Need help...car won't start...left me sitting!!

[82 GT]

My '88GT left me sitting at the parts store today. It ran fine all the way up there but when I came out and started it, it would barely idle(like when it's about out of gas).
I bought 2 gallons of gas thinking maybe I might be out(gauge doesn't work). When I tried to start it agan, it wouldn't even start. It would just crank.
I'm thinking the fuel pump could be bad because it's probably the original pump and I have 92K on it.
Then I was thinking may it's the module or coil even.
Is there a way to test some of these before I go ordering parts I don't need?

Will I be able to listen for the fuel pump if I turn the key to "on"?

[aar0s]

with key on you should hear the pump kick on to boost fuel psi before you start the car. how about the fuel filter, how old is it? I think that you should be able to check the coil by puting a plug in the coil wire and seeing if it will spark off of it.

[82 GT]

Fuel filter is a year old and I do hear the pump relay kick on when I turn the key.

[aar0s]

next would be to check for spark. you could have a bad coil.

[Fox Body]

Sorry the car left you sitting at the store, man. Well, could be fuel pump. Have you tried to crank the car since yesterday? From what you described, I doubt it's the coil or the TFI module. If it hasn't been cranked since yesterday, can you hook up a mech fp guage and check to see if fp with car shut off... turn key let pump get line up to appropriate pressure.. see what it reads. Then try to start car and read fp at idle.

[82 GT]

I got a buddy to tow my car home today. I got into the car and tried it one more time........nothing. Just cranking.
We hooked the chain up and he started towing me home.
Half way home, I thought "what the hell. I'll try it again."
It started up no problem!! I beeped the horn and signled for him to pull over. I told him it started up so we unhooked the cars and I drove home without any more problems.
I have no idea what was wrong or why it wouldn't start yesterday or today before we started towing.
I'm thinking it could be the TFI module now because it left me stuck 2 years ago on the way home from vacation.
I originally thought it might be the fuel pump but if the pump was bad, wouldn't it be bad and that's it?
Should I still check the fuel pressure? I don't like the idea of this possibly happening again at any time without warning.
Should I replace the TFI module just for the hell of it since it is probably the original unit?
I just want to make sure it's going to continue to be reliable for me without anymore surprises like this.(or 2 years ago)

[the69dr]

I haven't been stranded with a FI car but my 85 left me a couple times.

- Once I lost the ground to the ignition regulator (I think that's what it's called), no start just crank

- Once the ignition regulator died all together, it gave spark just not in the right sequence, that's after I checked for no gas and for a bad coil

- My motor also will die by losing ground to the coil as in when one of the pigtails slipped off.

- Also had a turbo coupe start but run like crap and it turned out to be a hole in the rubber hose between the pickup and the pump, figured that out with the fuel pressure check.

Don't know how much of this pertains to FI but I thought I'd mention it.

[HotRoddin]

Originally posted by 82 GT

Should I replace the TFI module just for the hell of it since it is probably the original unit?

If its the original then by all means change it ... they were natorious for crapping out, especially when they got hot.

[silver_pilate]

I chased down a very similar problem several months ago. It turned out being the fuel pump. Car would run fine until it got hot (usually after a highway drive) and then it would die on me. Once the car sat for a while, it would start up again and run.

The definative diagnosis would be to hook up a fuel pressure guage and see if the pump is pushing fuel. If you turn the key and there is no pressure, it's your pump. BTW, when my pump died, it would still kick on and make noise, it just wouldn't push fuel until it cooled off for a while. And that happened with my stock pump and my aftermarket 190 lph pump. Have a new Holly in right now, and it runs fine.

--nathan

[silver_pilate]

Also, I carry an extra TFI module and a spare fuel pump relay just in case. In case you didn't know, the fuel pump relay can be fixed so you can reach down and remove it and carry it with you....cheap and easy theft prevention unless they tow it away.

--nathan

[82 GT]

Thanks for the info. It could be a toss up between the TFI and fuel pump since they are both probably stock and the car has 92K on iit. I'm sure they are both about the quit right around now.
It runs fine now and I haven't replaced anything yet.
Will a pump that's going bad have a low pressure reading?

[Ieatcamaros]

I had my fuel pump quit on me 2 years ago when I was going to get parts for a damn chevy. Imagine that. But, I was expecting it anytime soon. When the car was idling, you could hear the pump running over the motor (with flowmasters). Of course, the radio could overcome it. So, I knew it was going to be soon. It whined just like a bearing fixing to go. When I was driving it to get the parts, it would die at a stop light. But would fire right back up. It is kinda fun powershifting through traffic to get home before the pump quits. I made it two miles from the house and she wouldn't go no more. Anyways, just my input.