so i was working on diagnosing the ignition system following these procedures
Diagnose The Optispark - LS1LT1 Forum : LT1, LS1, Camaro, Firebird, Trans Am, Engine Tech Forums

everything had checked out, i did clean up the engine block to body ground, i had the signal from the white wire on the ICM lead and the signal on the coil side along with 12 volts going to both the coil and the ICM. i put it back together and tried to start the car. it ran for a second and quit.

now i checked for fuel. i do not have a pressure gauge so i had to use the "scientific method". i pushed down on the pressure test stem and only got a little dribble, i should have had gas spraying out. i think the fuel pump is toast and it has been going on its way out for a while, the car has been progressively getting worse.

so i guess i have to do a fuel pump now. is their any tests i can do on that circuit? how difficult is fuel pump removal from a 4th gen? is it as bad or worse then a 3rd gen, i have done a couple of those in my time and they sucked. the biggest pain is not having a rubber hose to disconnect the fill tube from the tank. not fun

also should i get a pump from autozone or should i go with something from summit or jegs?

could a failing fuel pump be causing all of my issues all along? it could cause a mis-fire, rough operation, and hesitation?

 

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the code was still active. i cleared the codes, car still will not start. it sounds like i can hear the fuel pump turn on but i still do not appear to have any gas at the test port. i wish i had a pressure gauge so i could be more accurate in my findings but when you push down on the valve stem you should get a solid spray of gas. all i get is i hear some air escaping, either that or my fuel gauge is lying. it says i have 1/4 tank, and the car has ran with less then 1/4 tank before. i think i will add a little gas tomorrow and see if it makes any difference....... i do not want too much gas in that tank if i end up pulling the tank, the more gas in the tank the worse the job will be.

i also do not understand why it was setting code 1371 if i was getting signal, ground, and power on both the ICM AND the coil.

 

Don't do anything without first checking fuel pressure with a test gauge.

 

actually my next step was to just remove and check the fuel filter, that might the answer and if its plugged $5 will replace it. if its not plugged then off i go to get a fuel pressure gauge.