88 K5 sputters and Check engine light on/off

[lord_glum]

Coming home from the hardeware store today and she started sputtering. The check engine light flickered for about 10 seconds and she lost most of the power in the engine. I smelled gas a bit. I am thinking checking fuel pump and relay. Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[Fordum]

If you are smelling gas, its probably not the fuel pump. If the fuel pump quits pumping, you are not likely to smell gas.
I would check power connections and ground connections. The check engine light going on and off would seem to point to an intermittent condition, and maybe the computer not getting good power.

The gas smell might be bad ignition causing the engine to flood.

And, of course, check the fuel lines something might have come loose starving the engine for gas.

Plus, try to retrieve any codes that were set.

 

[k20]

This is the reason Im glad Im rid of my tbi system. Anyway, from my experiences the first thing I would check would be ignition module (autozone/advance auto/etc) should be able to test your old one. Since you say you smelled gas I would bet that its an ignition problem not a fuel related one.

2 odd issues that I had or have dealt with are the temperature sensor in the manifold went bad on mine and would starve the engine for fuel (it was stuck reading 210* so it leaned it out) yours could be stuck at 50* and dumping in too much. The other oddity was on my buddies k5, his oil pressure sender (the multi wire one, not the single wire) went bad and it would dump a TON of fuel into his and caused all kinds of issues.

 

[euzoa]

Was it wet out? If so could be cap or wires

 

[lord_glum]

Nope it was dry outside.

I will check the ignition module ground and the 3 wire sender. My oil pressure gauge sender is new.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[dremu]

I'd also see if you can get a code out of it -- I don't think the TBI system retains multiple codes the way ODBII, etc do, but it should at least know what it was huffy about.

Google it -- I think all you need is a paperclip or wire jumper, pretty simple.

-- A

 

[lord_glum]

Error Code 43 Electronic spark

I have error code 43. I am now busy playing w/the knock sensor.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[smier]

You probably already know this...

Trouble Code 43 indicates that there may be a malfunction in the Electronic Spark Control (ESC) circuit.

ESC is used to sense spark knock (pinging) and retard the timing to eliminate it. A knock sensor (located at the rear of the engine block) sends signals to an ESC module which then signals the ECM that knocking is being detected. The ECM will retard the timing by as much as 20 degrees in 1 degree increments. A loss of knock sensor signal or loss of ground at the ESC module will cause the signal at the ECM to remain high. The ECM will act as if no knock is present, and may possibly result in engine damage, if there is detonation.

Loss of the ESC signal to the ECM will cause the ECM to constantly retard the timing to its maximum. This results in sluggish performance and a Code 43.
The conditions for setting this code are:

Engine is running
ESC input signal has been low more than 2.23 seconds

Typical causes for this code include:

1) Open or shorted knock sensor
2) Loose knock sensor
3) Excessive mechanical noise within engine
4) Improper or incorrectly installed PROM or CALPACK in the ECM or defective ECM
5) Intermittent open in the EST line to the ignition module

 

[lord_glum]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to trace the Knock sensor out tonight.

Is the ESC the bit on the distributor or is there another module I need to check ground on?

My cutout was all or nothing. It either ran fine or sputtered heavily.

Thanks,
Jeremy