Im new to the forum and new to 3rd gen F bodies. I know how to turn a wrench, I know lefty loosie/righty tighty and I know which end of the screw driver is the business end. For all purposes afterthat lets assume I am a complete and utter idiot.

The car : 1987 Pontiac Trans Am 5.7l V8 auto trans, no vats ( there is some after market door popper and remote start thing that doesnt work)

I've had the car less than 2 months. It ran fine for a week or so then started having fits. The problem started with fuel pump whine and building pressure in the fuel tank, which would precede the car stumbling, stalling, sputtering and dying. This occurred only in the evenings, between 5pm and 8:30 pm and temps here have been 110+ degrees. With the loud pump noise I made the child like assumption the fuel pump was the problem and changed the pump and strainer and fuel filter. Pontiac designers are sadistic to say the least.

Ok, Pump and all changed, Drove the car and initially was thrilled, more power than before, better throttle response, it was awesome and all that it should be. Then it started leaking fuel. Turned out to be one of the rubber lines by the tank split, it was old and dry rotted. Replaced it and another split, replaced them all and went driving and still smelled fuel. Put the bird up on ramps and the Fuel Tank Vent Valve was dripping fuel. OK so I try to get one and no luck at the part stores. Its a Sunday so I wait for the next day and go to GM and they tell me that part is no longer made. I got online and found a place called Obsolete Chevrolet in Nashville GA that had 2 of them on the shelf, I had them send me one. Couple days later I install this little plastic gizmo and take it for a drive and it still stumbles, stalls and dies. 6 times in three miles and the last time....it has never started again.

I read the forum and see others having similar troubles and that it seems like it can be a dozen or more different things causing the same issues. I checked the inline fuse by the battery and it isnt bad. I press the little Schroeder valve on the fuel rail and I have lots of fuel. We ground out a spark plug wire to test and we do have spark. Still I change the coil and the Ignition Module to be safe and sure, but it still wont start. When you first try to start it after its been siting a bit, it fires and acts like it wants to start but doesnt. After a few tries though it seems to stop getting fuel or spark because it just cranks and does nothing. Let it sit a while and try again and again it will hit like its going to start but nothing.

I am not good at this stuff. I usually try to stick to hot rods with no computers, no Fuel Injection and no gizmos just straight old school tech. treat me like a stupid child and help me make it run please? I dont know how to ohm the injectors but someone posted a video link and im going to try to follow that and see where it leads me. Where do I find the fuel injector fuses to check them? I understand there are two of them but dunno where to look. Anything else I can test?

 

Ohmed the injectors today and all of them ohmed at 11. As I understand it, 12 or less is bad and needs to be replaced. What would make all 8 go bad at the same time? I dont want to throw 400 bucks into injectors just to have the same issue again

 

Not saying that injectors are your problem, because im not sure if it is or not, but Injectors below 12 ohms need changed, but not for 400 bucks.

Southbay Fuel Injectors has sets that are far superior than the originals for around 150 bucks a set. Great Company.

 

Thanks Motown

 

Did you get all the fuel lines put back in the right place when you changed the fuel pump out?Sounds like the vent line got crossed with the fuel return line to me.

 

Bobby Suth
I dont think so, as they are two different size lines.