Son called last week and said his 88 would not start. Said it acts like it wants to, but wont. Did it again tonight. Acts like its not getting enough gas... as you crank, it sputters and wants to just wont stay running.

Hold the gas pedal down a bit and fired up. Ran rough for about 10 seconds and smoothed out. Smelled rich after he backed out of garage.

Any advice on what to try if/when it does it again? I just did a complete top end refresh (everything) including new 19# injectors a few months ago. Has fuel pressure guage on end of fuel rail and pressure is good.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

pull the vacuum lines off of the dampers and FPR,
I will one of them smells like gas,
best to replace all 3 of these parts,
2 dampers
and one FPR

 

Holding down the gas pedal on an injected engine or pumping it just wiggles the butterfly letting in MORE air. So it is getting TOO much fuel.

 

Has happened twice now in two weeks.

I did not replace any of these with the refresh.

Stan, will it smell like fuel only when it wont start? Or always.

James did smell rich... will work on it this weekend while the rest of the DFW crew is down around Austin having fun without me!

May need to place an order with Roger before he heads out of town. And an invoice so I can pay him!

 

this condition may usually happen when the car gets hot and after you shut it off. so thats when to check it ,
your looking for a gas smell in the vacuum lines not the exhaust pipe

 

I started to experience these same symptoms a few days ago on my '94 GTS.

Parked overnight it starts as normal.

Try to start within a few hours of driving and it requires repeated attempts and depressing the accelerator pedal.

What specifically should I check?

Pics of the offending part(s) would be helpful.

Thanks.

 

Look up Tony's engine picture. I think he shows the 2 dampners and the fuel pressure regulator.
I can't find it on this computer for some reason.

Actually it on his website under 'What is it' or something like that

 

Sounds like leaky injectors to me.

If you have fuel pressure gauge to attach to testpoint on RHS rail the WSM has some simple tests (involves charging upnfuel pressure, then monitoring how far pressure drops over 20 mins or so with different lines clamped) to identify whether pressure being lost at check valve, pressure regulator or injectors.

 

I used to have a pressure gauge mounted on the rail - not any more.

 

picture is worth a thousand words

 

Any other suggestions?

 

Looks like I'll have to figure it out.

 

Randy pull the vacuum lines off the dampers and the fuel pressure regulator smell them for fuel,
the front damper is next to the DS fuel rail . the rear damper is on the rear of the Ds fuel rail the FPR is on the rear of the right fuel rail.
( the aircleaner housing must be removed to check the rear damper and FPR)
Also add a bottle of Techron to the gas do lots of short rides so it has time to work,
also add a few OZ of MMO to the fuel.

 

Randy--

Symptoms are leaking injector (so flooded) or leaking regulator or damper. You can check the regulator and dampers with your MitiVac to see if the diaphragms are intact.

Leaking injector can be seen as fuel on a plug. Jumper the FP relay for a minute or two with engine cold, so you have the rails pressurised. then pull the plugs and find one that's wet.

FWIW, my car showed similar symptoms as the LH brain slowly died of electron cancer.

 

From Tony's site:

Driver Side:



Passenger side:



Rear intake area:



Can you call out which vacuum lines to check for fuel?

Do I check when engine cold, or when warm?

Thanks.