ok, so my car off and on would start and run fine. then after driving it for a while i would go to start it, and it would start, but barely run. it wouldnt idle up and then go down. it just started, and it was running about 600 rpm's right away. then i parked it, went to start it the next morning and it wouldnt start. the only way i could get it to start was to give it gas to keep it running. then it was still barely running. i took out the #1 spark plug and it was black and covered with gas. i wiped it off, put it back and it started. whats the deal??? i neeeeed to keep my car on the road. it was running GREAT before! help is GREATLY appreciated. thanks.

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beau-t-ful yellow 85 iroc

 

change your plugs....
while the plugs are out.....check your compression.....

 

it hasnt been that long since i changed the plugs. there wasnt really any misfire. i cant figure it out. maybe fuel pump??? fpr?

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beau-t-ful yellow 85 iroc

 

It sounds like the fuel pump to me. A guy i know had to keep his foot on the gas pedel to keep the car running, when he took his foot off, its idel would go way down, then stall. I am not 100% sure if this is your problem, but if your car is acting like this, it is a good chance it is.

 

moderators, do you have anything to add? i dont want to replace the fuel pump if i dont have to and its butt cold. i need my car to run like its supposed to.

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beau-t-ful yellow 85 iroc

 

Only one way to tell for sure... buy a $40 fuel pressure gauge (for fuel injected engines = high pressure). I found my Sunpro unit in Pep Boys... and have used it plenty of times after the fuel pump. Now, it's nice to be able to eliminate the fuel system right away when the car won't start.


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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
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

black plugs mean youre running rich. I would check fuel pressure, and if possible,check the diaphragm on your FPR. you may also have leaking injectors or a poorly set tps or even a bad O2 sensor. start there, and then m,aybe try running a hotter range plug. finally, do you idle for extended periods?(stop and go driving) ifso, try revving the engine when idling to "clean the plugs"
mike

 

I am having a similar problem. I think that I have isolated it to not getting any spark... at least that's what I'm checking next. That would explain the unburned gas in the cylinders. Electrical problems also seem to come and go, so that would explain the inconsistency of the problem. Does this sounds about right to anyone else out there?



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1986 Trans Am
LG4, T-5, otherwise stock.
Saving money to upgrade to a TPI 5.0/T-5 in a year or two.

 

thanks for the info guys, i tried it again the other day and its starting for now, but also when i start it now there is an obsene clunking or knocking type noise. it goes away after a while and being warmed up. do you think this is just lack of lubrication from sitting or maybe an internal problem. i know sometimes you have a "noisy" lifter when starting from a long sit, but this is a large clunking noise. any sugg.? its winter now and its freezing *****, so i dont know. im going to be looking for a good running, but inexpensive 350 sometime within the next few months. thank you for the help and im sorry that i keep coming back to this. i just dont have a whole lot of other places to turn to and i cant afford to take it somewhere. my professors at school havent been a whole lot of help in this problem. thanks again.

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beau-t-ful yellow 85 iroc