I have a 1987 Trans Am GTA with the 5.7 TPI. Bout a month or so ago, I removed the dash to do a digital cluster conversion. Well, plans changed so I ended up putting it back in with the original analog harness. NOTHING WAS CUT WHEN I DID THIS. That is important to know.

Before the dash was pulled, the car ran great. Suddenly, after a month of sitting, it doesn't want to run. It just cranks and cranks and if it does fire, sputters and dies even if I give it gas.

I didn't touch anything under the hood except for the three relays on the driver's side by the brake booster, I had to disconnect them to get the firewall connector out.

When I put the dash back in, everything was hooked up as it was before and everything worked like before.

What could have caused my engine to suddenly be a b*tch? It sat for no more than a month. The only thing I can think of is there is a 2-slot female connector with a thick purple and thick yellow wire on the driver's side by the kick panel that I did not hook up because I don't know what it does or if it was hooked up before. The fuel pump does run when I turn the key on.

I need this fixed ASAP so I can turn the car over to my buddy. Thanks for any help you can give!

 

No check engine light? Does it run any better warm? Maybe you have a bad connection at one of the relays you unplugged. The three relays are for the fuel pump, MAF Power and MAF Burnoff.

 

I can;t get it to run to warm it up. When I pulled the dash about, it ran great cold or warm. I have no guage cluster in the car, so I don't know if the SES light is lit. It always comes on when the engine stalls, at least that's been my experience with thirdgens.

What is really strange is even if I give it gas, it won't run. I'm thinking that maybe, just MAYBE, I have a power issue at the distributor. I'll have to check that out tonight.

 

BUMP to the top, with an update.

I messed with it a little tonight. I pulled out the #1 spark plug and it was wet with gas, smelled like it. Also, you can smell gas coming out the tailpipe. So, it's getting fuel. I hooked up the wire to it and grounded it against the manifold as my wife cranked it, and it had spark.

So now, I can see it has fuel and spark. Next step is air. Now, my 91 Z28 vert had a no start/idle issue a while back and I had to replace the IAC. Thing is, with that issue, I could press the gas pedal and it would run until I let off it, then it would die. With this car, if I try and give it gas, it gets worse and just cranks and cranks with no firing or sputtering.

I am thinking the timing and firing order are ok, since the car ran great a month ago before I pulled the dash and I never touched them. I also peeked around under the hood and none of the wires looked chewed through by mice or anything.

If and when the car does fire, it will run for maybe 1 second then die.

I am throwing myself on the advice and help anyone here may have for me. This is really depressing and annoying knowing that a month ago is was fine, it was untouched during that month, and now just won't run. And of course, this happens right before I go to trade it to a buddy for an 88 GTA. I guess it was better it happen to me now then him after the deal, bt I need it fixed. So I am open to any help I can get. thanks

 

How does it run if the ECM is in Servce Mode?