Trying to get 86 Fiero started (Page 1/8)
Blitz54 JUN 18, 05:01 PM
Hello peeps. I had made a post when I first got my fiero, but I figured I'd make a new topic now that I am actually working on the car.

Here's the issue. Car was supposedly running when parked. It sat for two years. Now the car turns over, but won't start. If you let it sit for 10 minutes, it will fire up a little bit, but won't fully start and will die after half a second. Even putting starting fluid in the throttle body does not help it fully start up.

Check engine light is on, first time it gave me no codes. At one point I unplugged the map sensor because I read that disconnecting it helped someone start there car. Now when I read the codes I get 34, which is the map sensor. So I'm not sure if it's actually a problem or if it's just because I tried starting it with the sensor off.

-Fuel pump seems to work. It turns on and you can hear it.
-We have spark from the coil.
-The wires leading from the distributor to the ignition module are cracked. I put that paint on rubber stuff but haven't tried it since.
-We added new fuel, but the fuel in the gas tank (if there was any) would be 2 years old. The gas gauge is funky so not sure if it had half a tank originally or if it was just a messed up sensor considering it showed waaaaay over full, and now it shows barely under full.
-Cleaned the pins inside the distributor cap with a flat head, just to clean off some gunk.

I'm thinking it's just bad fuel, and maybe gunked up lines or filter. But the fact that starting fluid hardly helped it makes me think maybe there is another issue? Id like to check the easiest things first before dropping more money on parts.

Thanks peeps
Gall757 JUN 18, 05:39 PM
Hello Peep.

Tell us what engine you have.

Fuel pressure is the most common problem, but if it runs no better with starting fluid, the ignition is suspect.
Blitz54 JUN 18, 05:40 PM
Sorry totally forgot to mention that. It's the v6.
Gall757 JUN 18, 05:45 PM
2 years of sitting can do bad things. You need to get a pressure gauge on the Schrader valve on the fuel rail....it should read about 40 lbs. with the key on, engine off. You likely also have dirty injectors.
Blitz54 JUN 18, 08:02 PM
Unfortunately I don't have a fuel pressure gauge, so I can't do check that today. Im also not sure when the top intake manifold (red thing, I think that's the name) was last off so I assume I'll need a new gasket when I take it off to inspect the injectors.
Gall757 JUN 18, 08:30 PM
The shade-tree mechanic fuel pressure test: Get lots of towels and press the center pin on the valve with the edge of a screwdriver.....the fuel should hit the bottom of the open deck lid.

Disclaimers..........
Don't smoke while doing this test. Be sure to pay your insurance premium.....
Easy8 JUN 18, 08:46 PM
might want to put some eye protection on as well..you are going to spray gas all over the place if it does have the correct fuel pressure.
Blitz54 JUN 18, 09:16 PM
So I tried the poor man's way of checking pressure. First try it hit about a foot upwards on the deck lid, second time it was about two feet up. Only weird thing is that it wasn't as much of a squirt, and more of a blast. I was expecting a thinner stream but it was more like a shotgun lol. I assume that's normal and that I was just expecting something different though.
benoitmalenfant JUN 18, 09:24 PM

quote
Originally posted by Blitz54:
I'm thinking it's just bad fuel, and maybe gunked up lines or filter. But the fact that starting fluid hardly helped it makes me think maybe there is another issue? Id like to check the easiest things first before dropping more money on parts.



How did you perform the test with the starter fluid? If you simply opened the air box and sprayed some then went to start it , chances are not enough fluid made it in the chamber. I had a similar problem with one that sat for 3 years and it would only start and run for a few minutes if I kept spraying starter fluid every couple of seconds in the air box.



quote
Originally posted by Blitz54:

So I tried the poor man's way of checking pressure. First try it hit about a foot upwards on the deck lid, second time it was about two feet up. Only weird thing is that it wasn't as much of a squirt, and more of a blast. I was expecting a thinner stream but it was more like a shotgun lol. I assume that's normal and that I was just expecting something different though.



Looks like you've got enough pressure. I'd suck the old fuel out and replace it with some fresh one and try again. Otherwise, as others have mentioned, you may have an ignition problem.

[This message has been edited by benoitmalenfant (edited 06-18-2017).]

Blitz54 JUN 18, 09:31 PM
Hard to quote on phone, but we took the rubber hose off the intake and sprayed starting fluid there instead, because the filter is quite far away and the filter is trash.

I figure that's my next plan of action is just draining it and putting new fuel. We added some fuel earlier but ya no idea how much old was in the tank anyway.

What's the best way to drain it all out?