Today my 88 Coupe (2.5 5spd) stalled out on the freeway and now it wont start. There's spark and it turns over fine... but the injector is pouring fuel into the TB like there's no tomorrow and thus it wont start! This still happens with all sensors unplugged and the ECM reset. Fuel doesn't come out as soon as the pump turns on, so I know the injector isn't leaking or stuck open. However, on the first try of starting it, the injector doesn't start pouring fuel into the intake until just after I STOP cranking. If I immediately run the starter again fuel immediately pours into the intake (WHILE cranking) until just after I stop cranking. The engine starts if the TB has gas in it and I unplug the fuel pump fuse and crank it. If I do this and replace the fuel pump fuse while its running it immediately dies of too much gas.
Injector wiring seems to be okay; the blue wire isn't continuous with ground when unplugged at both ends, so I know its not shorted open. I have reset the ECM and tried running with no sensors plugged in. Coolant temp, IAC, and O2 sensor are new anyway. TPS tested fine a few weeks ago.
Could it be possible that something is wrong in the injector to make it stay open when the ECM pulses it yet stays closed when the ECM doesn't? If not, then is it for sure an ECM issue? Anything else it coudl be? Pokey, do you still have that spare 88 5spd duke computer you told me about at Westfest? I may need it pronto! Maybe I could pick it up this week if I determine that is the problem with my car.

-Steven

I'd guess an ECM problem, Steven. If people agree, and pokey still has the computer, I'll get it from him when I'm up there this weekend and bring it back with me.

Mine has done the same to me on rainy days.

Floor it and crank - same way we used to start a flooded carbureted engine.

I just found a broken vaccuum line - I'm hoping that was the cause, but I really don't know. It may be a good idea to give it a new set of plugs and or plug wires too.

Good luck.

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88 4cyl auto Fiero, AC, sunroof, tilt steering, rear swaybar
"And isn't sanity really just a one-trick pony anyway? I mean all you get is one trick, rational thinking, but when you're good and crazy, oooh, oooh, oooh, the sky is the limit!" - The Tick

quote Originally posted by cccharlie: Mine has done the same to me on rainy days. Floor it and crank - same way we used to start a flooded carbureted engine. I just found a broken vaccuum line - I'm hoping that was the cause, but I really don't know. It may be a good idea to give it a new set of plugs and or plug wires too.

Plugs and wires are fine. The engine will run if I have the fuel pump fuse out. No misfiring or anything. If I floor it and crank I can sometimes get it to start, but it will stall if I'm not at WOT because it floods, and of course I can't drive it at WOT because I'd just be bouncing off the rev limiter all the time! The ECM seems to think that I'm at WOT all the time. It happened suddenly while driving, so its not just because of weather conditions.

-Steven

Here's a bump for ya Steven.

It's the computer. I took it apart, put it back together, plugged it back in and the car started and ran fine. I tapped the ECM case and it started running weird. Tapped it again and it went back to normal. Tapped it again and it stalled. I hope pokey has that spare!!
-Steven

[This message has been edited by Steven Snyder (edited 11-04-2004).]

I need to go to Pokey's ranch this week, and will likely see Todd in Morgan Hill soon. I'll try to shuttle it down there to you before the run.

Thanks John! Hopefully Pokey will chime in soon and let us know if the computer in question does indeed exist, so I can buy a refurbished one ASAP if it ends up that I must. I just hate to put more money into this darn 4-banger when I'm planning a 3.4 DOHC swap for this winter.

-Steven

If mechanical action such as tapping can change the problem then likely the issue is a cold solder joint, probably in the injector driver or the CTS sensor connection. I bet you could fix it by simply melting the solder joints on all the big, heat-sunk transistors you can find on the board.

JazzMan

No problem Steven, glad you found the problem!

Check out the Lunch Menu thread in General for a map to Stimpys. He's just off Boronda in Salinas, so all you gotta do is get yourself to 101 South and it'll be easy to find. See you at the run!

quote Originally posted by JazzMan: If mechanical action such as tapping can change the problem then likely the issue is a cold solder joint, probably in the injector driver or the CTS sensor connection. I bet you could fix it by simply melting the solder joints on all the big, heat-sunk transistors you can find on the board. JazzMan

My dad said the same thing.. however, I've been having weird problems with my IAC circuit for awhile now, so I was thinking that I'm getting cracked traces due to the protective coating on the board shrinking (I hear this is a common issue). Eventually perhaps the whole ECM will just tear itself apart ;-) I'm afraid I'm just going to have to keep chasing gremlins if I keep this ECM. I suppose I could try this tonight so I could at least take my car to the parts store tomorrow rather than using my parents again. I'll let you know if it works. Thanks!

-Steven

I was talking to a guy a while back that has been a GM tech for about 30 years. He tells me that at one training session in the late 80s he was told that after being unplugged and replugged 4 or more times the contacts in the ECM plugs will become unreliable. Checking the contacts in the plugs and cleaning the contacts on the board might cure your problem.

I have a 88' cyl/5spd ECM you can have if you need it. I pulled out when I swapped to a V6 last year. It worked fine when I pulled it. Its yours if you need it. Otherwise it'll eventually end up in the trash can. Lemme know.

88Ironduke
Paul

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Pilots with out maintainers are just pedestrians with a cool jacket and sunglasses.
I.Y.A.M.Y.A.S.

Hey what puter do you need.I got several here.
I bet you said some where in this thread i'll go look.

Pokey, I no longer need the computer. I ended up buying a new computer because I wanted to have my car running for school/work this week and also so i wouldn't have to worry about a used replacement going bad down the road. My car is now running! Thanks!

-Steven