alright....so, here's the latest. I replaced the module, not the distributor, then, while out of town, a buddy threw in a new fuel pump and filter just cause we thought that have been the issue all along cause the old pump DIED while he had the car. guess what...NOT the problem did it again. although, it's gotten different. now, once it starts it won't STAY running. left me stranded for 2 hours. when slowing to a stop now, once it idles down, it dies. even when just decelerating. if you are on the gas heavy..stays running. seemed to spit plenty of fuel at the rails so I didn't think it would be the issue. maybe so but I have no gauge to check actual pressure. Any ideas? this is my DD and I only have a couple days to figure it out. a friend told me it was the distributor itself and that there are two wires in there that once hot cause issues. but, that's an expensive guess. thanks in advance for your help.

 

go buy a fuel pressure gauge

 

ok, so if the pressure is low...fuel pressure reg? or are there other components that can contribute to it? and if the pressure was normal....then where would I look? Also..where should the pressure be? 20 ish or more? I heard that somewhere. thanks

 

Fuel pressure at idle with vac reference should be ~32psi +/- 2psi
fuel pressure, at idle with no vac reference on the FPR should be ~39psi +/- 3psi

 

Ok it finally shut off. When it started to lose power, the pressure dropped slowly. and the gauge had started bouncing a bit just before it started starting to sputter. Does that necessarily mean pressure reg or no? It's got a new pump and filter. thanks

 

also...this is a VERY intermitten issue. it hadn't done it for over a week until yesterday. then has done it on every start up since...until now. I've had it running for over 15 min now and it's running fine. but, I'm sure it will die soon. any advice would be awesome guys. I'm lost. the tfi module, fuel pump, and fuel filter have all been changed. thanks for the input btw adder.

 

I dont think I recall telling you to ut a new fuel pump in the car... but the fact that your fuel pressure begind to die off when the car is giving out wold lead me to believe that your PIP module inside the distributor is shot.

 

lol, you didn't. my old one started whining and died. ok..I'm a newb..but, what exactly is the pip module? is there a way to check it at all? and is there an explanation for why staying on the gas would let it stay running and letting the rpms die down would let it die if it is the pip?

 

staying on the gas increases engine RPM's and increases the likelyhood that the PIP will detect the turning of the engine... thus telling the ECM that the car is still running... thus keeping the fuel pump energized.

PIP module is the Profile Ignition Pickup, and its mounted inside the distributor. If you look at the top of the forum, or in the tech articles, you will see a thread I created about how to disassemble your distributor.

 

alright. thanks adder for all your help. I'm going to just throw a new distributor in tomorrow and see what happens there.