I've got a 89 TA with a supercharged 305 TBI. Was idling my car out of a driveway when it died (didn't sputtering at all). It will turn over but won't start. It has a new MSD coil pack, distributor cap and roter, with an older MSD ignition box. I can hear the fuel pump running and it's getting spark to the distributor.
Was thinking it might be a fuel issue.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

Remove the tbi housing to confirm you are actually getting fuel to the injectors..

if so it's not a fuel problem it's a spark problem.. you can safely test for spark to the plugs by using a timing light. connect the timing light to #1 & with a helper or a bump starter start the car.. if you have spark to #1 the timing light will blink.. if not, then you have no spark @#1 so test #3 #5 etc.

if you have no spark to some or no plugs the problem could be bad plug wires.

test the resistance of the plug wires.

then the dist., coil, MSD box or wiring

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU DID BEFORE IT DIED?

were you playing with timing and forget to tighten the dist hold down

 

I had replaced the coil pack, distributor cap and rotor, and spark plugs a few weeks prior, due to the fact if was lagging under a load.

The last thing I did was idle out or a driveway. I hadn't even put my foot the the pedal yet.

One thing I notice was the fuel pressure gauge under the hood wasn't reading any pressure with the key forward or while turning over the motor. could a clogged fuel filter cause a motor to die out so quickly or would i notice some lagging or hesitation in the motor?

 

Could be anything, can you see if it's getting fuel at all? Sounds like an ignition control module to me, but you need to verify whether or not it's getting spark.



I got one of those bad boys for like $5 at the local auto parts store. Would be worth it to have one around, just makes it really easy.

 

[QUOTE

One thing I notice was the fuel pressure gauge under the hood wasn't reading any pressure with the key forward or while turning over the motor. could a clogged fuel filter cause a motor to die out so quickly or would i notice some lagging or hesitation in the motor?[/QUOTE]

Um yes... no fuel pressure is a bad thing, is the fuel pump priming when you put key in run position.

if so then check the fuel filter for debris, if you never changed it who knows when or if it was ever changed.

 

I don't have a lot of time to work on my car. So I appreciate all the input. I've only had the car a few months so I'm not sure how long it's been since the fuel filter was changed. I've just never had a car shut off like that and not restart due to a fuel filter. Thanks for all the info guys. I'll repost when I get it running again.

 

if you can't hear the fuel pump prime it's the fuel pump not the fuel filter.

common sense would tell you if you have "0" fuel pressure that the issue is with the fuel system..

 

If you read my first post it states "I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING". Common sense would tell you to read before answering.

 

Easy now no one needs to get their funderwear knotted, pull fuel line off and turn key on. Just cause you can hear the pump doesnt always mean its workin anymore. Its not like a carb motor, when you lose fuel pressure youre done, crank motor and spray brake clean, starting fluid in throttle body (not alot)