Hey I wrote in a while back and got lots of responses...thanks....but I will give a brief explanation of the problem at hand.

I have an 88 T/A 305 TPI wich is pretty much stock. Left it parked for a month. Came home started it, it worked fine....took it out of the garage...drove around the block and parked it.

Next day I got up...started the car...it started....went to a slightly higher than usual idle speed for about 20 seconds...started chugging...sputtering...popping noises started coming out of the intake...I gave it some gas and it nearly died...let go of the gas and it revved up for a second. It barely runs in neutral and to run it under a load I have to press the gas, let go press it let go for about 5 minutes until the rpms are going from 3000 to 3500 then drop the clutch and gun it. Its hard to test some of the things on it because it won't stay running. I've got code 33 and 34. I've checked the TPS, the ignition control module, MAF Sensor, MAF relays, Cat, Oxygen sensor, wiring from all these to the ecm, it has a new fuel filter, everything else seems good.

What would cause a drastic change like this from one day to the next?

Please anyone help....it hasn't been running in over a month and I have to smog it so I can register it.....any ideas are appreciated

 

Check the MAF connector. The pins have a habit of becoming misaligned (the best way I can say it). Sometimes one pin will back out of the connector, or get bent. Also, a lot of times, MAFS don't show up as defective, bu they are. If you can borrow one from somebody, try swapping it. You can also unplug the harness form it and see if it runs better in limp mode.

 

Hey I actually bought a new mafs and swapped it with the old one and the relays and it still had the same problem....runs the same with or without it connected

 

Have you checked for a broken or split vacuum line yet?

 

I checked for vacum leaks everywhere...the only thing leaking was the gasket from the plenum to the throttle body and I replaced it.

 

If no vacuum leak, connect a fuel pressure guage to it and let's see what the fuel pressure is both with the vacuum line connect to the FPR and with it disconnected and plugged on the end of the line (so we don't introduce a vac leak). Have you pulled and checked the IAC valve? Sometimes they get carboned up and start sticking as well.

Let us know how these checks turn out.



- Vern

 

Thanks man....I'm going to go get a fuel pressure guage right now and test it but I tied to turn on the fuel pump by applying 12v to the G pin etc....and the relay clicked but the fuel pump did nothing....I am going to try 12v directly to the pump and see what happens...it might be the problem though I figure the fuel pressure guage is cool to have anyway...welll see ....thanks for the advice

I'll keep yall informed man

later

 

Mine did that. After new relays and MAF, had to do a new O2 sensor. When it's in limp mode, is it running rich? Check that O2 sensor.

 

hey guys....it was the fuel pump! I have never seen one act like this before but i pulled the tank and the pump and connected it directly to a 12v and the pump it self sputters on and off very spuratticly

I had already replaced the o2 sensor, maf and relays so I knew it wasnt that...thanks all for your hep
help that is

 

Glad you found it!!!! Guess we should never ignore the obvious, huh? No or intermittent fuel pump operation = bad fuel pump. So why is anyone surprised???

But I'd have done the same thing you did just because it's such a pain to get to that blasted in tank pump.....

Have a Great Day!!!


- Vern