Engine trouble!!!
03-04-2008, 03:37 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Engine trouble!!! I have a 1989 pontiac firebird with a 305 T.P.I.. And for some odd reaon my car constantly shuts off, especially when I make a sudden, hard stop. Now I just flushed out my fuel system and it still is shutting off. Does anyone know what the problem is? And when my car does shut off or even when I turn it off when I try to satrt it up it won't crank. The car has power to it because the radio and everything else cranks but it just won't turn over. And for that I have to wait about 5-10 minutes and then it will start. Does anyone have any suggestions or answers to that problem?
03-04-2008, 03:59 PM
#2
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: I'm really a Ford Guy
Posts: 651
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a 1989 pontiac firebird with a 305 T.P.I.. And for some odd reaon my car constantly shuts off, especially when I make a sudden, hard stop. Now I just flushed out my fuel system and it still is shutting off. Does anyone know what the problem is? And when my car does shut off or even when I turn it off when I try to satrt it up it won't crank. The car has power to it because the radio and everything else cranks but it just won't turn over. And for that I have to wait about 5-10 minutes and then it will start. Does anyone have any suggestions or answers to that problem?
does the car crank or not? does the car turn over and not start, or it does not turn over?
in these cases, can you hear the fuel pump turn on?
Have you checked fuel pressure?
when running OK.. if you floor the car, does it stall?
03-04-2008, 04:04 PM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
no the car does not crank it almost seems that the power stops at the ignition switch but I just switched it out. And yes i can hear the fuel pump when i try to turn the car on. And no when I floor it the car doesnt stall or I have not checked the fuel pressure. I have just been having trouble with this for a while and I can't seem to find the problem.
03-04-2008, 05:36 PM
#7
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Posts: 7,564
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
I'd say short as well, but it sounds more like at the battery (loose cable). Could be at the battery though too. Just go tighten everything and give that a try. Sadly the TPI isn't smart enough to detect most problems newer cars would trip a code for if something was serious. I don't even know if a TPI has a low oil sensor or not (side of the oil pan).
Trending Topics
03-04-2008, 06:38 PM
#11
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
my brakes work great but sometimes I can just be sitting at a light and it will shut off but before it does the RPM's usually jump around a little bit as in drop to about 100-200(about to shut off) and back up to 1000 and then shut off.
03-04-2008, 07:34 PM
#12
03-04-2008, 09:59 PM
#14
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Posts: 7,564
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
This doesn't exactly explain ALL of it, but IF the car has too low of oil pressure, the sudden stop would slosh the remaining oil to the front of the pan and then create even lower OP and then the computer may kill it. That's only IF the 727 ECM is that smart heh The only problem there, is that it would at least crank over after that. I can't see the ECM, assuming it even is capable in the first place, of creating a 'cool down' period before it'll let you restart.
Just speculation really.
Just speculation really.
03-05-2008, 07:29 AM
#15
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: I'm really a Ford Guy
Posts: 651
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This doesn't exactly explain ALL of it, but IF the car has too low of oil pressure, the sudden stop would slosh the remaining oil to the front of the pan and then create even lower OP and then the computer may kill it. That's only IF the 727 ECM is that smart heh The only problem there, is that it would at least crank over after that. I can't see the ECM, assuming it even is capable in the first place, of creating a 'cool down' period before it'll let you restart.
Just speculation really.
Just speculation really.
and at this point, until some of my initial queries are answered by the OP, i have no further comment.
03-05-2008, 08:52 AM
#16
03-05-2008, 10:35 AM
#17
On The Tree
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had an identical issue with my 89 Formula a decade or so ago. Replaced the fuel pump and countless other things but the problem kept returning. Finally replaced a fuel pump relay. Never happened again.
03-05-2008, 11:14 PM
#18
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Posts: 7,564
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
TOTALLY unrelated, but I had a computer where if I played video games for 10mins, the computer would lock up. I replaced everything... except the sound card. Took that out and my computer was fine. Sound worked fine too in Windows (music, videos, etc)
I blame gremlins.