Hi Friends! I have an 87 305 TPI 43K miles that I just picked up. She had been sitting for a long time and I had to drive it about 100 miles. Before I left, some tune up items were done by the dealer: coolant flush and oil. Paperwork from the original owner shows a new fuel pump and tank put in 2015. But, I think there was some very old fuel in the tank and I added several gallons of 91 before the ride. After about 75 miles she started feeling like she was starving for fuel and died. She threw error Code 44. I am going to start w/ the fuel filter but any other ideas? She starts up and runs for a little bit but then starts to struggle after about 10 minutes.

Thank you for your ideas,
Tom

 

It’s overly lean, what’s the fuel pressure?

 

Thank you. Unsure as I haven't measured it. Let me look up how to do that. Is it measurable while under different load conditions or only something I can measure at idle?

 

You can do at idle if that doesn’t turn up any problems then but the tester between the hood and lay gauge against windshield and drive and monitor pressure. Test port is passenger rear of fuel rail.

 

If the O2 sensor goes bad and puts out very little voltage the ECM will see that as a lean condition and throw a code 44.

 

Good point, I have a car I’m trying to tune now with code 44. The o2 starts to move off .450mv then when he drives it goes to 0v. Bad ecm or o2 are my thoughts.

 

I replaced the fuel filter and it survived a few trips around the block then started to struggle. I pulled it into the garage and turned it off. I hooked up the pressure gauge and put the car to run but didn't turn it over. it showed 10 PSI. I then started it up and it went to 30 PSI but never got much higher even with revving a little bit. Pump?

 

Might try picking the rubber crossover line on the return side over by the inner fender see if pressure goes up. Also pull the regulator vacuum line look for evidence of fuel. It’s sounds like a failing pump.

 

Yep... Fuel pump issue.... I had the same thing.... 10 minutes and would lose pressure... For me it was a clogged fuel inlet filter.... I could get pressure but the filter prevented enough flow to maintain pressure.

 

ah! I replaced the regulator. no luck. It won't hold pressure with ignition turned to run. It'll prime up to 42 and then drop to 0. While running it'll start at 30-ish PSI and then drop over time. Once it got around 25 PSI I pulled back into the garage. I'll check the pump on the week after next. What part number do I need? When I look at Autozone they have quite a few!

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ong-crank.html
might discard the pulsator and use a efi high pressure rated 3/8 hose and clamps to bypass it. I’d still verify the injectors arnt bleeding down.

 

leaky fuel injector - good thought. the injectors were replaced back in 2017 before the car was put in storage. i already have the rear end down and have ordered the pump, sending unit, lock ring, and strainer. Might as well stick it in. If still no pressure, I'll replace those injectors!