Ok, so I go outside and its still cold these days here..... I fire it up, after the normal 2-3 seconds crank time, she fires right up, and then blah blah blah..... the RPMs drop and she dies. This is tre for two or more times, unless I give her a little fuel, in which case she stays alive and smooths out.

What gives? The car also seems to run a little rough, all the time. With noticeable voltage spikes, or drains rather. I just changed alternators, and it has been doing much better, but still, I see rather sharp drops, say from 14.5 volts to around 12.5, then right back up. Maybe I am worrying about nothing. But I dont know TPI very well yet, and these things trip me out...

Any help would be appreciated guys.

Will

 

You're right, it's not normal, but nothing to freak about.

Have you checked/changed the battery. It's probably not the problem, but it's worth a look.

Have you done a full tune up to the car since you've gotten it?

I'm not an expert on things like this, but it seems like it's got something to do with the ignition. This is offhand, but my L98 fires right up everytime in a minimal crank time.

 

I got the car 3 weeks ago, and since then I added some stuff I had waiting, such as a catback, airfoil, k&n's, and then replaced the alt after it began to whine..... The car has a new cap and rotor, but not sure abot plugs/wires, they look dated. SO I will be doing a full tune up with quality parts in the next week or so before I take her to the track. I just wanted to know if anyone had this prob....

Also, What is a cold start injector??? And where is it located? Might this be the problem?

Will

 

1989's don't have cold start injectors.

I would look at your plugs and wires as the culprits. OR you may want to look at cleaning/buying a new IAC motor. If the IAC is dirty, you aren't getting the required "controlled vacuum leak" around the throttle blades for idle.

The IAC is the thing with the plug sticking toward the passenger side on the bottom of the throttle body. IAC= Idle Air control valve.

 

Awesome, I will do that

WILL

 

I would take out the entire throttle body and scrub it clean with brake cleaner and a brush. Take out the IAC and clean the thing out too. Reassemble it and readjust it and see where you go from there

 

I took the TB off abot two weeks ago, and cleaned it with carb cleaner thoroghly, bt I failed to clean the IAC motor assembly. I will have to do that. Its just that I dont yet know how to recalibrate the IAC

Thanks guys

Will

 

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/tpimod2.shtml

My procedure is slightly different. With the engine warm, I use a scanner and read the IAC counts and adjust the throttle screw till I get somewhere between 20 to 30 counts. After that I adjust the TPS

 

Was just about to say, make sure your TPS is set correctly... I think mine is set to .57 or something right now. The beauty of EFI cars is the starting ease, carbs are a bitch to start in the morning but EFI should be easy enough, altho on a very cold winter morning, my IROC doesnt like running too well for the first 10 seconds.

 

Well, I definitely have some start up issues that I need to resolve. The whole reason I went EFI, besides the obvious advantaged, was to get rid of the hassle of warming up, fast idle, and so on. But its almost as if my car kicks itself into a fast idle mode in the morning, or even after its been shut off for a while..... Anyone experience this? Thanks

Will

 

how is the fuel pump,my dad was having similar problems with his 86 monte, changed the fuel pump and it was all good

 

Go figure. I knew this would not just be a car a buy and have fun with,.. its gonna take forever to get this thing running right.... I will look into that as well. Anyone have luck with an INLINE pump as opposed to an intank??? Thanks fellas

WILL

 

I don't know much about our cars, but 14.5V seems a bit high. Voltage spikes are somewhat normal, but to your degree that seems odd. Maybe just the guage is inaccurate? Good Luck.

 

The two third gens that I have owned, and most I have seen, they are all the same. 13v is the midway point on the gauge, and they all sit bewteen that and 16v, which is max. So I really see no problem there. Also, I routed my pcv back to stock, and she hasn't died since. I do believe that leak in vacuum was the culprit.

Thanks guys, still having some idle issues though!

WILL