Let me start off saying I have looked for a thread with my particular problem and can't find what I'm looking for. I have found some that are similar. I have a 1989 camaro iroc 305 tpi with a 5 speed. The car has 67,000 miles on it. It is all original except for accel cap and coil. I was also told buy the original owner it has 350 injectors and was tuned for them. Now the problem, car runs great 90% of the time. On occasion when I go to start it the engine will fire and rev to 1500 rpm like normal and return to idle then run for 3 to 4 seconds and die. I will try and start it again and I will fire and die right away. This will happen about 4 or 5 more times then it will start and run great for a day or more with no problem. Car doesn't stumble or anything bad going down the road or at stop lights. I have cleaned the maf sensor. Cleaned throttle body and idle air control motor. I don't want to just throw parts at it. Any ideas thanks.

 

Just back on here after years off. But I recall the piece that is under the cap of distributer (forget name ) always causing funny problems.

 

Any codes? TPS within spec? Ohm the injectors for proper resistance? Rich fuel smell at start up? Fuel pressure? There are a lot of different things that can cause this. My story with a similar issue which was right after start up typically when cold the car would start easily, when rpm began to drop it would sputter and die unless you hit the gas quick. Also at hot start up I would have rich gassy exhaust. I replaced injectors, fpr diaphragm, full tune up etc and didn’t cure it. Turned out the MAF would get heat soaked and throw everything out of whack, had no codes either but a new Delphi MAF cured that. The other issue with the stalling was a faulty ECM, which was annoying because once again no codes and I chased that issue for like 2 years and finally gave it a shot and it worked. Car also ran better as well.

 

Another option if you don’t have a factory service manual or all the equipment is have a independent shop who knows obd1 cars to take a look. I’ve done that before and the price of a diagnostic is cheaper than throwing parts at something that won’t fix it.

 

Yes; start with the basics.

When the problem reappears, check for spark at the plugs, and check the fuel pressure. The results of those two tests will provide you with a direction in which to continue troubleshooting.

 

It could be a lot of things. I had the same issue. Would start, idle for 3-5 seconds and then die. Sometimes it would idle for a minute and die. Other times it would start and run fine. I verified good spark. Injectors I knew were firing as it would start and run. When it would die, my fuel pump would run for a few seconds after and I still had 40+ lbs at the fuel rail. So I knew it wasn't a fuel delivery issue. Long story short. I got a noid light and hooked it to an injector. I would see it flashing then it would stop, and the engine would die. My injector driver in the ECM was going bad. Replaced ECM and it was fixed.

I would look at what was suggested above before looking at ECM. But just something to keep in the back of your mind.