New to the forum and TPI motors in general. Acquired this Nomad from my father and I finally got it to my house this weekend. It's been sitting for a few years, but would start before. I replaced the battery but can't get the car to run. I hear the fuel pump come on, but it just turns over and never fires. I'm no mechanic but I'm hoping to learn a lot by working on this car, so be patient with me...haha. What should be my first step in troubleshooting the starting issue? I know the car needs new fuel lines and some break work, but I need to get it running first. Any guidance or help is greatly appreciated! Also, are there any books that are recommended for these motors?

 

Use a noid light to check for injector pulse, check fuel pressure and spark

 

spray some starter fluid or squirt some gas through the throttle body. if it fires briefly you know you have a fuel delivery problem.

if not, it's likely spark that's missing

 

Wow; that is one clean Nomad. Very rare car, especially a '55.

You've been provided some basic steps above, but I strongly advise you to first determine what year 3rd gen that engine came out of, and then search the interwebz (ebay, etc) for a factory shop manual. Even if you had some experience with troubleshooting, you'd still need direction, and that's doubly true if, as you state, you're not experienced.

You didn't mention whether your father is still with you; if he is, bend his ear. Unless someone else buit that car, he'll be your best, first source of in-person info.

Again, that's a beautiful Nomad.


Good luck!

 

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I got some starter fluid today and it started right up for a few seconds after I sprayed some in the throttle body, so now I know I have a fuel delivery issue. Should I check the fuel pressure at the fuel rail next? That's what I think my next step should be.

A little backstory on the car. It was my Dad's car, but he passed a few years ago from Alzheimer's. Although he had the car my entire life, he did most of the motor work after I moved out and away. I did try to ask some questions about the car, but by the time we recognized, or accepted the disease, it was too late to get any real type of reliable information about the car, so I'll be learning as I go.

Starter Fluid Start

 

Looks like you got a maf setup with the air box there..... I think I see an alternator bracket on the passenger side for v-belts so unless there are mixed parts, my guess is pre 88 so 85 - 87 305. If its a 350 could be i think 87..


My money is on low fuel pressure. Check the fuel pressure with a gauge at the fuel rail right by the distributor!

 

Fuel Injection pressure tester is on order. We'll go from there.

 

You might be able to rent from oreilly or auto zone. if so do that and cancel the order!! lol

 

Ok, so I hooked up a Fuel pressure gauge and get no pressure when I turn the key to the on position. I do hear the pump run though. Could the pump be running but not working? I need to replace the line running from the fuel tank anyway because the old lines are starting to dry rot, so maybe I'll discover my issue when I get up under the car and start looking around.

Fuel Pressure - Video

 

Also, What type of fitting should be on this hard line? There is a clamp on it now, but it looks like something should screw up on the fitting.

 

Pull the hose off. Looks like Saginaw o-ring. So would want to convert to an6 to barb or an6 flexline.

 

The smaller fuel line is the return line. Sorry, can't help with the thread and size of the fitting. Wouldn't be part of your starting / fuel issue. I have a couple of suggestions:
1. Search here on TGO for 1988 Firebird Factory Service Manual. There is a thread with a link to the full file that you can download. the TPI sectIon will be what you need for troubleshooting. 88 is also a MAP year.
2. I would get under the car and disconnect the main fuel line as close as possible to the fuel tank and put it into a catch can. See if any fuel comes out when you hear the pump running. If so, keep moving forward until you reach the fuel rail.

Also, some first questions. Is there fuel in the tank? Have you changed the fuel filter?

 

Could be the hose at the fuel pump to sender has fallen or rotted off in the tank...assuming its an intank / stock unit.....
if you're going to go through the trouble of dropping the tank though Id just replace the pump.

can you get a picture taken further away from the line?


I'd go over everything to make sure its safe and sound.

 

Ok, so after checking the fuel pump and filter, then checking the pressure at the end of the fuel filter, I realized that I had put the wrong fuel gauge adapter on the valve on the motor. This gave it no change to give me a reading. I put everything back together and now I have 40 PSI at the fuel rail, but still no fire. What's my next troubleshooting step and thanks in advance!

 

Have spark and injector pulse checked with noid light ?

 

40 should be good....Give it a little step oon the pedal and see if it will start since it starts with starting fluid.



If so you got an air / idle problem. If not maybe your injectors are bad / plugged / not getting signal

 

Here is today's troubleshooting so far. I rented a noid light tester and checked a couple of injector plugs. I don't immediately get a light pulse, but it does eventually start pulsing but it's kinda dim. Is that a normal pulse? I'll link a couple of videos. I have spark as it will fire right up when I spray some starter fluid in the throttle body.

Video 1 - Injector Plug 1
Video 2 - Injector Plug 2

Start Fluid Start - Starter Fluid Start

 

Mmmmm i dont see any noid light lighting up? tis a bit blurry though….



That sounds like an injector problem…starter fluid gets it run ing but not long…..you have fuel pressure…you have spark since its running etc…

or an electrical as the injectors aren’t getting or not getting a strong enough current.

check all your grounds / connections for one.

 

Didn’t see the light in the one video might be lightning. Try unplugging all injectors and check for pulse again see if brighter.

 

I would check the resistance across each individual injector. Just use a volt/ohm meter to make sure that there is resistance (I forget how many ohms) from pin to pin. I had a problem that one of the injectors failed (no resistance, 0 ohms) which resulted in all of the injectors not firing. Once I found the failed injector, I unplugged the connector for that cylinder only and the car fired right up.

Unfortunately, replacing the injectors is not easy as you have to disassemble the entire manifold (runners, plenum, etc.) to get to them.

 

I think I'm making some progress as it's trying to start on it's own now. I checked the resistance across all of the injectors and they're all reading right around 16.4-16.5 After I plugged all of the connectors back in I thought I just give it the ol college try and it started to fire. When I sprayed starting fluid in the TB it ran really smooth, so I don't think the timing is off, but something is still missing. Clogged injectors maybe?

Trying to start Video

 

I’d suspect injectors if noid it lights, southbay has older bosch design refurbished for a great price.

 

These?

Southbay Injectors

 

https://www.southbayfuelinjectors.co...tors-1985-1992

check base timing first but sounds fuel related

 

Thank you for your help. I got it started...a little rough, but it did start to idle. I think i need to swap the injectors, plugs, wires, fluid and redo the brakes and I may be good.

It finally fired up

 

Super, can’t watch videos on satellite internet that’s slow