Several time in the last few months, I have started the car only to have it die immediately. It just refuses to idle. Usually the next time I start the car all is good. This happens when the car is hot, cold, drive lately, driven yesterday. There doesn't seem to be a pattern to this happening. The car is an 88 with 128,000.

Any ideas where to start looking?

 

If you're going to work on it yourself, the first thing I would suggest is to buy or borrow a fuel injection pressure gauge. It hooks up to the Schraeder valve on the passenger's side fuel rail. Your fuel pressure should read somewhere between 35 and 40 lbs. You're intermittent starting could be related to a clogged fuel filter or a fuel pump that is going out. If you haven't changed the fuel filter for a while, it's a good idea to go ahead and change it. When my fuel pump went out, the car would start and idle for a few seconds, then when I tried to accelerate, it would die, because the fuel pump couldn't stay up with the demand. In my case, mine went out all at once. My fuel pressure reading was about 4 lbs, if I recall correctly. Since yours does start and run intermittently, I would suspect the fuel filter first then the fuel pump. If you have a fuel injection pressure gauge, you can hook it up to the car when it won't run and see what the fuel pressure is reading. The gauge won't prevent the engine from starting. It just picks up the pressure and reads it, as it passes through the system.

 

:iagree: Good place to start.... :thumbs: :thumbs:

 

I forgot to mention that once I get the car started, if I keep the idle up, the car runs fine. I can stand on it and it runs like normal. The only real problem is keeping it idling. If it did this all the time, I would suspect something mechanical, but since it may go 2 weeks without the problem and then do it several days in a row, but not every time I start it in one day, I think I have something electrical going out.

Sorry if I stated the problem incorrectly.

 

Do you have a scanner to check if IAC is working properly ?

 

No scanner, just the tools left over from my C3 plus the metric stuff I bought to do some stuff. And, since I am somewhat ignorant of these 'electric' cars, what is and IAC? I do have a Haymes for this thing so I can at least follow pictures. At least that is what I have done so far with the repairs I have had to make.

 

Idle Air Control
It is a step motor with a pintle. It opens and closes to vary the amount of idle air required to make your car idle properly.
In my haynes page 4-7 describes it.
More info on 4-11 and 4-18
:cheers:

 

I feel your pain.

Electric fuel injection involves more parts.

Some good reading can be found in Mr Watson's book on Fuel Injection, also Chevy TPI Fuel Injection Swappers Guide by John Baechtel, Corvette Fuel Injection-Charles O Probst.

Couple hours of reading really helps making the transition from carbs to electronic fuel injection.

Enjoy the ride.

dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3speed shocks

 

Thanks to all of you, I will do some reading and see what I can find out.

:thumbs: :seeya

 

The problems is the VATS chip. It was recalled on that vehicle about 1990. I bought my 88 new and had the same problem almost immediately. The dealer said I was nuts but after 2 years of complaining they finally admitted there was a recall on the Vehicle Anit-Theft System, replaced the chip and I've never had the same problem again (still have the car). By the way, to get it to idle you have to remove the key completely from the ignition to reset the program, then it will idle..'til next time it happens.

 

I feel your pain, read my posts about a similar problem that I had.
Have you tried running a tank of gas with an injector cleaner or use the GM stuff directly? If the injectors are not flowing enough fuel at idle, you will experience hunting and dieing and possibly not want to restart. But, that is not the only thing that will cause those symptoms; IAC, MAP Sensor, leaking EGR valve, loose throttle body shaft, vaccum leaks. I have been around the horn on this one and it turned out to be the Accel fuel injectors.
Start trouble shooting and write down everything that you try along with the results.