GSL-SE Problem
 

I've searched for this and because I'm not really sure I'm searching the correct way, I think it's best that I just put up a new thread. It's really several issues rolled into one I think.

I left work yesterday and while I was leaving, the car was very difficult to drive. It was sputtering and spitting for the first 100 yards or so as I pulled out of the parking deck. I warmed the car up for a solid 2 minutes before I pulled off. Once I had driven it those several yards, it cleared up and ran as normal. Within 3 miles on the interstate (the motor was at operating temperature before getting onto the interstate), the car had a moment. By a moment, I mean it just stopped all together at about 70 mph. I was driving along and the car acted as though it was no longer getting gas. This lasted for all of 2 seconds, but long enough to worry me. The gauges stayed the same and within 2 seconds, it was running again. It was the damnedest thing. It didn't happen anymore and didn't happen this morning either.

The temperature was high 80's yesterday, fuel pump was changed out about a month ago. Nothing I can think of might have caused this and it was brief, but it's enough to make me worry. What in the world could have caused that brief cessation of the motor?

For the record, when I'm driving, the first quarter of inch or so I give the car throttle, it is very jerky, warm or cold. It's been like this since I bought the car. RB exhaust, no air pump, plugs are good, wires are good, new fuel pump and filter... car runs well otherwise.

Anyone? Any suggestions at all? Though I posted it in the title, it's a 1985 GSL-SE, stock FI.

Maybe an igniter causing the pump to drop out? Maybe try switching the connectors and see if happens again.

Did you check the filter going into the fuel pump?
 

Did you check the filter going into the fuel pump? It's a little cone shaped filter that fits into the nipple on the inlet to the fuel pump or at least that's what I remember. My SE sat for a while and when I started driving it, one day, it would idle but wouldn't go anywhere which was not so good since I was about a mile from home.

It turns out that the little cone shaped filter was clogged so I cleaned it out. It lasted less than a day and when I took it off, it was inside the fuel line. In the end, I bought a filter that had the correct size lines from Kragen and put it before the fuel pump and since I used new fuel line, I never had to fish out the original filter.

So now it has a filter on the inlet (I also carry a spare) and the stock one on the output side.

Yes, I should have cleaned the tank and I still might.

Fuel tank was cleaned when I replaced the fuel pump and the tank is about 4 years old with just a couple of thousand miles on it. It was clean as a whistle when I dropped it.

Since I posted this, it hasn't happened anymore. I'm inclined to think it's electrical as the previous poster stated. So I should switch the wires?

i would look at the battery cables, and the throttle position sensor. the TPS will/can cause the stumbles/hesitations, very common.

the cutting out, is harder, but you start with the basics.

Good idea. I'll start with both of these. I have a TPS tool that the previous owner left for me in the glove box.

I had a problem with my FC that sounds almost identical to yours, I spent several hundred $$$ in replacing parts that weren't broke and it turned out the wire connector to the fuel injector was loose, no I'm serious! Cold my FC ran great, then when it warmed up I lost a rotor out of no where! It started small, a cough here and there, progressively getting worse and making the car undrivable. I knew it was a fuel problem, but it was in the last place I would look. Also check your fuel pressure, I made the mistake of assuming a new pump and filter immediately ruled out a fuel issue and it cost me cash and time in trouble shooting what ultimately was a clogged filter in my FB. I know you had your tank cleaned, but you may wanna check fuel psi anyways, I didn't see a new fuel pressure regulator on your list. You can rent a fuel psi tester from the parts store and jury rig it like a hood mounted tach and go for a drive and see what happens. Also it could be an obstructed or bad fuel injector, perhaps a can of seafoam or berryman B12 may be worth a try. Also you can buy 1 new fuel injector from the parts store and then rotate in with your current injectors to rule them out though the process of elimination. Orielly auto sells them new for $290 which is expensive, but you can return it after your done troubleshooting. A word of warning, this type of problem typically starts small and then get much worse, showing up more and more in frequency and severity.

Very good advice. I had this issue with my BMW motorcycle...bad injector that got progressively worse until I had a no start condition.

TPS is good and adjusted now. I'll do this and see if the injectors could use a cleaning or rebuilding. I'll contact the PO and ask him as well.