Okay, so I did one run, and was going up to the tree for a second run- car stalled & wouldn't start up. I got pushed out of the way by the track guys, and couldn't get the damn thing started. It would run very rough for a few seconds, then stall again. I was thinking spark, so I put on a spare coil wire... I pulled the code and got #21 (TPS), but I think that was from earlier in the day, when I adjusted the TPS. So, I pulled the TPS connector off, thinking it would start- it did, but acted the same way.

Finally somehow I got it to run; I limped my way into the pits, where it shut down again. I went to the mens room, came back, and checked my TPS voltage (still had the voltmeter in the car). It was fine. I started the car- fine! I drove home- fine!

So I'm thinking, Ignition module! When I got to the track, my lane ran right away, my car never got a chance to cool down. Same thing for the second run; as soon as I got back in the lane, they started us again. So the car was hot.

I got home, and sat in my car, revving it up for a half hour or so, until it heated up and did the same thing. I bypassed the MSD box- still ran the same. I put the fuel pressure gauge on...

34 PSI, and drops. I followed the book, and crimped the return line shut- the pressure still drops. They say that means a leaking injector. (Great, I guess I sent Rich a bad one to have cleaned!) Dammit, I should've left my dirty injectors in.

Anybody got a method for finding the injector? The book lists two I'll try- checking for a bad spark plug, and to lift the fuel rail up, pressurize the system, then lift the rail up and see which injector's dripping.

When I find the leaking injector, I'll probably replace it with one of my original units.

Do I have to change out the O-rings and pintle caps on the injectors to reinstall them? They've only been in there for 6 days. I just argued with the moron at Strauss Auto, who insisted he had them. Dumbass wouldn't even check his computer. They're called a "pintle cap set", right?

Should I buy a new (rebuilt?) injector? My whole set has been cleaned; the injector I'd be replacing the leaker with is a 200,000 mile one that I'm sure is dirty.

Also, how do I tell if the cold start injector is leaking? I don't think it is; I didn't touch it. I only touched the pipe leading from it to the fuel rail.

Thanks for the quick help! I'm off to check a few plugs.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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None of the plugs looked fouled. The car hasn't run since last night, in my driveway, when I had the fuel pressure gauge on it.

Does this mean I don't have a leaking injector?

Right now, the fuel pressure's fine. Can I have an injector that leaks only when it gets hot?

Or, does the ignition module have something to do with the fuel pressure dropping..?

Any help/idea's are appreciated! I've got tonight & all of tomorrow to fix this; then it's back to work/school as normal on Monday.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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hey tom not to change the subject but i guess you were at englishtown...do you know when thye close for the season? i fixed a major prob on my car and i expect to do much better...would like to get a run in before the winter. if i knew about FI i would offer some help...good luck w/ it

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350, Comp 262, Edelbrock Performer intake 600 cfm carb and exhaust, headers

 

Don't know, dude, that might've been their last week. http://www.etownraceway.com

Anyone got a clue on this? The car's running fine lately, altho I notice the idle's a bit rougher. I warmed the car up plenty of times to 230, let it sat, started it up again, etc-- trying to dupliate what I was doing at both the racetrack, and my driveway that night. The car wouldn't stall or act up!

I also used a piece of hose to listen for vacuum leaks where I put the injectors back in- nothing.

So right now I'm guessing at "bad/watered down gas". I poured some water remover into $10 of Amoco 93. I still don't see how I could've had that much water in the tank, though. I can't figure out why my fuel pressure was crap (20-25 and dropped at idle) that night!

Oh also my exhaust smells really strong; I don't recall it smelling like this after the injector swap.

So if anyone's got an idea let me know!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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Have you checked your fuel filter? You should have changed it when you installed the fresh injectors. Perhaps you had something in the filter that was blocking your pressure and it shifted? It sounds kinda far fetched but who knows. I have a fuel rail that holds pressure sometimes, and sometimes won't, it actually seems to be slowly curing itself I know thats impossible but it's happening.
Sucks stalling out at the tree eh? One of the most embarassing things to happen. Good luck.

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Rob P
89RSconvtZZ4TPI
92Z28convt5spd
71Impala convt 402BB
BETTER DRIVING THRU SUPERIOR HORSEPOWER!

 

pull the little wire connector off the injectors one at a time and try running it after each time you do this. This is how i found mine.
When I had a bad injector, the car would die if i let off the gas, and then would not start again for awhile, then would start and would be fine until i tried to let it idle then it would die and so on.

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90 IROC 5.7l (L98)
ram air, K&N's, air foil,Flows

 

also check the fuel lines for leaks.My car ran like this until the shop found a leak where the fuel lines screw into the fuel inection body/rail.

 

Guys, thanks for the responses!

RobP, I'll try changing the filter this weekend. I change it every year, and always get brand-name gas, but you're right, strange things happen! Yeah, it definately sucked stalling out at the tree, oh well, I was set up to race a loud first-gen camaro with slicks and an air cleaner sticking out of the hood- I saved myself some racing embarassment.

Mo, that's a good idea! If the damn thing ever acts up again, I'll be sure to do that. Did your car act like that all the time, or just when hot?

3.1, I'll look, definately, but I never unhooked any lines. I just undid the bolts that held the steel lines to the intake, and swung the fuel rail forward. Plus, wouldn't I smell gas?

Anyone else have suggestions? I heated the car up like crazy again Sunday, but couldn't get the same thing to happen! I still have a rich gas smell, but I wonder if that's because of the colder weather??

Thanks...

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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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This might also be the initial signs of a dying fuel pump. My car had an initial problem similar to yours, but after a bit it started to run fine again. Then about 1 month later, the car refused to start while I had plenty of spark.

When I turn the key on, I notice that I cannot hear that familar "whirr" for 2 seconds from the fuel pump. Sure enough, fuel pump died.

 

Glenn, I hope not! I just replaced the pump with a Borg-Warner "lifetime" unit, back on the July 4th weekend of 1997. (What a crappy holiday that was!)

Something you said reminds me of something... my car once died, and while it would crank & crank, it wouldn't start. My mechanic rebuilt my distributor, and did the "usual" checks.. he was getting a "no computer" message when he tried to read the error codes with his scanner. He figured out I had no power going to my fuel pump, so instead of him spending more of his time (and my $$) on it, I jumped the fuel pump, and drove home.

Turned out I had a bad ring connector on the positive junction block, on the passenger side of the radiator. This is the same connector that "supplies" the fuel pump fuse (under the hood) with power. That fuse not only gives the fuel pump power, but also gives the ECM power- thus, the "no computer" message.

I just replaced my MAF harness end (connector, relay, fuse), and had to disturb the junction block connections. Maybe that ring terminal went bad again?! I'll check it out! Thanks for the clue!

Of course I'm still open to any more ideas!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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I think I'm going to visit the track again this Friday, what do you guys think the chances of this happening again are?

Sorry for the bold, but if I get stuck at that tree one more time, those guys that pushed my car off to the side might ban me from the track!

The car's been fine since; it's been heated up like it was at the track, too.

I'm going to check that fuel pump supply wire tonight.

Any ideas are welcome!! Save me some embarassment!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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No other clues, eh? I just changed the fuel filter. My friend told me I could cut the old one open with a hacksaw to see how bad it was- anyone do this? I'd rather the thing didn't blow up in my face (sparks)...


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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