88 Firebird - not starting when driven short distances

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tim@nocomment.com - 25 Aug 2007 15:28 GMT

What would cause the situation where a 1988 Firebird (2.8 litre) will
start perfectly when cold or after driven long distances but will not
start when driven a few miles. I have to wait about a half hour before
it starts again, then it starts perfectly. I try it intermittently
during that time so I know that it will not start one minute, then the
next it will start right up, usually after about a half hour. It's as
though something gets reset after a half hour and this causes the
problem to go away.
My friend says it sounds like it is not getting any fuel when this
occurs. The fuel pump has been replaced since this problem started
occuring so I would guess that it is not that.
It seems to occur only in warm weather.

Thanks,
Tim

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ssupermatch - 25 Aug 2007 16:13 GMT

> What would cause the situation where a 1988 Firebird (2.8 litre) will
> start perfectly when cold or after driven long distances but will not
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Thanks,
> Tim

Had a nother model car do this to me. I might be something to with heat in
the starter, as it gets older it cat get hotter as it trys to start the car.
After replacing the starter on mine it stopped doing this. Though if yours
is new. might be something else.

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David Courtney - 25 Aug 2007 16:36 GMT

It sounds like the fuel pressure is bleeding down... possibly through a
leaky fuel injector or bad fuel pressure regulator?
Usually the computer will turn the fuel pump on when you turn on the
key, to pressurize the fuel system... but I don't think it will if the
engine has been run within a certain number of minutes.
You should be able to manually activate the fuel pump by jumping 12v to
one of the pins in the ALDL plug under the dash (I think it was pin G on my
'88 Chevy truck).
If you manually start the pump before you crank the engine, and the
problem goes away... then the fuel system is bleeding down too quickly.
Otherwise, put a fuel pressure gauge on it while you try to start it and
see if it has pressure.

> What would cause the situation where a 1988 Firebird (2.8 litre) will
> start perfectly when cold or after driven long distances but will not
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Thanks,
> Tim

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