I have a 89 Pontiac Firebird with the 170 V6 2.8 engine.

The problem im having is that when it is sitting still it shakes occassionally pretty good and sounds like its gonna die. Then when i accelerate it lags a bit before kicking in. Even after that, i cant even make it up a hill at 45 miles per hour!! Ive took it in to get repaired twice now and it cost me over 1200 bucks and they didnt fix crap! Both times they said it was my magnetic key locking system which they supposedly replaced both times and now my security warning light is also stuck on all the time.

I could seriously use some major advice as to what the problem is. Please email me: sorethumbz@yahoo.com, ICQ: 39902974, AIM: Brian of Smeg, MSN: sorethumbz@yahoo.com, yahoo: sorethumbz

lots of ways to reach me. . i really need help. IM soo frustrated right now. Thanks!
-Brian

 

Arg this thing is annoying . . i played around with looking for the two yellow wires for hours and hours today but they dont seem to exist...

 

This is a 2.8 TBI right?

 

2.8 170 V6 Firebird aye.

 

How old are the spark plug wires on the car? If you haven;t changed them in awhile, try this. Get the car in a very dark place where there is no light at all. Start the car and open the hood and inspect the plug wires very closely. If you see some blue arcing then get new wires.
Also, pull the air filters and do a very close visible inspection of the TBI unit and vaccuum system. The only time my 2.8TBI had the sort of problem you're talking about, it was the plug wires and an unatached hose on the TBI.
This may or not be of any help, but it;s a start.

 

Don't overlook the PCV and EGR. Leakage there will really drop the idle and low RPM vacuum.

 

how much we talkin in cost to fix these things?

 

no where close to 1200, do a complete tune up on her

pcv valve
wires
plugs
cap and rotor
fuel filter and check the tb unit on it, my friend had an 87 2.8tbi and was having similar problems and itwas sumthin like vader said

 

Definetly go through your plugs, wires, cap, rotor etc. Mostly everything involved with your ignition.

Your mechanics claimed it to be what!?!?! You were ripped off...horribly!

 

i just took it down to Midas cause i have a friend that works there and he and the manager guy looked at it for me. I got totally screwed on repairs.

We found that the sparkplug wires have burn marks on em from sparking so those are gonna need replacing and we are gonna replace the Cap and Rotor and the AC. itll be round 40 bucks buying em at cost i guess and my friend is gonna install em for me, cause honestly, i dont even pretend to be a mechanic.

But what would be causing the Security Dummy light to stay on?

 

Sounds like a good plan. Hopefully, that will take care of your problems and you can save a few bucks in the process.

 

yah . im just hoping it isnt the fuel injectors cause they run like 60-80 a peice for all 6 of em!

 

Six fuel injectors? I thought you said you had a TBI? You should have either the model 300TBI or 220TBI unit....I think. OEM Delco injectors should cost about $168 total for the two injectors.

 

I dont pretend to be a mechanic cause im not .. I know very little bout car engines but im in the process of learning. So Im not totally sure. What i do know is its a stock 1989 Firebird V6 170 Fuel Injected Engine.

 

Trust me, I'm the same way. I'm no mechanic either. I've had my 89 IROC for about a year now and I'm still TPI illiterate. My S-10 has 190K on it and it;s a TBI so I've messed with that alot.
Anyway, I think if you do all the tune up stuff mentioned about that you should get rid of your problem. Another thing you should do that helped me is get some really good spray throttle body cleaner and clean the throttle plates and surrounding parts.

 

could you explain the difference between the TPI or what exactly it is?

 

Thumbz,

I just noticed your location. If my pitching arm was still any good, I could probably take out your windshield with a hanging curve from here...

As for the differences in the fuel systems. the Tech Data and Technical Articles on the front page of the site have a lot of good basic information on the differences among the engines, fuel systems, models, and production years.