I did a couple searches but I'm not sure if I'm heading in the right direction. I have an 89 Camaro RS 305 TBI 5 speed. I was driving it home from the garage I was storing it at which is about 7 miles away. I stopped at my friend's place up the street and started it up again a few minutes later. I took the long way back (~ half a mile) and about a quarter mile away, my car stalled out. I had stopped at a stop sign, took off in first and was shifting into 2nd when it died. I was also going up hill. After that, it would crank over but not start. My first thought was that the fuel pump went, but I can still hear it prime when I turned the key on. I'm also thinking possibly the ignition system, but that is the one part of the car that I don't completely understand/know how to diagnose. The car has about 148,000 miles on it. Within the past 5,000 miles or so it has had new air filter, fuel filter, wires, plugs, cap, rotor, egr valve, exhaust from the y-pipe back, and all vacuum lines redone. I will also mention that when I first started it and let it warm up, it had a lopey idle for a few minutes. I'm thinking that the fuel pump is not producing enough pressure or possibly a bad coil/ignition module. Any input would be great as I'm not sure where to go from here. If a pump still primes, but has low pressure, would that cause a car not to start? I will be checking for spark when I get a chance, but it probably won't be until later this week. I apologize for the long post, but I wanted to make sure I included as many details as I could.

 

See if the fuel injectors are spraying while someone spins the engine over. Check for spark also.

 

http://easyautodiagnostics.com/gm_ic...n_module_1.php
Need fuel and spark to run, need to figure out what you are missing.
Pull a couple of spark plugs
If they are wet with fuel you have no spark
If they are dry most likely no fuel ( after doing test above for spark @ plugs )

 

Thanks guys! Now I know exact what to check for. I'll probably have to wait til this weekend to work on it but at least I can read up on that article. I'll let you know what I find

 

If you dont have spark, theres ag ood chance your ignition module has failed. They tend to be an intermittent no spark leave you stranded type failure. Good news is that they're relatively cheap and easy to replace. Check to see if there are any obvious issues in the distributor first, though.

 

Anything ignition related would be better than having to drop the tank. Could ignition issues cause a lopey/surging idle when first starting the car after a couple weeks?

 

Waiit. Hold up.. Aint you got a carb...brotha you aint got no injectors... Listen. Pour a lil gas in the carbs mouth(its secondarys).. Then try to start her.. If she starts.. Then you probley gotta change the mechanical fuel pump on the side of the block. Or the pump in the tank..... If she dosent fire..its gona be spark related. Iight

 

Its probably possible... but it makes me think its something else. You just need to see if it's a constant or intermittent issue and then check spark when it does it again. We wont know anything for sure until you can determine whether its spark or fuel.

 

89 TBI in first post.. Fuel Injected.

 

sheesh. yeah u right bout that. i always thought that was carburated.....

 

I pulled one of the plug wires and tested for spark and got nothing. Ended up just grabbing an ICM and putting it in. It started right up! Thanks for all your help guys!