I just bought my '87 TA about a month ago, everything seems to be in order except that when I hit the gas, the engine shuts off. It turns over and runs just fine for a few minutes, but the moment you press the accelerator, she shuts off. A buddy of mine thinks that the fuel injectors are clogged or need replacing. Another thinks it has something to do with the piston rings since some sparkplugs had some oil/gas on them. Any ideas?

Sorry if this is a duplicate thread, but I could not find one relating to this issue. Thanks guys.

how does it turn off? does it choke like it doesnt have enough gas? does it idle really well?

i had a problem similar to this and it ended up a bad ignition coil. however if you havent done the basics, thats where i would start. check your throttle position sensors voltage, make sure that the voltage increases steadily and has dead spots. better yet, disconnect real quick and see if the problem changes

Sounds like a fuel problem, like he said, how does it act?

She shuts off fairly quick the first two times I fire her up and idle. It sputters and shuts down. However usually by the third time around, she will idle just fine. I have not checked the electrical stuff yet, Im afraid Im not very good with that sort of thing just yet. Sorry for the late response by the way. Work and all. Im trying very hard to finish restoring her in my spare time.

i just subscribed today because i have been having the same issue with my 89 iroc tpi with the 350. it was running fine and then one day i just went out to take it around the block and it started doing the same thing i replaced all vacuum lines and it has a new fuel system from pump to sending unit to injectors. some one else told me it may have a bad ignition coil too. i guess im gunna have to try this but if you figure it out please let me know. or anyone else can message me as well. turns over and idles fine but as soon as i hit the gas it just chokes out and dies.

Test your ICM also.

how would i test the ICM? and i just tried ignition coil and it didnt work. my issue is that it will accelerate if i go very slow from idle to full throttle and it will rev high but if i just stomp the gas it wants to choke down and will die if i give it throttle from cold start. how would i check my icm? is there a way to do this without replacing it?

Easiest way to test it, being the problem only seems to occur under load/accel, would be to just buy one and try it. If that doesn't fix it, put the old one back in and get your money back on the new one.

I diagnose a lot of stuff that way, since often times I lack the tools to diagnose individual components.

However, since it will accelerate at a low load, I highly doubt it's the ICM. Odd as this may sound... Have you changed your fuel filter lately?

Filter, because the sudden high load and resulting 'dump' in pressure followed by a burst of pressure from the pump can do crazy things to gunky filters.

If/when you check your TPS voltage, also check resistance... Like voltage, resistance change should be smooth and steady with operation of the throttle plate. I always do both, because voltage can do wacky things and make it appear as if the TPS is fine when it is not.

Have you checked your vaccum pressure / checked for leaks?

While you are under the hood at some point, pull your IAC and clean it up. Free and easy. Can cure a LOT of start/idle/run issues.