I have an 89 RS with a 2.8L (fuel injected). I never had a problem with it until a week after I decided to sell it. Everytime I start it I have to keep giving it gas or else it just dies. My first instinct told me it was the fuel filter. After I changed the fuel filter it was apparent that the old one was all clogged up. So, I thought for sure I fixed it. I started it up again and it did the same thing as before. I drove it around the block thinking that I just needed to get fuel circulating, but it ran kind of rough and just kept dying. It started up everytime with no problem. It just won't idle.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

P.S. How do I pull a code? Isn't there a paper clip trick?

 

Sounds like a vacuum leak. Also, any codes?

I would suggest you check all of the plastic lines around the engine - they become very brittle with age. Also, how many miles on the car? After 20 odd years, the original gaskets will also tend to fail and leaks around the intake will become evident.

Hope that helps.

 

Sounds to me like an idle air control valve. swap that out with a new one, and you should be fine.

 

pulling codes: find the ALDL diagnostics port. if your sitting in the drivers seat its below the dash on the right hand side. it looks like a connector but not connected to anything. one end of the paperclip or wire in the top right terminal and the other end the next terminal to the left. the computer will flash a code twelve in a sequence ( flash, pause, flash-fash, pause) any other codes in the ecm will be flashed in a similar sequence. longer pauses in between codes.

 

sounds kinda similar to a problem i had... check the throttle body to intake gasket. replaced gasket and cleaned iac passage. idles like a charm now.
part of the gasket was gone. huge air leak.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/service-eng...ht-error-codes

 

sounds like a vacuum/gasket leak...

while the engine is running, get out and get under the hood and listen for hissing... could be the iac... but that's not what it sounds like to me...

just my 2 cents