Well, my Formula let me down for the first time today. I opened it up WOT on a short stretch of country road coming home. When I backed off, the motor (stock 2.8) started stumbling. It felt like it was running out of gas.(tank is 3/4 full) I was able to nurse it almost home when it died completely. It wants to turn over, but just doesn't fire. The tow truck driver (oh, the horror!) thought it was probably the fuel pump, though you can hear it clicking on and off. I'm wondering if the action of the WOT may have possibly sucked some debris from the bottom of the tank, clogging the pump? We parked it on a front-down angle in my driveway, and I'll try starting it tomorrow. Since moving, I'm woefully short on tools, no floor jack, ramps, or jack stands. Plus my HOA does not allow mechanical work to be done in driveways.
Any suggestions to diagnose the problem before I wind up having it towed again to a mechanic?
Coil could have gotten hot on your WOT run. Car will probably start up and run as normal until you get the coil nice and hot again. Fuel pumps tend to just die out of the blue and not show signs of slow failure from what I have seen and read.
If your engine starts again when it's cold, I'd suspect the ICM.
Easiest thing to do to see if you have any fuel pressure (if that's what you suspect) is to depress the Schrader valve in the fuel rail and see if gas at least squirts out.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 03-11-2019).]
Went out and tried to start it this morning. No go. The fuel pump DEFINITELY sounded different - like it was running dry. When I turned the key, it tried to fire for a millisecond, then nothing.
A shot of starting fluid in the throttle body would confirm your diagnosis, or test that Schrader valve on the fuel rail. Key on....press the center pin and fuel should squirt out 2 or 3 feet. Have some towels handy and wear eye protection.
Yep, a shot of starting fluid through the air filter canister got it to fire briefly but roughly. Pardon my ignorance, but where is this Schrader valve of which you speak? A photo with a pointer would be a great help.
They see broken cars all day long including the occasional Fiero. Based on the symptoms, even if he's wrong it was still good advice and checking fuel pressure and maybe replacing the filter is good practice.
If your engine starts again when it's cold, I'd suspect the ICM.
I've had fuel pumps do it too literally just replaced a walbro that was doing it. Regardless, diagnostics don't tell you as much if it starts up and runs fine, Buying a good ICM and having a spare in the car with the tools is never a bad idea anyway. If you've never had it out, get some heat sink compound and put it in, mine was bone dry a few weeks ago when I checked mine, PO replaced the dist but didn't bother to replace the Oring or check the ICM.
...even if he's wrong it was still good advice and checking fuel pressure and maybe replacing the filter is good practice.
Yeah... and if the fuel pressure is low, try replacing the fuel filter before dropping the gas tank. You never know, might just be that simple to repair.
So it didn't seem a little odd to you that the ol' Fiero was getting an amazing amount of mileage on a quarter tank of gas?
I always reset my trip odometer whenever I fill up... in order to hopefully avoid this type of situation.
No, not really. I've only owned the car for a couple of months and it's a weekend toy. I've only put fuel in it once, and haven't driven it much so wasn't really thinking the gauge was bad. But yes, I do feel stupid and embarrassed. Not the first time, probably not the last.
The fuel gauges are terrible on this car.....nearly everyone has to deal with this....usually the gauge is stuck at 1/4, but it should be the first thing we mention to new Fiero owners no matter what they think is wrong.....
[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 03-12-2019).]
Could be worse. In tank fuel pump wires had a loose connection, and the wires were routed in the way of the float. When I filled it with gas, the float bumped the wires, lost contact, and the car died.
Habanera Hal has been registered here since April of 2012. We can be forgiven for not thinking he was a newb.
It's okay, while I bought my first Fiero back in '89 (an 86 GT), and 2 more later on (84 2M4 and 88 Formula), this is my first one in 25 years, so thinking about how much I've forgotten, I can be considered a newb!
look at it this way, At least the tank is EMPTY,( to remove the tank and replace the sender !) when you replace the sender, Replace the Pump and use a High grade Fuel inj submersible HOSE. Not my favorite job, I have been putting it off on my white car for a year ! LOL
