Ok, thanks for looking. I recently bought an 86' Trans Am with a 305 TPI with 100k miles... (I have some pics here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/48439275@N06/ but it looks a lot better now...) I have looked long and hard for someone with my symptoms but no luck, I was wondering if you guys can help? Oh and the car is almost completely bone stock minus a couple things like the Harmonic Balancer...

Problems:

• Bad gas milage (88 miles on a tank and a half).
• Broken exhaust studs where the manifold meets the y pipe on the passenger side.
• Checked codes with paper clip and got codes 12, 33 and will check again tomorrow.
• Hardly any heat and haven't checked AC.
• Poor radiator pump pressure.
• Tranny slips and seems to be too full.
• TPS "un-tuned".
• Idle is 1000 rpm cold but way too low when warm at a stop (200-300 rpm and sometimes dies)
• Most recently the "Check engine light" came on for an unknown reason ill check tomorrow.

Could the bad gas mileage be caused by a bad EGR or TPS?

Also, my friend is looking to reprogram his ECU because he ripped out all of his smog and AC junk, so if anybody knows how to program it as cheap as possible that would be great if you can leave a link or even a how to, Thanks.

ANY INFORMATION IS USEFUL! Thanks again, sorry if i missed someone else's post.

 

Code 12 is normal, that should flash three times and then you will experience a pause and then see your codes. Code 33 indicates a MAP sensor error , but having an 86 , you should have a MAF car. Check your fuel injectors with an ohmeter or multimeter. You should be getting 0.013-0.017 ohms or so. There is a link that shows you how to do this. Also, I would get rid of some of that trans fluid if it shows too full. Try tightening up your Tv cable for you transmission. If it slipping a little, then that should prevent it from slipping too much. That is also better for your transmission. Firm shifts are better than soft.LOL How do you know your TPS is out of range? Did you properly test it? Refer to the Thirdgen links on how to adjust tps sensor also.

 

welcome to thirgen, Jason...

 

Well, sorry about the time that I'm updating... but I re-checked the codes and now I only get 12 and the check engine light also went out. It still has issues, for example the car still gets a little too warm probably because the water pump is original (replacing in a couple days) and also the car is starting to have starting problems. I have to give it gas to even get it to stay running, when it warms up the idle goes down to ~350rpm then eventually dies with foot off gas. i was going to replace the o2 sensor, but we are thinking it isn't the problem for the bad gas mileage. What could be the issue for having the fuel lines having so much pressure while releasing it by the plenum? Josh (327sleeper88) was checking my fuel pressure (~40 something) and it just kept spraying fuel all over my engine, could this be a couple bad injectors?

Thanks again, sorry for the late update...

 

Fix the TPS then work from there.

 

I'll tune it tomorrow, well maybe... we'll see how work goes. and if this isn't a problem, what next?

 

Set the minimum air by the walk thru in thr FAQ section of the board. You may need to remove the IAC motor and clean thos passage as well. There is also the possibiltiy that you ECM might be failing. My 89 TBI car did something similiar and it came from a bad ECM.