I have just completed a TPI transplant into my (used to be 4bbl) 87 Formula. All the donor parts came from a wrecked 87 T/A.

here is what happens: When I first start the car (cold) it runs for 3 seconds and stalls, Start again ind it runs for 4 seconds, the time gets longer and longer until the idle starts to search, and finally it warms up enough to stay running at a reasonably stady idle.

I have unpluged the cold start injector and it will not start, at all.

I was getting a code 34 but I am no longer getting the low MAF code.

I replaced the IAC with a spare, with no change.

I put a bag over the intake to see if there was any leaks and it stalls almost instantly, and would not restart until I removed the bag.

I am at a loss,

Mods:
SLP headers
SLP 3" cat back exhaust
SLP mild cam
9.5:1 Compression
Ported & polished intake Plenum, Runners & base.

 

Since no one was willing to answer my question, I had to figure it out on my own. The problem was with the Temp senser for the computer, the one in the front of the intake.

makes sense now...

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87 Formula 5.1 converted to TPI Yellow/Black
87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray

83 Camaro (Parts)
83 T/A (parts)

 

hello sir, i am hoping you still get responses to this thread via your email. i am having a similar problem and was wondering if the temp sensor you attributed the problem too was a coolant temp sensor or the intake air temp sensor. any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Talk about a Ressurection of an old thread...

Coolant temp Sensor, its located under the Throttlebody on the TPI Base.

it WAS a $12 part on 01...

John

 

just goes to show how much useable information there is on this site!!

 

So CTS worked? Did you put a scantool on it while you were having that problem? I am having the same problem start then stall and looking at the scan tool the CTS reads good. I am not interested in replacing things that seem good on the scantool though.

 

i had the same problem on my 89 iroc. before i had the problem i threw a code 36(maf burn off relay). i let it be for 2 days and noticed that the idle was getting crappier on startup every day and than i replaced the relay. after that i still had the start/stumble/die on cold start only. i talked to my techer at school and he sugested the cts in the intake sice it is efectively the choke for our cars. i didnt really look into that since it is so hard to just test this since evry time i start my car in the morning i needed to go right than and also no scan tool was present. on a whim i unplugged my maf sensor while the car was trying to idle on cold start, and then idle went back to where it should be. so i assumed my maf was still dirty after being run for so long withought the burn off. i still ahvent done anything with the maf. im planning to go to napa and pick up the maf cleaner made by crc i believe and clean it real good than see if that helps. i hope i dont have to buy a new maf since it is like 165 bucks.

hope this helps.

 

Understand that when I would start the car the idle would go up and down about once a second, little by little it woud even out and then eventually run smooth. Check the metered temperature when the car is COLD / not running If it reads higher than the outside temperature then it may be the culperate.

I did NOT use a scan tool, I happen to know someone who used to write the technical books for GM and he is the guy that suggested the ECM CTS. I just told him exactly what it was doing.

JOhn

 

Thanks for the reply.