Ok here is the problem.......many times when i go to start my car (especially when low on fuel--less than 1/4 tank) it turns over strong but does not start up. if i pump the pedal it will start eventually. sometimes it takes quite a while to get it started. it does this maybe once every 12 starts. sometimes even less often than that. for some reason, when i go in reverse it will shut off, or when i go in reverse and then shut the car off and go to start it again it won't start. seems reverse and low fuel bring the problem on. or also cold starting it and then shutting it down a few seconds later then going to start it brings it on also. i have a feeling it is fuel related. maybe the fuel pump? back a while ago i got a clicking/whirring noise from the back end of the car after shut down. it would drain my battery overnight matter of fact. i had to disconnect the battery so it wouldn't happen. then one day it stopped! not soon thereafter this problem slowly started rearing its head. Now it seems to be really bad. i am going to keep it tanked up near full at all times and see if that helps. wondering if a faulty fuel pump would cause this? or maybe the car does not like being around 1/4 tank? anyone with info, it would be appreciated. thanks.

'87 GTA

 

Sound like your fuel pump is going out. Tghe more fuel you have in your tank will keep the fuel pump cooler and it will work better but once a fuel pump starts to go bad its not going to get better. Driving around on a full tank isa good idea with a new fuel pump but when a pump goes out you dont want any fuel in your tank becuase you have to take the tank out to replace the fuel pump and the extra weight of a full tank slows the process down. Drive it till its empty and then change the pump.
SSC

 

OK...i figured it was the fuel pump, but everyone around here says its this and that and that i am of course incorrect. i wanted to make sure it was probably the pump and ask the 3rd gen pros. is it really a big project to change it? like the 4th gen nightmare? (i have a '96 LT1 WS6 also). never looked into it on any of my prior 3rd gens since i never needed one. thanks.

 

Although all of my thridgens are carbed I have changed 2 4th gen fuel pumps PITA! I would say it just as hard to change it in a thirdgen
SSC

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85 Camaro, 355/400 "drag car" in moth ***** 13.1@ 101mph on its last season run.
Plans: Possibly add N20 for next season.
82 Firebird, 305/350 currently moth balled.
Current plans: Rebuild 305 with flat tops instead of the dished "cups" for pistons or slightly built 327 with the 58cc heads from the LG4, Upgrade the 2:73 to 3:73 or 3:42 and replace the turbo 350 with 700r4.


"Web site under construction"

G0D Bless.

 

The pump is probably bad. they're no fun to change, but not a great drama either.

I'd replace the relay too tho..sounds liek it might have something to do with the pumps going bad.

 

If I were you I'd do a little more investigating before changing the fuel pump. It's kinda a PITA from what I hear. You ought to check the fuel pressure, especially right after you shut the car off or when it dies in reverse. See if the pressure drops after it is shut off; it shouldn't. Some other things in the fuel system to consider are the fp regulator and a leaky injector. And as someone already mentioned, be suspicious of the fp relay. I had another idea, kinda a longshot, about the "clicking/whirring noise from the back end of the car after shut down. it would drain my battery overnight". Could this possibly be caused by the oil pressure switch? If it detects something like 8 psi oil then it will run the fuel pump. What do you guys think? Possibility?

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91 Z28
Come see The Vicious...

 

thanks guys. i guess i will do a bit more investigating. its got new plugs/wires cap/rotor and i just put in a new alternator/battery too. so i am figuring its fuel related. probably end up just replacing the pump/relay. bad thing is that the situation is such with this car that i can't work on it at home, so i will have to get the part cheap and have it installed. gotta make sure its the problem first. oh well......