Help Needed!!!! Experts inside!!!!

Gents, I'm getting this third-hand from a friend. Her son bought the car and is having big problems with it, so I'll describe the symptoms and hope you can help...

The car is a 1988 Pontiac GTA. 350 TPI.

The symptoms are as follows:

1) The car stalls after running for a while.

2) The shop tech claims that if he taps the computer, the car starts running agains.

3) Apparently, the fuel injectors are DUMPING fuel. Basically spraying all the time and not pulsing.


The shop is claiming that a new computer is needed.

My questions are as follows:

1) ***EDITED OUT A SILLY QUESTION***

2) It seems to me if tapping the computer gets the car running properly, there is probably an issue with the connector. Do you agree?

3) A rich condition can be caused by what part of the engine management? Bad oxygen sensors?

4) As the injectors are spraying fuel, the odds say that the dreaded fuel pump is OK, right?

5) Anybody had a similiar problem?

Thanks in advance!

1 pROBLEM AT A TIME, LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE A BUNCH... RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THE PCM 1ST...

rEPLACE IT TO VERIFY WETHER IT IS THE HARNESS OR NOT...

A BAD COMPUTER CAN DO REALLY STRANGE THINGS, WHO KNOWS SOLVE PROBLEM: A, MAY RESOLVE, B,C,D......

I'll post the trouble codes as soon as I get them.

Originally posted by PacerX
1) ***EDITED OUT A SILLY QUESTION***

2) It seems to me if tapping the computer gets the car running properly, there is probably an issue with the connector. Do you agree?

3) A rich condition can be caused by what part of the engine management? Bad oxygen sensors?

4) As the injectors are spraying fuel, the odds say that the dreaded fuel pump is OK, right?

5) Anybody had a similiar problem?

Thanks in advance!

1. Don't know the question so I don't even have a possible answer.

2. Connector or cold solder joint somewhere in the unit.

3. All parts. TPS is too high it could fool the ECM into thinking the TB is open wider than it is. MAF could do the same thing so could Oxygen sensors, etc.

4. Not necessary. If the pressure is low or not constant, it could still be a problem. Also it could be affected by the fuel pressure regulator.

5. No.