I have a 87 T/A 350 TPI automatic, I live in Tampa, Fl. I was wondering if anybody lives in or around tampa that could maybe give me a hand, im having trouble with timing mostly plus just generally getting it running again it sat for 2 years and im having trouble working the bugs out. My first car was an 89 i-roc 350 but it had a carb and i am trying my hardest to learn abt this tpi setup and this is not the best situation to learn in, my name is justin, im 21 and i have to drive the t/a to work in bradenton everyday and its killing me to hear it run like this. thank you in advance

 

Anytrouble codes? replace fuel filter. Sometimes gasoline will gum up. Do a search on the upper right hand side of this page. Type in "Seafoam." Ive never tried it but many claim to have very amazing results. Members have unplugged the brake booster vac. line and poured it in slowly. The Camaro will smoke heavily. make sure that you spark plug wires are not close to the exaust manifole because the headers will get extremely hot. Also pour a little into the gas tank to clean out the fuel system. Try a resistance test on your fuel injectors. Contact these guys and they will tell you what the resistance should be at ( https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/member.php?u=88662 ).
Go here to find out what exactly your current fuel injectors are if they are OEM ( https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...-injector.html ).

 

i can drive it for about an hour then i will get a code, i have replaced the fuel filter 2 times already and the pump and strainer i run premium gas in it at all times but i really need to get it timed because the intake gets hot quick so i think its still timed retarded, im also about to do the third oil change in 2 months, is there any sensors or connectors i have to disconnect when i time it? also i heard that castrol gtx is not good for a tpi engine?

 

Ok. Here is the problem. I asked if you get anytrouble codes. You acknowledged tht you do but you didnt note the code. How are we supposed to help you if you cant follow or do what we ask you to do. I How am I supposed to help you with your code if you dont tell me your code? There are no sensors other than the oil pressure canister that senses the oil pressure. Trying to get the car to "run agian" doesnt help us at all. You need to be specific. What happens during open loop or closed loop? Are you running too rich? Is it running to lean? Is it stalling? Is it sputtering on deacceleration? Is there a hesitation when accelerating? Tell us what you are experiencing. All that Im hearing is . You need to help me understand the issue so that I can help you.

 

Now to time it properly, you must disconnect the EST wire pigtail (in my IROC, its about the AC blower), loosen the dizzy slightly, connect a timing light, turn on the car, turn the dizzy left or right until you read 6* on the harmonic balancer. Then turn of car, tighten down the dizzy down, reconnect the EST pigtail, disconnect battery to clear the troublecode of 42, reconnect after 1 minute, then turn on the car. Please note that my 86 has the large cap HEI dizzy and this is the way to time my IROC. So I dont know if your 87 uses the small cap dizzy or if timing is done just like my 86. Good luck.

 

im sorry for the confusion. so here is the whole story... the car is a 87 t/a with a tpi 350 automatic transmission. the car sat for 2 and a half years with a bad fuel pump so i put a new fuel pump and a ignition module in it. then i had a misfire so i was replacing the rotor button and a hold down screw for the dizzy cap broke so i had to pull the dizzy to get the broken screw out and when i did it jumped timing. me and my uncle ear timed it just to get it running i have looked for the est connector and it isnt there. since then i have changed the fuel filter 2 or 3 times changed the spark plugs, changed the fuel pump and strainer. done 3 oil changes, pulled the fuel injectors cleaned them, changed the coil. the problem.... loss of power, on heavy acceleration i have a loud octane ping, the tpi is getting extremely hot which makes me believe it is prematurely firing (timing), still trying to die at idle and smells like it is running rich, and i think that is about it

 

not sure how to read the code yet any advise on that part??

 

Your EST wires should be around your AC blower area in the wire loom. The wore color is brown and black striped. Look at my picture to see where my EST connector is at. Do as I instructed on the earlier post with the EST dosconnected. Now with the TA on, turn the dizzy left and right with a timing light connected. try to achieve a 6* mark with the harmonic balacer mark matching the 6* on the timing chain cover mearure tab. Now go here to find out how to pull the troublecodes ( http://www.gnttype.org/maint/malf.html to ground terminals A & B). The trouble codes on the link are different because those codes are for Buicks. Once you get the troublecodes, state it here so I can further assist you bro. Wehn you get the 6* timing corrected, turn off the T A and reconnect the EST connectors. Disconnect the battery to erase the codes then restart the TA. the ESC module and the ECM will then make automatic adjustments according to the sensors and such byitself.

 

Ok man thanks alot!!!!!! i just found the est connector the haynes manual showed a different place on the wiring harness, as soon as i find somebody with a timing light or purchase a timing light i will try to get the timing correct. i have another question me and my timed it by ear would i be able to just act like im timing it by following the steps that you have gave me just until i get it timed properly?? again thanks for all your help

 

If the timing is indeed off and you turn the dizzy left or right and your able to get the car to start, then yes. But if you drive the car with the timing off, then you can ruin your engine if its detonating (engine knock). Keep in mind that even though you cant hear the knock, it doesnt mean that its not there. So youll be running a risk if you decide to drive without properly adjusting it.

 

ok well i am going to get a timing light this weekend, but i do appreciate your help alot!!!! i will keep you updated on how everything goes with it.

 

Before you go out and buy a timing light, first call Autozone or Kragens (now Orielly's) and ask if they do "rent a tool."