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Car Forum / Pontiac / Pontiac Fiero / May 2005

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86 GT 2.8 Fuel pump problem

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tim_86gt - 30 Mar 2005 06:25 GMT
I have an 86 Fiero GT 2.8 V6 5speed manual.  I bought it about a year
ago with 120,000 miles on it and have put another 20,000 on it since.
It is a great car and I love it to death.  That said, I have had my
share of problems.
The first problem started in july about 4 months after i bought it.
On hot days it would run ok but if i shut it off after a 10 minutes of
driving or more and it would not restart.  I would let it sit a while
and cool off and it would start.  Now,  the Coolant temp sender was
bad and the radiator fan didnt ever kick on (unless the AC was on) so
i replace the sender and put a bypass switch on for the fan.  anytime
traffic got bad i would turn the fan on and the temp never went much
over 190 Degrees.  the problem became less frequent but still happened
on occasion.  each time i let it sit for a spell and it would start
right up.  
 Summer turned to fall and my clutch hydrolic system went.  but so
did my not starting hot problem.  Fixed the clutch (new master cly.
and lots of bleeding) and it ran quite well all winter.  I live in
Michigan and drove that little car right through the snow.  never got
stuck. it did better than my previous car (96 Firebird 3.8 5 speed).
Alternator died on me in a 13" snow storm in january.  I became
furiously angry and considered buying a new car or taking my wife?s
(01 Monte Carlo 3.8 V6)  If they made the Monte in a stick she?d be
walking to work right now.
ANYWAY......Replaced the alternator and now spring is here.  Had a
few nice days in the detroit area and my original problem has returned
with a vengance.  It is now cutting out after about 30 minutes of
driving.  agian after 45min or so it starts right up.  Yesterday on my
way home from work (about 25 miles mostly freeway) it died about a
mile from home.  went back after about an hour an a half and it woulnt
start.  I sobbed openly.  went home got my brothers 96 Jimmy and a tow
rope and when i got to it decided to try it one more time and it
started.  This morning it started right up and got me in to work
despite some nasty traffic snarls.  Got in it after work (9 hours)
and it woulndn?t start.  Cranked it till my battery died.  More
sobbing.  Dragged my poor brother out once agian with the tow rope and
with the last amp in the battery it cranked over once and started.
made it about 23 miles and once agian it died.  Towed it the rest of
the way home and tested my fuel pressure.  47.5psi in the ignition on
key position.  

When its dead it feels like its starving for fuel.  if i spary starter
fluid in the air intake it fires but dies out as soon as the dry gas
is gone.  I really dont want to drop the gas tank if i dont have to.
does anyone know of anything easier it may be.  

Thanks
John Craker - 30 Mar 2005 08:32 GMT
Whew...  long read...

Shorter reply --> Replace Ignition Module.

:)

>I have an 86 Fiero GT 2.8 V6 5speed manual.  I bought it about a year
> ago with 120,000 miles on it and have put another 20,000 on it since.
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
>
> Thanks
Jon - 01 Apr 2005 02:11 GMT
> When its dead it feels like its starving for fuel.  if i spary starter
> fluid in the air intake it fires but dies out as soon as the dry gas
> is gone.  I really dont want to drop the gas tank if i dont have to.
> does anyone know of anything easier it may be.  

 The fuel tank is pretty easy to remove if it's empty and you jack the
car up high enough.
tim_86gt - 03 Apr 2005 20:12 GMT
"texasrocker1" wrote:

> > When its dead it feels like its starving for fuel.  if i
> spary starter
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> jack the
> car up high enough.

Well i replaced the ECM yesterday ($30).  everything seemed ok.  this
morning drove the car about 15 miles.  let it sit for about 15
minutes.  restarted and went to get a haircut(mile or so).  20 minutes
or so later...no fuel pressure at the schrader valve in the key on
position and it wont start.  I looked at the testing procedure in the
chilton but it wont do me any good since it runs fine 90% of the time.
it only seems to quit when i am away from my garage.
JazzMan - 04 Apr 2005 06:08 GMT
> "texasrocker1" wrote:
>  > tim_86gt wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> chilton but it wont do me any good since it runs fine 90% of the time.
>  it only seems to quit when i am away from my garage.

Get a short length of wire and some connectors from Radio Shack
and make a jumper to fit from the orange cigarette lighter power
wire to the fuel pump terminal in the ALDL behind the cigarette
lighter trim plate:

http://web2.airmail.net/jsavage1/formula/aldlfuelpumpbypass.jpg

Next time it quits connect the wire as described above and see
if the fuel pump works. If it does then there's a problem with
either the relay or wiring from the ECM to the relay. Also,
check that you actually have spark because the ECM will not activate
the pump unless it sees pulses from the distributor module and if
the module quits (the tachometer lays dead while cranking) then
you need a new module.

JazzMan
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tim_86gt - 04 Apr 2005 23:32 GMT
> > "texasrocker1" wrote:
>  >  >
[quoted text clipped - 53 lines]
>
> JazzMan

Tested the Fuel pump with the hot Cig liter wire.  The fuel pump spins
fine.  Drove it around for a while and let it get warmed up.  when it
stalled out tested the pump agian in the same manner and it did
nothing.  Dropped the tank and replaced the fuel pump, strainer and
the 3 wire harness that runs from the tank up to the computer.  It ran
good but it was late at night and the outside temp was below 40
degrees.  Drove it in to work this morning and it did ok but agian it
was pretty cold out and it seems that i only have this problem when
the outside temp is over 50 or so.   I will have my fingers crossed
when i drive home this afternoon.
zombee_29 - 28 Apr 2005 07:30 GMT
i have the same problem just too give you some insight eventually the car
will stop starting period.. i have replaced the injectors and rebuilt the
pressure regulator ... i think as you do the fuel pump is whats wrong  ill
change mine tommorow and let you know
fierogt88 - 23 May 2005 17:33 GMT
> i have the same problem just too give you some insight
> eventually the car
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> whats wrong  ill
> change mine tommorow and let you know

I have an 86 gt as well. It has been having all the same problems that
you speak of. First i took it to the local mechanic, he charges too
much and does sloppy work but he said ignition control module. I had
an aftermarket one from the Fiero Store that was still under warranty,
but i had him replace it with an outrageously priced AC-Delco unit
because i was tired of the problems. Didnt run the way it used to,
loss of power and a miss in low rpms. I took it back, he said it was
the ecm. I replaced that and the prom chip with one from a junk fiero.
Still the same problems, except it lost even more power as I had a
hypertech chip in my former ecm. It finally left me stranded on the
freeway until 3 am after some 90mph crusing. I decided it was time. I
went through and replaced the entire fuel pump and sending unit,
relay, and rewired everything. When i hooked everything back up it
would not run correctly. I was so angry after an entire weekend and
over 300 dollars in parts that i almost gave up. But i noticed a wet
spot on the right side of the engine under the intake. The schrader
valve that comes up from the fuel block on that side of the engine was
leaking gas, and i assume pressure when it was running, causing my
engine to run the way it was. I went over to my project fiero, an
88gt, and removed the cap that it had on its scrader valve. I assume
it holds the pressure, as after i placed it tightly on mine it ran
much better. Let it warm up and took it for a drive. I was going up to
about 4,500 rpms in each gear, but at about 2,000 rpms in third gear
it died. I hadn’t even made it 2 miles from home. Wouldn’t start.
Walked home, got a tow rope, brought it home. I’m now waiting on the
warranted ignition module in the mail which should be here soon. I
doubt this will solve the problem, as i have a 1 month old AC-Delco
module. While it’s not a performance module, it should keep the car
running. If anyone has any ideas i would much appreciate it. I just
cannot figure out the problem with this car. Thanks.
 
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