1989 5.7 GTA with only 2,000 miles won't restart...
#1
1989 5.7 GTA with only 2,000 miles won't restart...
My baby has developed a problem I cannot figure out (yup it really only has 2,000 miles total on it, I am saving it as best I can in the heated garage and covered). I have already sunk $700.00 into solving it, but no fix yet.
Starts and runs fine until it reaches normal operating temps. Then it starts hunting for idle, idling rough, and sooner or later it will stall. Then it won't restart until the motor cools down below normal operating range. Starter justs turns but no attempt for engine to run.
I have replaced the ecm, run OBD I tests, checked Mass Air Flow, etc. Any help or guess would be great. BTW, the fuel pump and gas tank are clean and within specs (yup the baby does sit alot, so that was the first things I checked). Thank You!!!
Starts and runs fine until it reaches normal operating temps. Then it starts hunting for idle, idling rough, and sooner or later it will stall. Then it won't restart until the motor cools down below normal operating range. Starter justs turns but no attempt for engine to run.
I have replaced the ecm, run OBD I tests, checked Mass Air Flow, etc. Any help or guess would be great. BTW, the fuel pump and gas tank are clean and within specs (yup the baby does sit alot, so that was the first things I checked). Thank You!!!
#2
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
16 Posts
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: 1989 5.7 GTA with only 2,000 miles won't restart...
Try replacing the Ignition Control Module inside the distributor.
#3
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: MN
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
Engine: LS3
Transmission: 6L80E
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: 1989 5.7 GTA with only 2,000 miles won't restart...
Could also be the pickup coil going bad...better answer is to buy a reman distributor to eliminate both.
FYI...that symptom of car working until heats up is a classic ignition failure sign....for future troubleshooting
FYI...that symptom of car working until heats up is a classic ignition failure sign....for future troubleshooting
![Wink](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
#4
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NJ
Posts: 784
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 87 Z28
Engine: AFR 383
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 4:11
Re: 1989 5.7 GTA with only 2,000 miles won't restart...
i think its a loss cause getting it fixed, you should just sell it, ill make ya an offer
We want pics!
![Wink](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
We want pics!
#5
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1986 Z28, 2006 Cadillac Escalade
Engine: 5.0 litre
Re: 1989 5.7 GTA with only 2,000 miles won't restart...
My baby has developed a problem I cannot figure out (yup it really only has 2,000 miles total on it, I am saving it as best I can in the heated garage and covered). I have already sunk $700.00 into solving it, but no fix yet.
Starts and runs fine until it reaches normal operating temps. Then it starts hunting for idle, idling rough, and sooner or later it will stall. Then it won't restart until the motor cools down below normal operating range. Starter justs turns but no attempt for engine to run.
I have replaced the ecm, run OBD I tests, checked Mass Air Flow, etc. Any help or guess would be great. BTW, the fuel pump and gas tank are clean and within specs (yup the baby does sit alot, so that was the first things I checked). Thank You!!!
Starts and runs fine until it reaches normal operating temps. Then it starts hunting for idle, idling rough, and sooner or later it will stall. Then it won't restart until the motor cools down below normal operating range. Starter justs turns but no attempt for engine to run.
I have replaced the ecm, run OBD I tests, checked Mass Air Flow, etc. Any help or guess would be great. BTW, the fuel pump and gas tank are clean and within specs (yup the baby does sit alot, so that was the first things I checked). Thank You!!!
#6
Re: 1989 5.7 GTA with only 2,000 miles won't restart...
I sure appreciate all the pointers. Many thanks, I will be trying them soon and will let you know. Here are pics of baby...
Trending Topics
#8
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NJ
Posts: 784
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 87 Z28
Engine: AFR 383
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 4:11
Re: 1989 5.7 GTA with only 2,000 miles won't restart...
by far the cleanest i have ever seen. I seen one for sale on the internet for 18k, it had 28,000 original miles. But this one looks nicer
i envy you.
But seriously, ill give ya 3 grand and ill even pick it up![good idea](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/goodidea.gif)
![Smilie](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
But seriously, ill give ya 3 grand and ill even pick it up
![good idea](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/goodidea.gif)
![Stick Out Tongue](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
#9
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Peoria, IL USA
Posts: 1,081
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 91 GTA
Engine: 377ci
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: QP Ford 9" 3.70s
Re: 1989 5.7 GTA with only 2,000 miles won't restart...
Very impressive car! I would go with the suggestions listed here and troubleshoot the distributor. There is an ignition module and pickup coil that are sensitive to heat.
It would be nice to get a scanner on it as at that age and that low of miles there are a number of sensors that could be giving you fits. When it begins to surge does the exhaust start to smell very strong?
I would look at the air inlet and coolant temp sensors and their readings. if they are incorrect after it is warm the ECM could be incorrectly adding fuel and fouling out the motor.
Another possibility is once the the car goes into closed loop operationand begins reading the O2 sensor, it may cause a problem with fuel delivery if the O2 sensor is bad. During warm up the car runs open loop without the o2 sensor which would be why you do not se the probelm until it is warm.
Checking the plugs may tell you if it is a fueling problem, but will not rule out any of the above as they all will present themselves as rich conditions.
I have installed quiet a few iterations of GM's EFI on many different cars and customs. It takes a good bit of sluething, patience, and a couple key tools to track down problems on the OBD1 systems.
It would be nice to get a scanner on it as at that age and that low of miles there are a number of sensors that could be giving you fits. When it begins to surge does the exhaust start to smell very strong?
I would look at the air inlet and coolant temp sensors and their readings. if they are incorrect after it is warm the ECM could be incorrectly adding fuel and fouling out the motor.
Another possibility is once the the car goes into closed loop operationand begins reading the O2 sensor, it may cause a problem with fuel delivery if the O2 sensor is bad. During warm up the car runs open loop without the o2 sensor which would be why you do not se the probelm until it is warm.
Checking the plugs may tell you if it is a fueling problem, but will not rule out any of the above as they all will present themselves as rich conditions.
I have installed quiet a few iterations of GM's EFI on many different cars and customs. It takes a good bit of sluething, patience, and a couple key tools to track down problems on the OBD1 systems.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post