Hello! i recently purchased a 1984 2m4 and have been looking at it with my friends to try to figure out what’s wrong with it. attached is a video of us spraying starter fluid into the throttle body while attempting to start the car. it cranks and starts, but dies only around half a second later. my mechanic friend says it may be the carbeurator that’s causing me trouble, or the spark plugs. i would love some general troubleshooting methods / common issues with the carbeurator that may be halting it, or any other suggestions on issues, thank you!

------------------
kate perry

If it is stock, it will be throttle body injected.

First check would be fuel pump and fuel pressure then injector pulses.

quote Originally posted by kateperry: ...attached is a video

As you've discovered, videos cannot simply be "attached" to a post here.

Upload your video to YouTube, and then embed it in your post by copying its URL from the browser and pasting this URL between [youtube] and [/youtube] with no spaces.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 03-29-2025).]

quote Originally posted by kateperry: Hello! i recently purchased a 1984 2m4 and have been looking at it with my friends to try to figure out what’s wrong with it. attached is a video of us spraying starter fluid into the throttle body while attempting to start the car. it cranks and starts, but dies only around half a second later. my mechanic friend says it may be the carbeurator that’s causing me trouble, or the spark plugs. i would love some general troubleshooting methods / common issues with the carbeurator that may be halting it, or any other suggestions on issues, thank you!

If it starts with starting fluid being sprayed in there, then the ignition and spark plugs are probably OK.

It sounds like it's just not getting fuel. The Fiero is a fuel injected car, and doesn't have a carburetor. First I think it's best to give us a bit more background information. Is this car new to you... and was it non-running when you got it? Or is this something that just happened and it was running fine before?

My first thought is the fuel pump, but I really need more information about the car... (questions above) before we can better diagnose.

If the fuel pump is original to the car then its most likely bad. There is also a fuel pump relay that could be bad. A quick test. Remove the fuel line from the throttle body. Attach a small 3/8" diam rubber hose. Place the end of the hose in a 1 qt milk carton away from the engine. Turn the ignition key on and leave it on for about 20-30 seconds. Then shut it off. Your should see a small amount of gasoline in the milk jug. If you see NO gasoline then the fuel pump is probably bad.
The fuel pump is replaced by disconnection the hoses, dropping the empty gasoline tank down and replacing the pump inside. Its a process that you will have to look up and learn about.

------------------
" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "