Bought a 1991 camaro rs v6 from my friend, and after sorting out some flooding issues it seemed to be running fine. I never drove it more than 10 miles or so because it wasnt yet insured... But today i drove it about 10 miles and parked it. When i started it back up it started pretty hard and i had to pump the accelerator. Drove it about 3 miles and it started running really hard, like it was mis-firing or something, then it just quit on me. Pulled all the plugs and they are dry as as a bone, even after trying to start it multiple times. When turning over every couple spins it would jump for a second and then just spin. Came back later and checked for codes and got a 42. Which apparently an EST issue? Well we shot some started fluid into the intake and then it started up and ran for a minute or two, and would respond to the accelerator, but then it died again. It continued to start fine when we sprayed started fluid, but then would quit. So it seems as though its the fuel pump being dead? Is the code 42 correlated to the fuel starving issue?

 

Sounds like a fuel or air flow problem check the air system as well as the entire fuel system it could be a clogged fuel filter or a bad fuel pump but the code 42 is Electronic Spark Timing which is a Distributor or timing issue

 

Went to tow it home last night, but first checked a few things. When the key was turned you could indeed hear the fuel pump so i'm thinking that rules out the fuel pump being dead? We tried to start it and it fired up! But only went about two miles before dieing again and not starting up. Well we towed it home and there it sits while i'm at work, but i will do more investigating tonight. Any more ideas? First thing i'm checking is fuel filter.

 

Don't rule out the fuel pump mine would prime and everything with the key on but it still wasn't pushing enough fuel through the system so in order to rule it out check your fuel pressure to be sure and then check the MAFS or the Mass Air Flow Sensor that could be the issue but it really sounds like a timing issue it could also be the pick up which is in the distributor and its a real POS to have to replace

 

Update:
Replaced the fuel filter today. When i push the little schrader valve it shoots gas sky high, so fuel pressure is definitely getting to the injectors. But after repeatedly trying to start the car the plugs were still dry. When i put some gas in the intake it starts right up, so i know the plugs have spark. And i'm sure its not a timing issue because yesterday,after sitting for a day, it started right up and ran fine for two miles and then starved for fuel again.

Why arent the injectors opening up to let fuel in?

 

So you have it narrowed down to bad injectors??? They should be opening but if they aren't then there is your problem

 

Well not entirely, because i dont see why they could all go bad at once. What is it that controls the injectors opening? Could that have gone bad?

When trying to start it is seems as though every couple turns one of the cylinders tries to fire...

 

If the plugs are dry it could be a bad pump the injectors could be stuck or not enough pressure