Won't start, but did...

[Ideal7]

I jsut recently bought this car. It did start when i brought it home as i started it and moved in into the parking spot.

Anyway, I thought the problem was the fuse box that hangs on the battery termal. Just replaced that today. It did start, i fixed the oil pressure switch that was leaking a fair amount of oil and started it up, to check leaks and get to op temp.

I take a quick walk around the car to check for any leaks, trans, diff, transfer case, and motor. As I was coming back up to the motor then died out.... No problem, we'll just start her again. She starts for a couple secounds, once it dropped the rpms, it cut off.

Ok, restart one more time with a little throttle. Push the throttle while it idled, it died quicker.

I know it has boost leaks and an idle surge problem, which it had before i got the car. The plan is to due away with oem piping and run new clamps, couplers and 2.5"-3" piping.

Its getting fuel, its getting spark as well as air. Compression test showed 120 a cross the board with a dying battery (Well check tomorrow).

The only thing i have left to check is timing, which i'ma check tomorrow since its night here and cold as shit outside.

If you guys have any ideas let me know, my ride just showed up so i gotta go

 

[2GFWDbeast]

its time for new piston rings possible 120 is the service limit.

 

[Ideal7]

Update

I replaced the mfi fuse box and checked timing. Timing seems to be good, but the interior smelt like a burnt ecu. So I changed that out to a different one that came with the car. First thing i noticed was the check engine light didn't even come on in acc.

Which would lead me to believe that both ecu's i have are junk and i need to find a 91-93 ecu.

Anything you guys got in mind to check before hand?

 

[PieEyedPiper]

its time for new piston rings possible 120 is the service limit.

I'd be fairly excited to get a 1g to read 120 across the board - when not at operating temperature, a weak battery and maybe not even with the throttle all the way open.

Update

I replaced the mfi fuse box and checked timing. Timing seems to be good, but the interior smelt like a burnt ecu. So I changed that out to a different one that came with the car. First thing i noticed was the check engine light didn't even come on in acc.

Which would lead me to believe that both ecu's i have are junk and i need to find a 91-93 ecu.

Anything you guys got in mind to check before hand?

I think you're on the right track. My "gut feeling" was ECU when you described how it acts. Let us know!

 

[Ideal7]

I'd be fairly excited to get a 1g to read 120 across the board - when not at operating temperature, a weak battery and maybe not even with the throttle all the way open.

Yea hit all three, it was roughly in the 40s without the throttle opened up... unless my friend opened it while i was in the car... and the battery dying.

I think you're on the right track. My "gut feeling" was ECU when you described how it acts. Let us know!

But I'm looking for an ecu as we speak, if i can have a local to come over and the car starts with a different ecu, Then we're in business, i can fix the other problems and gather "go-fast" parts

I'll update the thread when something happens, but if anyone has some parts layin around just let me know. Because I wanna replace oem side mount & piping, fix idle surge *if its still a problem*

 

[Tyeler18]

How do you know you're getting fuel? It does sound like a bad ECU, but it also sounds like a possible dead/dying fuel pump.

 

[Ideal7]

Its suppose to have a 255 walbro in the tank and I know I'm getting fuel, because it did start a couple weeks ago and you can smell fuel on the spark plugs.

And its getting spark, i tested that out just to make sure. Because I'm convinced that whatever was keeping these car from starting is gonna be something really little, that I over look because i'm not fimilar with these cars...

 

[Tyeler18]

I'd check fuel. Your diagnosis is an improper way of checking things. Not saying your ECU isn't bad, because that's definitely signs of a bad ecu, but it's also signs of a bad pump.

 

[Ideal7]

Fair enough, I'll check and let you guys know. I've heard it kick on, but if it would so happen to be bad, I got another 255 uptairs

 

[Ideal7]

Fuel pump checked out and the car is started, turned out to be the ecu. But i've encountered a new problem, the car doesn't really wanna go into gear.... Well first gear i should say when the car is started. And it kinda creeps forward as well. With the car off, i can put it in first, turn the car one and have no problems from there. But 1st, 5th & reverse that i've had trouble with.

I've bleed the system a couple different times and i'm 99.9% sure there's no air in the system, I just wanted to say something before i went back out to look around in the car.