ok, here goes...i have an 88 Trans Am w/ a 5.0L TPI....now here's the thing, i go to start the car and it will crank but not start.....i can hear the fuel pump priming when i turn the key, it cranks strong, but it just won't turn over...i has a new cap and rotor and new plugs and wires....fuel pump is also new. it will do this for a few minutes, me crank it and it not start....then, for no reason, without me doing a thing it starts. this problem was rare but has become much more frequent and it's driving me crazy. does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this? any help is greatly appreciated..thanks!

 

on my 86 TA, I had a fuse up front by the battery that would come loose or blow a fuse a while back and would cut the power to the computer which would in turn not give you spark. you might to look for that by your battery and see if it's blown or just came loose.

 

Connect a fuel pressure guage and see what the pressure is before, during and after engine starts. Also is you ses light on until the engine cranks?

 

no, no SES light, and once it finally does start there's no problem with it at all. it just won't start and then, out of nowhere, without me touching a thing to attempt to fix it, i'll crank it and it'll start.......i can't figure it out....someone told me it might be the ignition module, but i'm not sure.....i'm totally stumped

 

The '88 GTA has VATS anti-theft features...is the SECURITY light on while you're cranking? If so, your ignition key resistor chip may be dirty or failing.

 

nah, don't have the anti-theft system either......it's driving me nuts, i can't take the car anywhere b/c i'm afraid it won't start back up

 

The early 88 GTA's didn't have the VATS, it was added mid-year. I even have a little card in my manual stating that this car didn't come with it from the factory.

Anyway, it sounds like your ignition module to me too. Next time it does it, take the coil wire off the top of the cap and place it near metal and crank it. If there is no spark then that's where your problem is.

I've been having this same problem for two or three years now, and I can't figure out the cause. I've also found that my modules usually aren't bad (98% of the time) and they can be reset. Unhook both of the weather pack connectors that go to it (it looks like they plug into the distributor) for about 5 min and plug them back in. It should crank right up after that.

As for what triggers this, I have no idea. I can't find any pattern to it at all. It only ever happens after the car has been sitting overnight usually too.

 

I have had this same problem also for a couple of years and have
not found it yet. One morning it may fire right up and the next
morning at will crank forever and I have to shoot some starting
fluid in the air cleaner to get it going. But once it runs for just a
few minutes it is good to go all day long as long as you don't let
it cool all the way down for several hours.

I have replace EVERYTHING, some things a couple of times with
no difference. I have finaly learned to live with it.

 

You might want to replace the pick-up and module on the distributor it sounds like one of these might be ready to die.

 

Could he also have a leaky injector?
My car will have trouble starting if its hot and has been driven all day. It will still start it just takes a few extra cranks.

 

This is a long shot, but unscrew your fuel cap and let the system vent, then screw it back in and try to start it.

 

I had a similar problem with my 350 TPI. It turned out to be the EGR valve. If you have a vacuum tester, you would undo the vacuum line off the EGR and connect the tester to it. Start the engine and pump the tester. If the engine stalls then your EGR is OK. If the engine doesn't stall then your EGR is toast. Good luck!!!

 

if it is the ignition module....it's inside the distributer on this engine, right? can i get it out w/out removing the distributer, b/c i'd rather not do that on a week night if ya know what i mean.

 

You may have to remove a couple of the wires, but you can get to it without taking the cap off the car.

 

i have the same problem with my 89....
it doesn't always do it..... but when it does its a major pain...
what i do that seems to work pretty well is when i try and turn it over the first time and i know its trying to be difficult.... turn on the ignition but not crank the car.....let my fuel pump prime itself..... turn off the ignition.... wait about 20 secs.... turn the ignition back on and let the pump prime again..... when it finishes.... crank it up.... that works most of the time on mine at least.... and my car only has this problem when its chilly or cold... and once i get the car started.... it won't have that problem anymore that day... oh well..... hope u get it figured out!!!

 

ok.....problem is that it's not getting spark......i checked it this time when it wouldn't start...checked the #1 plug wire first....no spark...then i checked the coil wire off of the distributor.......no spark....what do we think.....ignition module or coil..or something else??

 

Check the ignition wire that powers the coil when the key is turned on. Must have min. 12 volts. Then check for loose or dirty connections between coil and distributor.

 

Check connections at the fuse at the battery and at the TPS. Mine did that and it was a loose connection at the TPS. The prong on the connector was broken off, so I replaced the connector and havent had the problem since.