hesitation, and no start problems
 

ok guys so after 3 months my knees getting better and i'm almost capable of working on my car again... its an 89 trans am (305 tpi). I've been having these problems for months and I'm going crazy trying to figure it out..Ill start off with the no start problem. Randomly when i turn the key to start the car it won't even crank (all dash lights go on). If i let it sit a few minutes it will start up after a few tries.. when the car does crank, sometimes it will crank but wont turn over (starter got stuck on one day and im pretty sure the flywheel has some messed up teeth now)

Now for the hesitation.. the car hesitates and shakes pretty violently (throws me back and forth in the seat) when I give it very little gas (if I give it more gas when this happens it stops but the car feels like its holding back).. my dad thinks my MAF is dirty but wouldn't i throw a code if the MAF was acting funky?? He bought some MAF cleaner stuff from pepboys and I might try it out tonight for the hell of it..

Things I've allready done to the car:
•Seafoamed it
•new plugs
•msd wires on it that are only a year old
•new ignition switch
•new starter
•new injectors

It'd be greatly appreciated if you guys could help me figure this out.. i'm only 22 and don't have the cash to bring it to my mechanic to get it running right (medical bills are killer).. Hell, if someone wants to come here and help me diagnose the problem I'll pay them nicely (cash, beer, cash + beer, whatever you want) , ill even come to you

Fore the first problem I would clean all grounds. For the second it might just be a clogged fuel filter.

i wonder if the vats is messing up giving you a no start.

If it is intermittent when turning the key, I would have to wonder if the key cylinder was worn out or messed up a bit. Try putting the key in the run position and jumping the posts on the starter. If it fires right up, the issue is most likely with the key.


-Tim

ok, I'll try cleaning the grounds..forgot to mention that I replaced the fuel filter about a year ago..

I have already checked the vats system out and it is fine..

ok, ill try the thing with jumping the starter..

When you turn the key to "on" with the car off, do you hear the fuel pump prime? What does the fuel pressure look like?

for the hesitation and jerking thing, i'd definately clean the MAF i had the same hesitation and jerking issue and my car didnt throw any codes.

ok so with the key turned to the 'on' position i hear the fuel pump primes for a few seconds but it sounds different than im used to... it sounds a little choppy, like its cutting in and out?? pressure also reads '0' when the key it turned to the 'on' position..

also, i was driving the car a few nights ago and i got a SES light..got maroman to scan it and got code 44 (o2 sensor).. with the car idling his scanner also said the o2 was reading like 20 or 30 mVolts?? (he thought it was supposed to be alot higher like in the hundreds)


also, forgot i had a new ignition cylinder and key made for the car when i first got it about 3 years ago so i doubt its anything with that

Ignition switch on the column or neutral safety switch could be faulty, need to verify if power reaches the solenoid when turning the key to the start posiion first. Could also cause driveability issues if there is a resistive connection in the switch causing a voltage drop to critical systems (ECM, etc.). MAF burnoff relays used to have issues on the early TPI cars as well.

lol i keep forgetting stuff ive installed until someone mentions them.. new ignition switch on the column was put in within the last year.. how would i check the MAF burnoff??

scanned the car with maroman88's scanner and got a lean code i believe it was code 44..

sooo finally got around to fiddling with the car.. i ran the car with the MAF unplugged and it ran better than it has in a looooong time, no hesitating or stumbling ( i know the computer goes into a 'limp' mode with the MAF unplugged and is basically using speed density)

i then cleaned the MAF with some MAF cleaner, let it dry a few hours and hooked it up and the car was back to being a dooooog..

Where should i go now? im thinking its the MAF, since the car ran great with it unplugged.. but someone elso said the MAF burnoff could be causing the issue.. any kind of test i can do?
i'd hate to buy a MAF and that not be the problem since they are kinda pricey..

HAve you pulled the vaccume linne off the EGR valve and tried it?

no i haven't tried that..what would pulling the vacuum line off the EGR do (tell me if the EGR is stuck open/closed??)