Headache

Stopped at Shell to get some gas. I was near empty. Dropped in $15. Didn't even get more than 20 feet from the pump before the car died. I immediately suspected bad gas. Got some gas from a different pump and put it into my jerry can. Trickled that slowly into my TBI and the car ran fine. Figured it was water that was contaminating it, so I dropped in 2 gas-line antifreeze bottles. That didn't fix it. Tried to siphon the gas out and the only thing I got was a wicked headache. Tried diluting the gas with premium, no good either.

I'm just going to drain the tank and start over. There has got to be a better way of emptying my FULL!!! gas tank, than disconnecting the fuel line and turning the car over.

Any suggestions?

PS: On a good note my brother bought a Fiero today!! 86GT 4 spd. The 2.8L is SO much nicer than my 2.5L. I've told him tones about WCF so I'm sure he'll get involved here too.

So I shouldn't drain the gas?

Sorry, I really should have added that the car does run. But after a night of sitting and water sinks to the bottom she's hard to start. Once it swishes around a bit she'll run ok until I drive in a flat spot for a while or stop moving then I'll have no throttle response and the "check engine" light will come on. I put in the clutch and give it some revs and she gets through it. As soon as I get through a "bad spot" of gas the "check engine light" goes off and it drives fine until 2500+ rpm where it become gutless and boggs. This happens about 4x a mile and at every stop light/sign.

Again, if I disconnect the TBI and slowly drip different gas into it, she runs perfectly.

Fuses are good, filter is good, I'm sure it's bad gas.

Thus, what's the easiest way to get the gas out of my tank? This is driving me crazy as I'm out of a mode of transportation and $30 gas.

Ok... I have

1. Dropped the fuel
2. Replaced the main fuel filter
3. Taken out spark plugs and cleaned them, although they are 2 months old they look like antiques now
4. Fuses are good

It now runs better but still not 100%

Is there more than one fuel filter? (2.5L) Other than buying new plugs is there anything else I could check?


Edited by Matt

I'll try to pull the codes. I haven't had time to do it.

I took the car out on the highway today and it does fine, though it does seem to like the revs. I have to keep the rpm's up to keep the car running but she went to 140+ on the freeway. As soon as the rpm's are lower the car "bogs" and it has absolutely zero power after 3000 rpm. Normally the car takes off after 2500 as if it's hitting a powerband. And if it dies, she isn't starting again unless I pour some gas into the intake, then it fires and keeps running.

The plugs are NGK V something. I picked them up at CT. They look fouled, burnt brown and caked deposits. My air cleaner is now also very brown and the grill is almost rusted. It was new 2 weeks ago. The insurance runs out tomorrow. So I'll just keep it off the road and use the money for insuring it to do some maintenance. I'll put it back on the road in the fall.

As soon as I get a chance I'll pull the new filter and check it, replace the plugs and check my lines, inspect TBI for debris.

I'd like to...

1. Figure out the engine problems and fix them.
2. Replace all mounts, upper dog-bone and lower engine mounts
3. Inspect CV's and possibly replace
4. Swap out Trans-axel fluid for GM Syncromesh or Mobile1 5W-30 SAE
5. Bleed clutch and FINALLY set it up properly
6. Maybe new wires, intake and Holley TBI
7. Re-tighted Emergency brake
8. New brake pads

9. 2.8L or 3800 Conversion kit w/ Getrag, lowering kit, upgraded shocks, steering, brakes, etc, etc... lol

PS: Off topic, anyone ever heard of a Holley Commander? I found one and an intake that were "custom" designed for a 2M4, real cheap too.  $100

Ok, as soon as I get get down to Langley I'll buy one.  Hope my engines not screwed. Bloody Shell gas, this all started with you!