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Hard Starts~Runs rough at idle

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Old Dec 26, 2001 | 10:02 AM
  #1  
83ZMan's Avatar
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From: Aberdeen, North Carolina
Hard Starts~Runs rough at idle

Hi Guys and gals!! I just purchased an '83 Z28, cross-fire injection, 305. The car has seen its better days, but it's all there and the interior is clean. I want to restore it to original (drivetrain-wise) for my wife to use as a second car. She totalled her '92 RS last year. I bought the car on e-bay for $940.11 so bear that in mind. It has 130,000 miles.

I've gone through it an replaced plugs, wires, cap&rotor, oil change, filter change.

The car starts very hard. It is almost as it gets no fuel for the first six or seven tries, but it will eventually start. When it does start, it runs like a real dog at idle. Acts as tough it is only running on about 5 cylinders, but if I give it gas it levels out and sounds pretty good. Now, I know the catalytic converter is about stopped-up because it has very little exhaust pressure at the tips, so I've got a new one to replace it with. Any other things to look for?

The injectors spray nice and evenly, so I don't think it's a fuel delivery problem, but I'm not that familiar with the cross-fire system.

Any snsors that could be making it idle so poorly?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Old Dec 26, 2001 | 11:23 PM
  #2  
buickman's Avatar
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From: Oklahoma
i'm assuming you replaced those itmes due to th fact that it was hard to start.

try this, get it running with a vacuum gauge hooked up to manifold vacuum. with it running snap the throttle back and watch the vacuum gauge, if it dops to zero and is slow to respond then replace the cat. if that isn't it, check the fuel pressure for 11-15psi when not running, key on. if low, check for reason of restiction, ie, filter, pump, etc. if that isn't it, check spark output. remove plug wire at number 1 plug and with a good spark plug with a good ground, have a helper crank the engine over and watch for a bright yellow or blue spark. should be able to jump .035 spark plug gap. hope this helps.
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Old Dec 27, 2001 | 12:26 AM
  #3  
zroc's Avatar
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: way over there
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: LB9 for the moment
Transmission: T5
have you done a compression test??? one of the biggest probs on the crossfire (if memory serves) is that fuel would tend to stay in liquid form (not turn to vapor) and create wet spots in the intake effectively creating a flood... pull the plugs and look at them when this happens on a cool morning or on a hot day when the engine is warm... my other sugestion is pull the damned thing off and throw it as far as you can...

zroc
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Old Dec 27, 2001 | 07:40 AM
  #4  
83ZMan's Avatar
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From: Aberdeen, North Carolina
It does tend to act as though its flooded. Once it does start, it starts pretty easily. But it still idles like a dog.........
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