Put a can of Techron in my '89 Formula last Friday, it ran fine to work and back. Didn't drive it this weekend. On the way to work today it started missing/cutting out on the highway, and the check engine light came on. Code 33, doesn't tell me much, probably caused by the engine missing. I realize a number of things could cause this, but it ran fine until the Techron. Could the fuel system cleaner have broken some crud free somewhere and caused it to clog one of the injectors?

I'm going to give it a tune-up this weekend just to make sure I've covered the basics...plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, and fuel filter. I'd like to get NGK or AC Delco Rapid Fires, just copper. Anyone know the part number for each of these brands for an internally stock '89 305 TPI?

Thanks!

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1989 Formula WS6 M5
2001 Trans Am WS6 A4

More info at website:
http://www.fbody.com/members/stevenmh

 

The first series of Bosch injectors reacted very badly to fuel cleaner additives. However I really doubt your car being an 89 has these injectors.

I can't think of any relation between your additive and the code 33 which most likely is MAF failure or MAF Power Relay Failure.

You can switch your MAF Power and MAF Burnoff Relays with each other and see if it changes to a code 36. If it does then spend 20 bucks and change both relays.

 

Well, driving it home it ran horribly. It was missing, puffing black smoke, and smelled like rotten eggs. Got home and there was a crackling sound from the exhaust, like fuel was burning in the converters. There was also a little smoke under the engine bay. Could it be a leaking injector dumping too much fuel? Or a fouled spark plug not burning the fuel? The O2 sensor seems OK since it's actually recognizing the rich condition. Plugged in AutoXray, and in addition to the code 33, it was giving a code 45...running rich.

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1989 Formula WS6 M5
2001 Trans Am WS6 A4

More info at website:
http://www.fbody.com/members/stevenmh

 

A MAF failure can cause all of the symptoms you described. Check the MAF relays first as Mike recommended. If this doesn't work, replace the MAF. By all means, stop driving it until you fix it or you'll be writing a new post that sounds like "Exhaust manifolds glowing red...no power...plugged cats?". The damage (melted cats due to excess fuel in the exhaust) may have already been done . Hope this helps.

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1990 IROC 350
Mods: Too busy trying to make it run right to mod it.
Airfoil, Dynomax cat-back, MSD coil, 180 t-stat, Bald Eagle tires,
Hypertech fan switch, Accel 23# injectors, Holley AFPR, ported plenum,
Ported Daytona Yellow stock base, Moroso valve covers, other stuff,
Ruger P95DC, hot wife, new oil filter, thick rubber floormats, no cats.
18.0 @ 85MPH since I'm one big-a$$ MF
"It's better to have and not need than to need and not have."

 

a friend of mine put unleaded race gas it his car
for the first time ane it cleaned the fuel system
really well only bad thang happend was for some reasion
it cloged the converter and it ran bad, it poped jerked
and would not go over 45 mph
this could have happend to you/

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388 SuperRam, DFI, Vortech R trim ,N.O.S.,alki injection,
Dart sportmansII heads,50 pound injectors, Headman full headers
duel 3' exhaust,and Flowmasters, Ford nine inch with 370's
Ronal rims with Nitto drad raidals.