J W Drew

Went to the store, parked and everything was fine. Came back out, started the car, pulled out and as I was creeping through the parking lot the engine died. Tried to restart and it started but tried to give it gas and it died. Found out if I feathered the throttle and got up some RPM's the car would stay running but could hear backfiring. Limped back home by trying to keep the RPM's up, around 2000 RPM's still hearing backfire. Got home (about 3 miles) and it died as I pulled in the driveway. I'm thinking Fuel Pump however, noticed the temp rose to 235 and the main fan was not on. Normally comes on at 207 and shuts off at 197. So now I'm thinking ECM. Went out this morning and the car started right up but would die after giving it some throttle. What do you guys think? Also no codes shown on the dash screen.

TheBlaster9001

Fuel, air spark.

Does it have fuel pressure when it dies? Easy to check, and a good place to start.

Cruisinfanatic

Try unplugging the MAP and see if it improves

TheBlaster9001

Do you mean MAF? 85 doesn't have MAP, unless he converted.

J W Drew

Did Not convert.

TheBlaster9001

Ok. Still may be worth starting with the MAF (mass air flow sensor) disconnected, since that is easy to do. Fuel pressure check after, perhaps.

Cruisinfanatic

yes

playsdixie

hey cruisin, did my old radio work ok???

J W Drew

Still doesn't address the fan not coming on.
Thanks,
JW

TheBlaster9001

My guess on the fans is because the fan isn't kicked on by the temp shown your dash. IIRC, the sensor under the intake is used for the fans, in the head is the dash. The two sensors don't always read the same - my datalogs show that. Often, the dash temp is higher than the temp used to control the fans.

J W Drew

Where exactly is the MAF located. A pic would be helpful.
Thanks,
JW

TheBlaster9001

Right behind the air filter assembly. The plug should be underneath the unit, from the direction shown in the image.

J W Drew

Thanks a lot. Sure helps. Not sure if the MAF is the problem but it's a place to start.

TheBlaster9001

It runs better with it off? While that could be a bad MAF, when you unplug it, the car goes into a 'fallback' mode of sorts, where it guess a baseline for how it should run.

So if it runs better with it off, then we can assume fuel pressure, spark, and air are all working right - just in the wrong amounts. The MAF is indeed a place to start.

J W Drew

So, if you recall, last Wed. my 85 started backfiring and would not run unless I kept the RPM's up. Limped it home and noticed that it would start but would die after giving it throttle. Also noticed the temp. was up to 235 and the fan was not running (normally comes on at 208). Today, I started the car and all seamed well. Idled fine, gave it throttle and it came up and ran fine. Also let it idle and the fan came on at 208 as it normally does. Didn't take it for a drive for fear of breaking down again. Noticed that it did throw a code as "check engine soon" is on when I turn the key on but goes off after it starts. Will have the code checked next week but was wondering what you think based on the info I gave you so far.
Thanks,
JW

playsdixie

jump pins a and b on your ALDL...count the flashes....each is three times....12 three times , then your codes, each three times....ends with 12 three times....