Hard starting and stalling
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Put a fuel pressure gauge on the shrader valve on the end of the fuel rail. Turn on the ignition, the fuel pump will come on for 2 seconds and then go off. Fuel pressure should rise and stay there. If your pressure drops rapidly when the fuel pump goes off or you turn the ignition off, you may have leaky injectors which cause a too rich condition and hard starting. Black smoke out the exhaust (engine running) also shows too rich a mixture caused by leaky injectors. There are other things that can cause your symptoms, but this one is most likely.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Welcome to the Forum and congrats on your new 35th. 
Is it hard starting when warm, when cold, both???
What is warm idle RPM?
Is there any miss at idle or lack of power on acceleration?
Indeed check fuel pressure; you should see about 44psi and it should hold rather steady for a few minutes with a gradual drop off.
Pull several spark plugs to check condition.
BTW, what is the build number of your 35th; mine is obviously #65.
Is it hard starting when warm, when cold, both???
What is warm idle RPM?
Is there any miss at idle or lack of power on acceleration?
Indeed check fuel pressure; you should see about 44psi and it should hold rather steady for a few minutes with a gradual drop off.
Pull several spark plugs to check condition.
BTW, what is the build number of your 35th; mine is obviously #65.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
My 89' does exactly the same thing. Sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesn't. It will run for a few minutes or seconds and shut off. When it does run, it runs well. So far, my mechanic has checked the fuel pressure, back pressure, ignition, distributor, coil, fuel, ignition switch, etc. Someone mentioned something on the wiring harness to him but nothing wrong was found there. He doesn't think it's a fuel problem but rather an electrical problem. Let me know what you find out.
