when I try and start it in the morning.. it fires and dies. Then I try and crank it again.... it does not fire. I have to wait a good 5 minutes and try agian. Then it fires right up. No idea what that is. The car has always had a little trouble starting, but never like this. Just started happening recently but I cant think of anything I did to anything.. other than buffing it before the Atlanta Gathering..

Then... it idles extremly high. Sometimes as high as 2000rpm. Sometimes after its warmed up it idles at 700rpm. Sometimes in traffic it jumps around. It runs rich and gets poor mpg.

It was an automatic, but we did a T5 swap in it a couple months ago or so. It got ~12mpg around town with the auto and I believe it gets 14 or 15 now around town. Highway I have no idea... last time I took it on the highway (first time w/ the 5 speed) the clutch line got too close to the manifold and burned a hole in it picture. Anyway.... I replaced the MAF (junkyard one from another 88 2.8l auto with many less miles and the motor was good.. was told it ran good etc), replaced the O2 sensor, fuel filter, fixed all the vaccum leaks I could find (there were 3-4 heh). I replaced the computer with an 86 5 speed firebird computer and the idle was good for a few days then went back up (coincidence?).

Suggestions?


-Bud

The Beast

 

Check Coil, and ICM. Also check the IAC.

Any codes??

 

put a Tech 1 on it... it set off the MAF, timing, and o2 sensor if I remember correctly. That was before I changed out the O2 sensor and replaced the MAF and everything. I'll see if I can get ahold of it again tomorrow. Replaced the cap and rotor too... replaced the ICM, but it was a good while ago. Probably a year or so? No idea how many miles... Completly forgot about this: https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/tpimod2.shtml im going to go try that and see if it does anything to help....

-Bud

 

I did the idle fix thing.. it worked. I went out to drive it for 30 or so minutes.. when i went to park it at a place I was eating w/ some friends... it was idling high again. When I left the place after we ate.. it was fine again... all the way home. Im so lost...

 

This is killing me.... I replaced the coil,plugs, and wires tonight (got a crack in my radiator today too... replaced that). That didn't do much of anything. But now, when I rev it ... it stumbles and revs. When I rev it lightly it revs fine. So I went and bought a new IAC. Put it on.... nothing changed. I havent tried the idle set deal yet

.... but I realized tonight that my fuel pump does not come on when I push the key forward. I talked to someone about it and they said when a fuel pump goes ... its all or nothing pretty much. Maybe that has something to do w/ the starting problem? Start... fires.. dies. Wont crank for 5 min. Cranks up first time then.

I checked my fuel pressure. Key forward I get nothing.... start it up... it has ~37.

Im so lost.... anyone have ideas?

-Bud

 

when the fuel pump goes, it wont start up at all, or it will start up at first and then die shortly after when the pressure has gone down.

 

I had the exact same problem. starts...runs..dies....5min.
(((drum roll))) It was the harness going to the module. it was loose and worn out. Start your car, get it running. go under your hood and wiggle the2 prong harness. if it dies POW your problems are solved ma'boy. If not. well then, I'm an overconfident idiot. But if it does, go to the auto parts store, preferably one that has a big "HELP!" section and get a harness. However you may have to look for a temp sensor harness I think. I know they don't have module harnesses so bring the old harness with you and examine it carefully. some 2-prong harnesses have a divider groove that goes all the way through the harness between the female prongs where as others just have like a little nub between the prongs. also examine the shape of the harness itself. I don't remember what harness I used exactly but, I know the package DIDN'T say module. It said temp or something. with some patience you will find it my friend. PEP BOYS has a huge HELP! section. It took me a half hour staring at the stupid rack to find it so don't make any plans for dinner when you leave. Hell, I'll even go to PEP BOYS and give you an exact part number and name if you want. Just let me know if it dies when you wiggle the harness.

Warlord6six6@comcast.net

JayRok Speed Demons...Because we care when you don't.

 

The hose on the engine manifold fitting is a real problem. Driver side engine block by distributor base. NOT ON MANIFOLD!
The 1/2" hose one that hooks to main PVC set up.
Sounds like the problem.
Good going on the tranny swap!

 

Well.... I had talked to some other guys before I saw these posts.. One of them suggested clogged/stuck/broke injector... and the other suggeted ignition control module. So today I went to the parts store and got both... ICM and Gumout.
Reset the computer again and adjusted the idle again...drove it around town... it seems to be ok. Throttle response is 5000% better now too.

... of course it was fine the other day when I did the other stuff too.... so I guess hopefully it's fixed.

Thanks for the responses for sure so far

-Bud

....Im going to see if I can update my webpage with the 2.8L Camaro with some pictures of the transmission swap and stuff.. car is much more fun to drive now

 

well yes if it's not the module harness....it's usually the module. it's just that the harness is cheaper. But, then again it's more likely to be the module and not the harness. I just figured wiggling the harness helps you to figure out what's NOT the problem. y'know. if ya wiggle and it doesn't die...it's most likely not the harness. But, If you changed the module you probably got the mouse in the trap my friend. Keep us posted.

 

Well when I replaced teh ICM.... one of the plugs busted/disintegrated and the plug that went over the two tips disintigrated too. When I took it off... there was rust on the bottom. So yea... it was dead

I just attatched the wires to the tips ( guessed at it ), put the injector cleaner in it with 1/4 tank and fired it up. Drove it around for a little bit and everything seemed to be ok. Still not fast, but better anway.

Cranked it up this morning and it did fine. Wasted a tank of gas today and it did fine the whole time. 15.5 mpg around town. Still not great, but I think it's got internal problems. Lifters are dead.... I dunno maybe teh cam looks like the cam that came out of the 3.4 (no lobes left ).... I guess Ill see when the motor comes out and apart... heheh.

thanks for the responses
-Bud