Ok, here's the problem. For the past week or so my car has been giving me problems when trying to start it. It would usually take a few times of just cranking until it would finally start, then after warming up it would run just fine. It wouldn't do this every time but on a regular occasion. Yesterday when I went to start the car to go to work it would start up forever, then when it finally did it just flatlined within 30 sec. There was no hesitation or missing, it just went dead and i watched the tach drop. Couldn't save it with the throttle and after this the car wouldn't start again. I checked all of the connections that I could and then thought that it might be my fuel cut-off switch because this had seemed to help with the starting problem up until now. I thought that maybe one of the connections was bad so I started checking them and then tightened the screws for the switch. I thought this made a difference because the car started but now I think that this was just because the car was sitting for a few minutes. It seems to start after a couple of minutes each time but then just dies, even when I had it pegged at 5000rpm it just shut off. I got it to start maybe 4-5 times yesterday and each time it just died, the last time it was idling fine so I waited for it and sure enough it went dead. This morning I went out and the car started right up on the first try and started to warm up but shut off within a minute or less. I have checked all of the connections that I can think of even the wiring under the dash for the fuel cut-off switch and nothing seems to be making a difference. Wondering if it might be the ECU or the coil packs because it starts but won't stay running for more than a minute. Just let me know what you guys think, I really need to get the car running seing as how it is my daily transportation! Thanks, Simon

 

check timing (cas might have gotten loose)... check compression... check wires/plugs... check for vacuum leaks

 

Timing will be a challenge because as I said the car shuts off after about 15-30sec. if it even starts at all. Have checked the plugs and wires and vacuum lines, seem fine. Seems like something electrical like a sensoe because of the fact that it will run fine and hold idle but then just die.

 

Sounds like the MAF is unplugged or stuck. If it is an 86-88 there is a swinging door under the aircleaner and mine was sticking. It automatically shuts the fuel pump down if it is not opening properly.