Hi

Been a while since I have posted. Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

I FINALLY got my firebird on the ROAD!! 11 years and finally I am diving it again!!

However, there is an odd issue. When I take it out and drive around. If I stop and shut it down, I cant get it to start. It will turn over but wont catch. If I turn it over 2 or 3 times, on the next try, nothing. Wont turn over, nothing. When I let it sit for a while, She will start right up again. I dont have an exact amount of time it takes to start working again.

My thoughts are this is an ECM issue. I had replaced the fuel pump last year and she runs great, but just an odd issue. Has anyone else experienced this, if so how to fix/address? Thanks!!!

 

Your description is vague. Does it crank or not crank. Not crank likely vats, cranks but doesn't start or hardly sputter possibly injectors.

 

Well thats the thing. I was also thinking the injectors as well, maybe just a cleaning?

Basically it will start, takes a bit, turns over for a bit then starts and runs fine. I am thinking that is the injectors, hopefully a cleaning will fix it.

But after I drive it around I stop, shut her down. If I try to start her, she cranks but does not start, just turns over. I try a 2nd and maybe 3rd time, same thing. If I try again, nothing, no crank or turn over. I let it sit and its fine.

 

When its not cranking it could be starter heat soak , or the vats. If the injectors are a grey color I would contact South Bay fuel injectors and replace them and not think twice about the investment. When its doing the cranking and no start you can check the injector signal with a noid light and ohm out a few injectors. Hot less than 12 they are junk. They should be 16.5 or so in good coil condition.

 

Cool. She is going in for inspection next week. I will have my mechanic check the fuel injectors as you suggest. As for the starter, replace that if it is the heat soak? For VATS, is that a unit that needs replacing eventually?

Thanks for your help!

 

For the south bay injectors, how many lbs would you recommend? This is a stock 350. thanks.

 

In simplest terms, you need air, fuel, and spark for the engine to run.
A quick test I do to determine which is missing when I have a crank but no start issue is to spray a little starting fluid in the throttle body and try to start the engine.
If it starts on starting fluid then dies when that burns off, that is an indication of a fuel issue.
If it won't start with starting fluid, then that points to a no spark issue.
This helps me narrow down where I need to start trouble shooting.

 

http://www.southbayfuelinjectors.com...e-350-5-7-tpi/

The multec injectors look like this. If that's what you have you were lucky to get it running on all eight for sitting for so many years. These use to be a great injector. But with new ethanol blend the coils break down and they fail. If the resistance is to low on two many injectors the ecm shuts off any injector pulse.

 

Zane

Thanks. But she does start and runs great. It just when I shut her down she has to sit a bit to start again. Its just odd that I have to let her sit, almost like something needs to cool off, or reset.

 

Awesome. Either way I agree its best to replace them anyway, even as you say with change in gasoline. Thanks.

With VATS is there a module to replace if need be?

 

If the gas wasn't stabilized for the last year and doesn't smell real strong. I hate to say it but you should drop the tank. fuel will eat the rubber isolator and turn it into goo. All the will eventually overheat your pump end up in your fuel filter and injectors. Its hard to say the condition right now but if the pump Always primes and isn't real load you might have dodged the bullet.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...-i-bypass.html

 

I don't think so. The fuel is fine and the pump primes without issue. Just now started it successfully. Shut it off then tried again. Just cranks. I will let itbsit again and it will start right up.

 

keep a spare spark plug with you. next time it wont start, pull a wire off, use the spare plug and see if you have spark.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. The South Bay injectors are on the list of things needed!

Looks like the staring issue is clearing up on its own. Now she starts after I shut her down, odd. But other things croping up. Rear hatch has a new motor but that quit out on me, not sure if its the motor or some other new issue. Radio stopped working too, its got power, the clock works. Wondering if its a relay or something. But no matter, I have put 100 miles on her since Saturday and I am IN 3rd gen heaven!!!

 

The answer to your previous post is that you will need a set of 22lb injectors for a 350.
When you are ready give us a call and we will be more than happy to help you.

www.southbayfuelinjectors.com
516-442-4707

 

What ive heard happens with 3rd gens is that the ICM will not work (if old) when its gets hot which causes it to not even turn or crank when u turn the key

 

Cuco, thanks for the heads up on the ICM. I finally got a chance to change it and it was a big help. Still having an issue where it will just turn but not catch and start. I have a feeling this is the fuel injectors. But at least now even when hot, she will start or try to start right away.

 

I will for sure. Just need to get the cash. Either way I thing it would be smart to get my originals replaced.

 

ICM fixed this issue for sure, car is running and starting GREAT!! Could not be happier!!!

 

just to follow up. I just ordered the coolant temp sensor ACDELCO from Rockauto. Next will be the Southbay injectors ASAP. The car is running fantastic but still a minor starting issue. Not as bad as before. ICM was the primary culprit. Today I had it out all moring, made some stops. Last stop before I came home, she would not start, but 3 times the charm, and she turned right over. My thinking is the temp sensor because the car was warm. So to eliminate the obvious and get rid of some 25 year old hardware, need to take the next steps above.

Can anyone comment on the southbay injectors? Do you have them and how have the been for you? All in all they look great but would like some input too. Thanks.