Re: Stuttering and dying

[biggm]

Helo, I have a similar problem that cropped up like many others have in similar ways. My van has a security system that is not working right first of all. It has the little idiot light that blinks showing it is on and off. I tried to start it one day and the engine would not fire up on my 87 vandura 305. I flipped the little toggle switch and it fired up after I hit the little button next to it. So far this was all that went on. The check engine light came on showing the oxygen sensor needed help. I fixed that. Now, the starting problems were happening again intermittently . No fix yet. Now, the check engine light comes on and the engine dies out completely leaving me in the middle of the interstate in traffic nearly getting killed because of some dumb nut not knowing how to help someone out for nothing. I am really dumb on this one. I spray starting fluid in the TBI because it would not fire up while cranking out on the interstate. It starts up. I take off and when it shifts into second gear it dies out again over an over this happens and then it quits and drives of for about another two hours and starts doing the same thing again. I don't want to get my family killed because of this GMC that is doing things that I cannot afford to get help to fix. I just don't have the money for experiments on my wallet. I need to know exactly what it is when I install the first and only component. Any idea?

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF. Sounds like you have spark or the starting fluid would not have worked, there is no online quick answer for this, the fuel pressure or pump operation should be checked when it won't start as well as spark of course, these are basic steps for your described problem.

[biggm]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Welcome to AF. Sounds like you have spark or the starting fluid would not have worked, there is no online quick answer for this, the fuel pressure or pump operation should be checked when it won't start as well as spark of course, these are basic steps for your described problem.

I agree with this. When I do shoot some fluid into the TBI it will start but not so fast. It seems to kinda string out and then kinda backfire some before it hits along with me having to push down on the accelerator before it will actually idle or it will not just run by itself after shooting the fluid. It seems that something is also wrong with the air ratio also due to having to open the accelerator some. I am going to test the fuel pressure. What bothers me is that it happens only when the engine light pops on at the exact moment. I wonder if it the ignition fails temporarily or the fuel shuts off and the light comes on at the same time. I checked the code once before and it showed the MAF sensor but now the codes do not show at all. biggm