Heres the deals. My sister parked her ’91 Firebird 305 TBI over here a few weeks ago. Was supposed to be temporary. I decided to drive it around just to let it run, and ¼ of a mile from my place it died. Now it will not start at all. Feeding fuel to the engine will get it to fire, but only for a second. The fuel pump primes. Engine code flashing 12. Just replaced the fuel filter, and still a no go. I need some suggestions. If this thing does not get out of here fast, it could be the undoing of my marriage.

 

When you place the key in the ignition and turn it from OFF to RUN (without CRANKING the engine) you should hear the fuel pump run for about 2 seconds.

When you then turn the key from RUN to CRANK just for a second and let the key revert back to RUN you should hear the fuel pump for another two seconds.

Is this what happens in your case?

How much fuel is in the fuel tank?

How did it act when you first started it and when you drove the 1/4 mile? Any problems?

 

There is just under half a tank of gas. Haven't tested the 2 time run/crank scenario, will have to wait until tomorrow. When I do that, what are we trying to rule out?

 

The first one just tells us that the fuel pump can be energized by the ECM through the 'fuel pump relay' at KEY ON and to allow us to listen to what it sounds like (for the second test).

The second test, if you hear the pump run for two seconds, should mean that the ECM is seeing DRP (Distributor Reference Pulses) being detected by the ECM. Thus the distributor is indeed spinning and the pickup that detects the spinning is working. If the ECM does not detect the DRP it will prevent the fuel injectors from firing, thus there will be no fuel being sent to the cylinders. In that case you could CRANK the engine but there would be NO fuel mixing with the incoming air so the engine would not start.

Now let us say the second test is successful. At that point you should report on anything you can notice. Like if there is a strong odor of fuel or NO odor of fuel. Any odd sounds. Etc.

When you started it before leaving the house did it start and sound normal ... like the choke was on for a few minutes and then it warmed up and the idle settled down?

Did it run smooth when you drove it?

Were there any odd sounds?

Do you think the car has some type of anti-theft package installed?

 

Again, I appreciate the quick response.

From my recollection, the car started up just fine and ran smoothly until it crapped out. There may have been some sputtering just before it died, but nothing terribly out of the norm. I'll report back later about the priming noise after the initial start up.