Car dies under hard acceleration, normal at a higher RPM (3600-4500). It acts like ign switch just turns off. Some times it will start right back, other it will not start at all. If I drive it easy, it will stay running for as long as I normally drive ~20 miles.


The Car:
1992 Camaro RS, I replaced the 305 TBI with a L98 and complete wiring harness out of a 1991 Z28. I did the swap almost a year ago, and i ran ok for about 8 months.


What I have tested.
Fuel Pressure 42 PSI, (I left the gauge hooked up on a test run, and it read the same at start up, while idling, and once the car died)
Cap and Rotor look good~3 months old
New Coil~15 miles
New Pick-up Coil~5 miles
Bought a computer from the junk yard, no change
Spark Plug wires look good
Battery test good
I replaced the fuel filter about 4 months ago.
I bypassed the VATS with a resistor (before the swap)
I have good spark, when its trying to crank, but no luck starting.

I did notice that under the driver side dash, it looks like the previous owner messed with the fuse box, and other wiring. Also, all the wiring around the base of the steering column is just gathered up and zip tied to the column.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I have a good spark, I can feel the injectors pulse, but it will not start at all now. I still have good fuel pressure.

How hot should the computer get? When it ran right it didn't seem to heat up much, but when it dies and will not restart, the case gets not hot but very warm.

 

I dont advocate throwing parts at things, but ignition modules are cheap. If it makes no difference then at least you have a spare. They fail at the worst times when it's hot out or when tehy get too hot, and they fail intermittently and make it a major PITA to track down the issue.

So get a new ignition module. I suggest Borg Warner. Stay away form any accell crap. It should be like $25 bucks. Put the thermal grease under it. Very easy job.

You dont need to remove the distributor or loosen the clamp that holds the timing. Just pull the cap off and the rotor off, and you should be able to get to it easily.

A couple of years ago my distributor burned up three of em. The stock module burnt up, so I replaced it with an Accel one, it burnt up 2 months later. Then another accel, it burnt up 3 months later. Then I put a Borg Warner in there and it's been fine ever since.

Usually they get hot, overheat, or just get flaky, and they either fail to send the spark at all, or they send it very intermittently, sometimes enough to make the car run, just very badly, and sometimes not enough. Next time it happens pull a spark plug out and turn over the engine and see if there's any spark. If not I would put money on it being the ign module. I'd go ahead and just change it out before it happens again, though, honestly.

 

Also Check your grounds an make sure they are tight. Maybe even put in a new pickup coil and clean the dizzy housing. dont use carb cleaner around the pickup coil tho!

 

I thought I had a wornout pickup coil in my distributor that acted the exact same way, turned out the distributor was worn and had play, ended up burning out modules and tearing up p/u coils. Pull the dizzy and makesure it has no play side to side and up and down......

 

Thanks for the replys, as stated above I have replaced the pick up coil. When I had the distibutor out I was very surprized by the lack of play in the bushings. The car did kill one ignition module about 10 miles in to the first test run, so I took the module out of the 305's distibutor. The module test good, and I have a spark. I think I will just replace the module anyway. I also agree with the post that suggested a borg warner module. I worked at O'Reilly Auto parts for 5 yrs and never warranted a borg warner module. I will have to wait till payday.

 

Well, new ign. Control module no change.

 

Are you getting spark when it acts up?

 

also do the wiggle test on your fusible links..

 

Interesting issues, 88 cold start 9th injector?
If it means anything mine, even with all new temp sensors still does not pop start hot like she does cold.