i just bought a 88' firebird formula 350. the first time i drove it it ran fine, second gear slips alittle but it ran really good besides that. they had it on a charger for the batt. when i went to get it the alternator was fried. we changed it, that fixed that lil' problem. after that it would not stay running, acted like it was starving for fuel. the gas guage showed half,she said the car sat up about 6 months. i figured the fuel was bad(maybe not?) we added 2 gallons, it ran fine.i filled the tank, drove it 40 miles home, no problems. the a/c, cruise,(SO NO VAC. LEAKS RIGHT?) everything workED great, the guy following me home said it only smoked alittle the first time i floored it, after that it never smoked. the receipts i got from the owner shows a long block install 20,000 miles ago. well today i was going to drive when i transfer the title,it started doing the same thing, it runs for about 5 to 7 min. then the tach starts to jump,the motor sputters then it dies.if you wait about 5 min. it will start again, then die again. i changed the fuel filter and the air filter today. no luck.
any help would to greating appreceited !!!!!
thanks, kenneth

 

ok.....it's been 8 days and no replies. i have just about done everything i know to do, plugs(the old ones looked good), wires, coil, cap, rotor and fuel pump relay(a guy at work suggested.) still no luck. i checked the fuel pressure at the rail.(42#just key on, then 38# till it warms up, then it holds a steady 36 #,jumps to over 40 when you give it gas), then after about 5 or 7 mins. it starts missing runs like crap and dies.it will restart, but will not stay running, when you open the butterflys it fells on it face and dies. it is like when it goes "closed loop" it is messing up.
ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED !!!!!!!!

 

Sounds like the fuel pump. Mine did this for a long time before the pump finally died and I figured it out. But if the pressure is testing good I'm not sure.

There was even a 2 week span when it ran perfect and never died.

 

yeah....it is starting to **** me off. i was not looking forward to changing the fuel pump, major job. everyone else i talked to said 42# - 36# was just about right. i don't want to start sending a bunch of money on maf, egr valve till i find what is wrong.you know?
and thanks for the reply.

 

I've said this in other threads, but I'll say it again: when it starts doing that, unplug the mass air sensor (if it has one). That should be plenty of fuel pressure to run on. Also check to make shure you don't have any bad ground wires or anything.

You can check the E.G.R. by supplying vaccum to it, if it works it it should almost kill the car when it opens at an idle. Or you could just do what I did and block it off.

 

thanks....i am at work tonight.....love that graveyard shift. i have acouple of days off staring tomorrow, i'll try ya'll's suggestions....

 

Make sure that the exhaust is getting out also, make shure you cat,(if you still have one) isn't plugging up.

(I'm also working the graveyard shift)

 

yessssssssssssssssssssssss !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! today is a very good day ya'll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i changed the egnittion control module and the o2 sensor. and guess what ......IT FREAKIN' WORKED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it is running 100% better, it still has a lil' mess and hesitates it idle, but it stays running and it don't die.(ran it around the block of about 10 mins. then ran in here.)
i had to tell someone !!!!!!!!!!
now i can work no the other 135 other things things i need to do to it.(front and rear stay bar end bushing are gone,tranny slips going into second pretty good), alot of cosmetic work.
i wanted a project.......that's what i got huh?
thanks for all ya'll's help....without this site, i'm sure i would have spend double or triple at a garage..
thanks again...will keep ya'll posted