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1989 Firebird Formula rough start

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Old 11-17-2020, 11:28 AM
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Car: 1989 Firebird formula
Engine: 305
1989 Firebird Formula rough start

I have a 1989 Firebird Formula 305 that starts and drives great on the first start, but after driving it and letting it sit for about half an hour to two hours it has a really rough time starting again. It starts up on the first crank but then immediately shoots down to low roms and dies. Sometimes I can keep it alive by pumping the gas pedal but most of the time I have to start it several times and hold it at about 2000 rpm until the rpm steadies out and then it will run fine after that. I've replaced the ECM coolant temperature sensor and the fuel pump was replaced 8000 miles ago, rebuilt the throttle body and put new injectors in. Any other ideas what it could be
Old 11-17-2020, 11:58 AM
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Car: 92 Firebird, 77 Trans Am SE, 86 Z28
Engine: 5.7 HSR, T/A 6.6, empty
Transmission: T-5, TH350, T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 posi, 3.23 posi, 3.23
Re: 1989 Firebird Formula rough start

Check the simple things. When it happens does it have good spark? What's the fuel pressure? The coolant temp sensor may be new but that doesn't make it good. Check it. DON'T replace it just because you can.. check it first. Also worth testing the MAF. Disconnect it when it runs terribly...does it run better?
Old 11-17-2020, 05:19 PM
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Car: 86 Imponte Ruiner 450GT, 91 Formula
Engine: 350 Vortec, FIRST TPI, 325 RWHP
Transmission: 700R4 3000 stall.
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Re: 1989 Firebird Formula rough start

Your injectors are shot. The Multec's do that when they get heat soaked. When it's having trouble Ohm them and you'll find that a bunch are out of spec when hot.

GD
Old 11-17-2020, 06:19 PM
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Car: 1989 Firebird formula
Engine: 305
Re: 1989 Firebird Formula rough start

Originally Posted by aliceempire
Check the simple things. When it happens does it have good spark? What's the fuel pressure? The coolant temp sensor may be new but that doesn't make it good. Check it. DON'T replace it just because you can.. check it first. Also worth testing the MAF. Disconnect it when it runs terribly...does it run better?
I tried the MAF it didn't make a difference, didn't get a chance to try anything else. I think the coolant temperature sensor works because it helped the car run allot better but didn't fix the start issue.
Old 11-17-2020, 06:23 PM
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Car: 1989 Firebird formula
Engine: 305
Re: 1989 Firebird Formula rough start

Originally Posted by GeneralDisorder
Your injectors are shot. The Multec's do that when they get heat soaked. When it's having trouble Ohm them and you'll find that a bunch are out of spec when hot.

GD
I replaced the injectors last month with these

Amazon Amazon

Old 11-17-2020, 06:39 PM
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Car: 86 Imponte Ruiner 450GT, 91 Formula
Engine: 350 Vortec, FIRST TPI, 325 RWHP
Transmission: 700R4 3000 stall.
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Re: 1989 Firebird Formula rough start

Oh it's TBI. Odd. My 91 Formula is a TPI 305......

But you say it has a MAF...... TBI cars don't have MAF's.

Try disconnecting the O2 sensor and see what that does.

Well

Old 11-18-2020, 07:14 AM
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Car: 92 Firebird, 77 Trans Am SE, 86 Z28
Engine: 5.7 HSR, T/A 6.6, empty
Transmission: T-5, TH350, T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 posi, 3.23 posi, 3.23
Re: 1989 Firebird Formula rough start

Originally Posted by GeneralDisorder
But you say it has a MAF...... TBI cars don't have MAF's.
Well
Yeah, I'm confused as well. Could also be an ignition module getting heat fatigue I suppose. Would that o2 reading make a difference when starting in closed loop?
Old 11-18-2020, 11:28 AM
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Car: 1989 Firebird formula
Engine: 305
Re: 1989 Firebird Formula rough start

Originally Posted by GeneralDisorder
Oh it's TBI. Odd. My 91 Formula is a TPI 305......

But you say it has a MAF...... TBI cars don't have MAF's.

Try disconnecting the O2 sensor and see what that does.

Well
Well if it doesn't have a MAF I'm not sure what I unplugged. Hopefully I can try the O2 sensor today
Old 11-18-2020, 01:16 PM
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Car: 86 Imponte Ruiner 450GT, 91 Formula
Engine: 350 Vortec, FIRST TPI, 325 RWHP
Transmission: 700R4 3000 stall.
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Re: 1989 Firebird Formula rough start

The O2 probably won't matter in open loop, but it's hard to say from his description if it's gone into closed loop or not when the problem occurs. That's why I suggested to unplug it and rule it out. Easy enough to check.

If it's a matter of it needing to get into closed loop to run correctly then you're going to have to look at BLM and INT values and see if it's having to add or subtract fuel to get to it's happy place. What's your regulated fuel pressure?

GD
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