'89 in trouble. please help

[raybid13]

hey

bought an '89 firebird (305, throttle body V8). when i start her cold or hot, she fires straight up. if she runs, then stands for 20 minutes she takes forever to get started ( turns over fine, fires , splutters and dies)
also, i gotta be real gentle with the gas; if i stomp on the gas(98 percent of time), she kinda chokes and dies... have to kinda feed her slow(the other 2 percent, snapped my head back and accelerated great!!) . sometimes will be running fine, then dies at stoplights etc.

have replaced : air filter, plugs and wires, pcv filter, fuel filter.

this is the car i always wanted !! not doing what i wanted though...

please help

[86TATpi]

Does the service engine light turn on? How does it run at an idle?

[raybid13]

hey

the service engine soon lights up, usually after it's been running for 10 minutes or so, but will be off next time i start her up. engine idles at just under 1000 when i very first start up, but over the course of a 5 minute warm-up, will gradually drop back down to about 500.

[raybid13]

oh, forgot to mention, that when motor at warm ( rather than cold start or hot start), won't idle at all.

[Jaydee75]

I had that same problem. I have an '89 Trans Am.

Engine cold. it started right away. But engine warm, the ignition just rolled but didn't start, unless outside power to the battery was applied.

For my car, there was a definite power loss. I had two batteries one in the trunk, both connected. I disconnected the other. I also had a weird battery main-switch that cut off all power. I dismantled it too.. And after that it worked, and the problem never came up again. So I'd say you have a power loss somewhere, keep digging into the electrical systems....

More stories about my car are on my site http://www.shadowcast.tk

[3000GT_Formula_350]

Sounds like timing, probly over due for a timing belt, or the timing is just off...get that checked out.

[86TATpi]

How many miles are on it? Timing is controlled by the ECM on tbi cars. If you were to take it to autozone does it through a code? Otherwise a scan tool that you would find at a dealer, or through a company like MAC or Snap On would be able to pull up a fail record if it had a code. Some things to check would be the idle air control valve, MAP sensor, or TPS. Also, before checking any of that. Did the problem happen before the tune up?

[3000GT_Formula_350]

Originally Posted by 86TATpi

Timing is controlled by the ECM on tbi cars.

....well I guess that means it can't be off...sigh...nevermind.