Starts and idles. Dies as soon as throttle is hit (Page 2/3)
ChuckR AUG 06, 06:17 PM

quote
Originally posted by Gall757:

MSD again..................

do some searching on this site about MSD ignition systems; very likely part of your problem.

also note, the Fiero has a non intuitive throttle setup where you actually 'clear' the fuel by depressing the gas pedal....the opposite of carburetor cars. The computer decides how much fuel to send based on sensor information, so a bad sensor can make the car appear to be flooded.




Well it is only an MSD coil not a whole system. If none of the above fuel issues resolve this then I will look at the coil as a possible cause. It is possible since as I said above when I pulled the spark plugs they were covered in gas which could be not enough heat from the coil.

Thank you all for the help.
Gall757 AUG 06, 09:11 PM

quote
Originally posted by ChuckR:

Well it is only an MSD coil not a whole system.



That's the problem. The coil is operating at a very high voltage compared to stock, and it tends to damage other components in the system. The MSD stuff is designed for racing and should be used as a complete system. But I agree.....fix that fuel pressure first. Engine running, it should be close to 40 psi.

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 08-06-2019).]

ChuckR AUG 06, 09:31 PM


Ok, verified I do not have spark. What is this pig tail? it does not look stock. It looks like a capacitor that has been added to the coil power supply line. It is also grounded via the black wire to the exhaust manifold. This was covered in heat shrink. The white connector looks like it may have been stock, but this pig tail is connected via spade connectors. If this is a add on then I plan to remove it as the wires were burnt. I went ahead and covered the burnt spot in a new piece of heat shrink in case this cap is needed here. I also found the connector plugged into the coil has broken insulation right at the connector, so I will be replacing the entire connector. I plan to replace the coil with an OE coil as well.
Gall757 AUG 06, 09:43 PM


I have no idea what is going on there.....a grounded capacitor?

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 08-06-2019).]

ChuckR AUG 07, 08:57 AM

quote
Originally posted by Gall757:



I have no idea what is going on there.....a grounded capacitor?




So I take it this is not supposed to be here? I mean it was running with it before, however if it is not supposed to be there and no one can tell me why this would be here and it is not a stock item then I will take it out of the loop.
Gall757 AUG 07, 09:23 AM

quote
Originally posted by ChuckR:


So I take it this is not supposed to be here? I mean it was running with it before, however if it is not supposed to be there and no one can tell me why this would be here and it is not a stock item then I will take it out of the loop.



It looks like a home-made tach filter.....but let's hear from the wiring experts...(which I am not).
ChuckR AUG 07, 01:34 PM
Well between the coil and new pig tail there is life in my "Hiccupp". It fires up at a key bump like it did before and is running like a top. I did eliminate the odd grounded capacitor set up but I did keep it in case another problem arises, but if it is a tach filter like you suggested then I will order the correct set up from the Fiero Store. I will look into the fuel pressure issue as well, but now that i can drive her I can get her to a lift which is always preferable to my gravel drive... Thank you all for your help in figuring this out! I will reset the ECU codes and see if the 33,34,42 codes come back. It does look like the MSD coil was again the issue here. This did give me the opportunity to clean up the previous owner's wiring job. Now that I have my Fiero running like a top again I get to tackle the power steering on my truck... No PS in a 2800 pound car is a lot different then driving a 6000 lb truck.
Rexgirl AUG 07, 03:42 PM
Gall757 is 100% correct, the yellow cap is somebody's idea of a tach filter. The factory filter contains two capacitors wired between ground and the signal wire from the coil to the tach (those two wires going to the factory connector you've circled). There is also a inline resistor between those two capacitors on the signal side.
Patrick AUG 07, 03:58 PM

quote
Originally posted by ChuckR:

Key at on position 24 PSI. Key in off position 22 PSI after a couple minutes. Cranking 30 PSI

Now that I have my Fiero running like a top again...



It's great that you got the engine running after working on the ignition... but I'd say either those fuel pressure readings are incorrect (faulty fuel pressure tester?), or if they're accurate, your engine will be running lean at higher RPMs.
ChuckR AUG 07, 05:18 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

It's great that you got the engine running after working on the ignition... but I'd say either those fuel pressure readings are incorrect (faulty fuel pressure tester?), or if they're accurate, your engine will be running lean at higher RPMs.



Yes I do need to look into the low fuel pressure. It was a rent-a-tool from Autozone so it may not have been accurate, but I am going to assume it was. I bought a new fuel filter so I am going to change that. The car sat for 9 years before I bought it. The previous owner did change the injectors, and regulator. However I know he didnt drain the tank since it ran like ass for the first 200ish miles i am guessing since it is in Kilos and I didnt pay attention to how many rolled.. ( it had a full tank) I also ran it dry by accident since it said I had a 1/4 tank of gas but it was empty. My guess is varnish has the float sticking once it gets to 1/4 tank. I dont know since I have not driven much since I got new gas in it. I am willing to bet the fuel filter is getting clogged from the near decade of sitting and varnish. PO said it had 3/4 a tank of old gas and a 1/4 of new with seafoam in it. I should have siphoned it out, but it was running so I decided to burn it out.... I have had this car since 7/14. I know I am going to have to chase out the bugs from it sitting so I will be learning a lot about these cars in the process. I hope I can continue to lean on the community here for help