Just before I put my car into storage, I found myself stuck at a car wash and my poor 88' GTA wouldn't start.

It was turning over, but wouldn't fire or even give the hint to fire until i let off the key in that time it would backfire terribly.

My first inclination would be the fuel pump... but before I had an 88 Berretta that needed a fuel regulator replaced. Could it be this part as well on my GTA?

Before not starting when I would 'get on' the gas, she would hesitate badly.. or even stall when it was running cold.

What are some things I could do to isolate my problem, and has this happend to anyone else? In Michigan it's the first day over 50 degrees in a long while.. wand i would love to see my Bird hit the streets soon.

Thankyou in advance

-----emodork138

 

Since you have the in-tank electric fuel pump, you should be able to listen and see if it's working. Get in the car and close the door, turn the key to "on" but don't crank the motor. You should be able to hear the fuel pump turn on for a couple seconds to pressurize the fuel rails. If you hear it, then you should have fuel in the rails at the injectors.

Have you verified that you have spark? If not, do so. Have you tried pulling codes from the computer?

 

Yeah, tons of spark.


So it's either a fuel pump works or nothing type of thing? Could the pump possibly be turning on, but just not sufficently working?

Just wondering.. not really my cup of tea the fuel pumps.
And i haven't got codes, but would they indicate a faulty pump?

But thanks for the tip - and help.

 

Nope. You would notice there was a serious problem before the ECM would give any code, and it would be cryptic, like O2 sensor lean. Theres no "bad fuel pump" code.

Yes and thats typically how they die. You notice for a few months it takes a second longer to start, then maybe at WOT it stumbles, One day it doesn't start, but if you wait 5 minutes it starts right up, one day it quietly dies. Usually while your driving, chances of it breaking increase 6x if its raining, 10x if its snowing, 18x if its a terrible thunderstorm with tornados, 1000x if your trying to get somewhere important.

Water in the gas could have frozen in the lines, bad regulator, chunk of something nasty clogged your fuel filter are all other possibilities.

 

Any way to test to rule out it being the fuel regulator?