armygreen87

my IROC is stressing me out!! its a 305 tpi manual transmission believed to have a cam.... its running rich and the idle is very unsteady and even drops down below 500 RPMs and almost dies. It died on me once while i was cruising in neutral. the service engine light rarely comes on, but I check the codes anyway. Here's what I have replaced since I've had this problem:

Oxygen Sensor
MAF (twice)
MAF sensor power relay
MAF sensor burn-off relay
Fuel pump relay
Ignition coil
a couple of some small dry-rotted hoses

I put in a new IAC, and it didn't help any, so I gave it back to the store and put my old one back in. I've reset my computer a couple times since these parts have been replaced, didn't help. I even messed around with the distributor timing. when i set it low, it idled a lil more steady but when i shut the car off and cranked her back up, it about died. does anyone have any suggestions or know what my problem could be? thanks in advance.

MP81

Check your fuel pressure.

armygreen87

code 33 went away and i now have a code 45. musta happened after I replaced that last hose. I just checked the code today and the car seems to be running slightly worse than it was and more rich. I had the ECM replace a couple months ago and sense i've already had the o2 sensor replaced, maybe it is fuel pressure. here's a question: While the car is idling and you are standing to the rear of the car, are you supposed to be able to hear to the fuel pump "buzzing?" i could hear it pretty easily without having to try so hard to listen. maybe thats a sign of too high fuel pressure? if so, how do i go about checking the pressure AND fixing it?

quickbrad

My friend was having the same problem and tried everything that you have tried. Turns out he had 2 bad spark plugs, he changed his plugs and it made a huge difference. Sometimes its not as big a problem as you think. hope this helps

armygreen87

I replaced the MAF sensor for a third time. Then, I replaced 3 more relays/sensors that I wasn't sure went to, but what the hell, won't hurt. Then I reset the computer....ran a lil better for about 30 minutes (didn't fix the problem tho) and suddenly its running as bad as it was... I haven't checked the fuel pressure yet...don't have that type of equipment right now, i think I might have a leak, but i didn't think it would cause the car to run this bad. I was wondering why my engine was sounding like crap, its gotta be spark plugs...cant believe i didnt think of that, lol. Does anyone know how to test them? I got a digital reader and a test light...which wires to I use with the reader and what should my reading be? or should I just poke around with the short-testing light? thanks!

r62mcmahon

you can buy a fuel pressure guage pretty cheap from an auto parts store. on the passenger side fuel rail toward the back there is a shradder valve (it may have a green cap on it). the fuel pressure guage screws right on to it. start the car it read the guage.