Just got this 87 Firebird on Saturday, so I'm not suprised that I need to work some bugs out of it.

After my drive home from work (49 miles on the highway, 4 miles stop and go) it was running a little hot, but not to bad, around 210. I went to Autozone to get some fuel system cleaner, since the tank was around 1/8 full. Started right up, drove out of Autozone, take a turn and the car stalls out. Luckily the street was a little uphill from the Autozone, so after the traffic clears a little, I was able to roll it back down to the parking lot.

Put 2 gallons of gas in, thinking the gas guage may be off. Still wouldn't start. Check the carb out and it's not pumping gas at all. Figure at this point it might have vapor lock, so I put a little gas down the carb throat and the engine starts right up, but stalls right away. Let it cool down for a couple hours, and still no start. It's been towed home, this is why we have AAA.

OK, so the carb isn't getting gas. I'll be pulling the filter off to see if it's clogged up. I figure that's the most likely cause since it hasn't been used the last few months at all. Probably kicked up any stuff in the tank.

Of course, I tried the other night to get to the fuel filter and the nut was frozen and already rounded off some. Any hints on getting that out without stripping the nut? The 5/8" flare wrench seems a hair to big, and I none of the metric flares seem to fit well either.

One thing that concerns me is that when I took the gas cap off, there was a lot of pressure built up inside, and released. What would cause this, and could it cause any problems?

Another thing that concerns me is when I turn the key on, one of the solenoids on the carb is clicking on and off a dozen or so times. It's the mixture control solenoid. Is this a problem, or am I just noticing usual behaviour with the air cleaner now off??

Thanks in advance for any help...

 

It's supposed to do that. The way it's designed.... gasoline evaporates, and if the tank simply allowed evaporating gasoline to escape, it would be impossibly risky to park it in a garage for one thing, and it wouldn't pass emissions specs (raw hydrocarbons being dumped into the air) for another. Any evaporating liquid produces pressure. Don't worry about it. It would be normal, even with the air cleaner on. It's supposed to do that.

You may have one of the cars that has a fuel pump in the gas tank, in addition to the one on the side of the block. I'd make sure it has gas in it, and try the dump-in method a couple more times, and see if it stays running. If so, you merely ran out of gas and it's taking a little biut of running to pump more fuel all the way from the tank to the carb. The gas gauge may not be accurate or reliable.

I hate it when people screw up the fuel line nut. That's got to be one of the dumbest things somebody can do to a car. You're suffering the consequences of somebody's stupidity. The nut is supposed to be 5/8", but if it's been sodomized.... who knows. Soak the nut in PB Blaster for a few days (best kind of pentrating oil I know of, much better than WD-40 and Liquid Wrench and those); use a 1" open-end wrench to hold the big nut behind the 5/8" one still; and use a set of Vise-Grips on the 5/8" nut. Don't tighten them too tight or they'll crush the nut. Make sure you hold the big nut still, or you'll end up twisting the line.

210° is quite normal. As long as it stays below that on the highway, and doesn't go up too much when you slow down, then it's OK.

 

Thanks... I was only concerned with the pressure buildup in the tank because it took over 10 seconds or so for the pressure to release. Most of the cars I've had it only takes a second or two.

Didn't know it might have an electric fuel pump as well as the mech on the engine. Will look through the fuses and check them out to.

About what I expected on the fuel line to. Will probably cut the line and splice it temporarily (until I can get a new hard line in.)

Knew about the 210 being OK, have been studying on here since last week to see what problems these cars have, was just providing that for info...

 

Well, filled the tank up with 5 additional gallons, and was able to jump start it right up. Great... guess I'll just have to keep an eye on the gas guage and not let it get down that far.

Vice-grip worked getting the fuel line off and the filter was in need of replacement.

Thanks for the help...

 

Glad to help