I've searched the archives...cant find anything. I have a 350 in my '89 RS...and just took off the old Lo3 TBI setup in favor of an '88TPI setup. When i finished up, started it up, checked everything, took it for a test drive...I got about a mile down the road, and the car just cut off while I was driving. Then it wouldn't start back up! I checked all fuses and the injector fuse blew, so i replaced it, but it wouldn't start back up. All fuses after that were fine, fuel pump is coming on (yes i put in a TPI fuel pump), spark plugs are getting fire, has plenty of gas etc. I got a test light grounded to the chasis and poked the red wire (power wire i think) to each injector (to open the injectors up), and the car fired up, but then died right away. So I thought it might be the ground to the injectors, but they were grounded. I didn't think to see if the security light came one...but I dont think '88 had vats (my '89 did thought...maybe that's a problem?) It cranks over and sounds like normal startup, but wont start. Keep in mind that it initially ran, but cut off WHILE I WAS DRIVING....I'm sure there aren't many things that would cause that. I need help BADLY....thanks guys.

 

Now I'm REALLY comfused. I know 2 guys w/ an '87 computer, so I borrowed theirs to see what it would do w/ theirs, well the car fired right up (with both their computers), but then died right away. Same result a few times. So then when I tried to start it up, I gave it some throttle to keep it from dying, but it died the second I pressed the petal....it's like the injectors wouldn't put out the gas the motor needed to keep up w/ the amount of air I let in. Same result every time...start up, die. I just put a TPI fuel pump in the tank....so unless it already messed up or they gave me the wrong one!! But it does come on and start the car. Can the fuel pressure regulator mess up?? Today I'm going to check the fuel pressure and try and read the trouble codes (w/ my computer). If anyone has any Ideas, PLEASE help, because if I dont get this fixed by monday when I go back to work, I'm screwed!

 

I had the same problem with my formula. I ran an 89 ECM for about 3 hours, until the freaking thing decided it didn't wanna be in limp home mode anymore..

The 87 ECM shoulda worked fine tho, so you're problem could be elsewher. Why dont you pull the codes from the ECM. You're prolly pushing a security code, or something else more critical.


-- Joe

 

I don't know if you got the car fixed yet or not but i would defininately check the fuel pressure like you said also when was the last time you changed your fuel filter. Also i don't know if it is maf or speed density, but if maf try unhooking the maf sensor and see if it will start and run then. I know when my fuel pump was going it did the same thing yours is doing now. I don't know if the one you have is new or used, just a thought. Hope this helps some. good luck.

 

I checked for codes...none (except code 12 of course), unhooked the MAF sensor, still wouldn't run, but get this...the fuel pressure wouldn't get above 5 PSI!! What could cause this?? The pump is new, and is working, fuel filter was changed about 6 months ago...if it's the VATS as I suspect, would this cause the lack of FP? But if it were the VATS, it would throw a code correct? Thanks