Cascade Crew

d00012 · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject: 305 won't start

Ok, so this 88 305 TBI won't start after premium being put in. I'm thinking of buying this car...is it worth it, or did he do something to it that I should stay away?

I know premium is un-needed for the 305, would just syphoning it out work, and put in regular?

Dewey316 · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 9:02 pm Post subject:

it should run fine with premium or regular it shouldn't matter.

Are you sure he didn't put desiel in it? that would really jack it up.

What exactly is it doing when it doesn't start?

d00012 · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 9:03 pm Post subject:

I haven't heard it, but he says it starts but doesn't stay running. He had just purchased it himself a couple days ago and took it to the gas station and put premium in it and doesn't run now.

Dewey316 · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject:

not staying running could be a few things, but it isn't because it has premium in it. Without more information, best bet is a tune up, check the timing, and check the o2 sensor. Since it is a new car to him, and you, you might want to make sure that everything is hooked up right, and that something like the MAP sensor tube isn't cracked.

Does it throw a SES light at all?

d00012 · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 9:17 pm Post subject:

He's getting a new MAP sensor, 02 sensor, and TPS. New fuel filter.

I'll e-mail him and ask if the SES light comes on.

d00012 · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 8:46 am Post subject:

Here's what the guy e-mailed me back with:

Im not sure what the SES light is. The car will start up and die. Then if I start it again it will idle for about 20 seconds, meanwhile the idle will climb to about 1 1/2 grand then drop to about 500 then it will jump up to 1000 and from there it usually just falls on its face

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 8:50 am Post subject:

Maybe IAC, TPS, Coolent Temp Sensor, too many variables.

d00012 · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 8:58 am Post subject:

He said he drove it home the day he bought it, it ran perfect, no rough idle, no knocking, transmission was smooth...then once he got gas it ran horrible afterwords.

d00012 · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 9:00 am Post subject:

E-mailed me again with this:

Do you know a lot about firebirds ? specificly 88's ? I ask because if it was a simple fix, I would rather fix it than sell it. I have always wanted a firebird then I bought this crapper, but thats the odd part. It was running great, until i put gas in it. I didnt just go and pick it up and have it run like this from the get go. When I got there to look at it, It sounded great, no valves or lifters ticking, I reved it to about 3 1/2 grand and it still sounded great, no knocking or pinging of any kind. After I did all that I took it for a test drive on the freeway and it had great throttle response, great power and from there I followed the guy to the gas station to put gas in it. And no shizzle as soon as I filled the tank and used premium gas it stalled out. I thought it might have been air in the line cuz I was running it while I filled the tank, the battery needed to charge, so I started it back up and it ran for about 60 seconds and died i did this about 4 times , got it running and I figured if i took it out and put my foot in it a little bit it would clear it out. Hell no, I got it out into the street and it had barely any power, then it would jump forward and have decent power for about 5-10 seconds and fall on its face. meanwhile its doing this, the engine sounds like shizzle, like its missing on a couple cylinders, it shaking the whole car. Finaly it died in the middle of the street and i had to push it into a parking lot and have it towed from there. 50 MILES.

EDIT: It runs if he feathers the gas.

bAd DaWg 85 Z28 · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 10:47 am Post subject:

I had the same problem on my Z28 a couple of years ago after a refuel' and i disconected the fuel line from the fuel rail and pumped some of the gas into a glass container and dicovered water in the gas. so i ended up having to pump the tank. I'm not sure that this is the problem but it's where i would start looking.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject:

$.99 bottle of HEET.

d00012 · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 12:20 pm Post subject:

HEET?

Just looked it up. I'll let him know. If I help him get it running, he's keeping it and then paying me for helping.

d00012 · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:19 pm Post subject:

Ok, I checked out the Firebird a couple days ago, spent a few hours tinkering with it. And I'm perplexed, it idles perfectly for 10-20 seconds but then dies instantaneously.

I'm buying the firebird. And was wondering if anyone knew what it could be. I'm thinking a sensor or TB problem. My dad thinks TB problem. My uncle says fuel pump.

It has spark, compression, and the injectors have a nice cone of fuel pouring into the TB.

So what gives?

Dewey316 · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:20 pm Post subject:

hook up a scan tool, and start looking at the sensor readings. Check fuel pressure, and give it a tune up.

d00012 · Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 12:17 pm Post subject:

My uncle has a friend that is probably going to check it out. Diagnose it for us, with a scan tool I believe, then I'll fix it myself.

Will be a fun ride in the future.

d00012 · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject:

Well I bought the Firebird. Was able to get it running better (replaced FPR thinking that was the fault).

It still idles 10 seconds and dies, but goes between 1000rpm and 200rpm for 10 seconds, sometimes 20. Disconnected the CTS, ran, but idled at 2000rpm, then dies after 30 seconds. Replaced it, does the 10 sec idle. Disconnected MAP vacuum, runs smoothly. Is it the MAP sensor? Or something else? I'm perplexed.

EDIT: Doesn't run longer than 45 seconds with MAP vacuum disconnected. Can the oil pressure switch be causing the problem? My dad thinks it's that.

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

Did you change the fuel filter?

d00012 · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject:

Yes, it's been changed. PO did it, I'm going to check it soon...don't feel like going outside right now. I'm exhausted from yesterday...did lots of running around, driving all over, and working on the car today.

I checked the fuel filter, it's the correct one and was put in properly.

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

I think you need to check fuel pressure before buying more parts.

d00012 · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:36 pm Post subject:

It's got a nice cone coming out of the injectors. I'll have to wait for my dad to help me tomorrow, I don't know how to check the fuel pressure.