89 Firebird formula 305 TBI
car was running and I unplugged the coolant temp sensor and the car died. now she wont start. I have fuel,and spark and i assume the compression is still good since it was just running. I couldn't find any vacuum leaks. distributor is tight and didn't move so timing would still be good. could i have shorted something out maybe? The only thing i did notice is that while cranking the injectors pulse, is that normal? Please help I am lost on this one.

 

The engine is flooded, hold the go-pedal on the floor while cranking to clear it.

When you unplugged the CTS with the engine running the ECM saw the coolant temperature at -40 degrees (F or C for that matter). This caused the ECM to dump large quantities of fuel into the engine.

And flooded it. If the engine had managed to stay running the ECM would have used a default value in place the the CTS sensor value. And also set the SES/CEL.

RBob.

 

a thousand thanks. that fixed it. i appreciate it.