Car stalled out w/ code 42

[zeeman]

Well be sure to let us know what it is. I hate mysteries.

[MeenZ28]

Can someone tell me what your fuel pressure does at start? You turn the key to on, the pump comes on and pressurizes the system for a few seconds. When the pump turns off, the pressure is suposed to hold right? For how long?
[MENTION=1993]Darren[/MENTION] [MENTION=3917]NullHead[/MENTION] [MENTION=3564]hoogiesngrinderz[/MENTION]

[Darren]

I can tell you what mine is. But remember I converted to carb and mechanical fuel pump. So I think mine won't be any help to you.


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[NullHead]

If I recall, mine sets at 0 until I key on, then it shoots to 50PSI during prime, then drops to maybe 45 psi and holds for a bit and slowly drains down.

[MP81]

If I recall, mine sets at 0 until I key on, then it shoots to 50PSI during prime, then drops to maybe 45 psi and holds for a bit and slowly drains down.

I think the prime amount is 46psi, normally - but that behavior is what it is supposed to do.

When my fuel pump went on my IROC, it would prime to 3 psi, then immediately drop to zero. Took forever to start sometimes...but when it started, it ran fine. Didn't miss or anything.

[NullHead]

I was gonna say, even if it isn't behaving properly, the car starts right up no problem lol

[MP81]

Mine could take upwards of a minute of solid cranking with your foot to the floor before it would eventually sputter to life - but when it was running, you'd never know.

When I changed the fuel filter, the gas that came out was silver. Safe to say the pump had eaten itself.

[MeenZ28]

I ask because the guy i took it too says the pump primes the system fine but once the pump turns off the pressure drops immidiatly to zero. He's not sure if that's normal and might be thinking that's the issue like a leak in the fuel line somewhere or an internal leak with the pump or check valve...

[NullHead]

If it runs on starting fluid, sure I could see that. If it doesn't run on starting fluid id look elsewhere. Fuel pressure that doesn't hold its prime is one thing, but cranking for infinity and not starting is another

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[DynoDave]

If it runs on starting fluid, sure I could see that. If it doesn't run on starting fluid id look elsewhere.

I haven't posted ideas in here, because I really don't know this system, and would just be guessing.

But when I read that, it was a red flag for me too. Ether is extremely flammable. Even if the timing is off...even if you have near zero compression...if you have ether inside the cylinder, and add a spark, you should get SOME reaction.

[NullHead]

I seem to recall the car isn't in Michigan ... Kinda wish I could personally look at it. The guy that's looking at this for Meenz28 doesn't seem all that competent.

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[MeenZ28]

No, he isnt. Im losing more and more faith in him every day. Now hes thinkinh the new distributor might be the problem... But hasnt tested it or the timing yet. Says hes got a friend with a 90's corvette with a tpi that hes trying to get a hold of.... But hasnt for 3 days. If i dont have some kinda soild answer by monday im towing her back home.

[DanDalessandro]

A 90s corvette with a tpi? 92 was the first year of the ltjuan!

I say incompetent. We had my gramp's corvette ignition problem sorted out in a couple hours . Distributor leads needing some cleaning and some new plugs from all the starting and stopping from replacing those God forsaken vacuum hoses!

I honestly hope you figure it out. Your car is too nice now that it has air ride suspension to be sold.

[DynoDave]

This guy may or may not know his "stuff"...I don't know.

I'm sorry to say that, like a carb, finding a tech who actually turned wrenches on our cars when they were new, or has a lot of hands-on experience with TPI, is getting harder every day. 1990 was 25 years ago! Finding a guy whose been turning wrenches that long is rarer and rarer with each passing day. Some basics apply, but first gen. multi-port injection, OBD 1, and other TPI eccentricities make them a little different to work on Vs. new car.

My TBI setup ran though the mid-90s, so I face the same issues to a degree. A lot of folks don't understand what it is, or how it works. And the OBD 1 cars don't "talk to you" like a modern car will. Though TPI was just a Camaro/Firebird/Corvette thing, TBI was used in a few million more vehicles (trucks and B-bodies), so techs saw a lot more of them, for more years.

[MP81]

Did you check the compression - as hellish as the thought of doing such a thing in a third gen might be - something else that is good to know in these circumstances.

Yes it should prime to full, but then slowly drop. Mine only dropped to zero, because it only made it up to 3 psi instead of 46.

Did you check the coil (spark plug, plugged in, touching the block and see if it sparks)?