and they drip in alternate sequence. My guess is that the fuel pump is bad, but I thought I would ask some experts here before I drop the muffler etc to get to the fuel pump. Any thoughts would help.

 

Check the fuel pressure.

 

there's a fuel filter under the middle of the car that could be clogged but the problem i had was the rubber hose in the tank between the pump and sender ruptured.ethanal kills rubber parts on these cars.

 

Thanks for the tip on the fuel filter location. I thought it was in the tank with the pump. Pulled the filter and found tons of rust sediment in the fuel. Fuel smelled rotten as well. I am going to clean the entire fuel system starting at the tank. The things we do for family.