Mean Street 30008 Started Once.
I've never used EFI before so I'm new territory. The engine is a 555ci Dart in a 74 Vette which has about 11in of vacuum at idle at 700 RPM. Fuel system is a 10 micron before and a 100 micron after a Holley 12-800 fuel pump. Supply and return lines are #6. Fuel pressure is at best 45 at 12" before the EFI unit. Setup was by the book with no issues. First attempt at starting the pump came on the shut off like it should but when is primes fuel spits out the top of the TB. It will try to start but as soon as the prime fuel is gone it just spins. After abut 10 tries it started and ran reasonable well but I was watching the temp gauge in the car climb to 195 and the handheld said it was at 150 and the fan didn't start I shut it off. I know the gauge in the car is correct because the original fan sending unit turned the fan on at 170 as it should. After I check the connections and set the fan start temp lower and tried to start it again but no luck. I remover the screens from the filters but the fuel pressure didn't improve. After a few more tries the starter gave up.
So after I find a new starter, how do I trouble shoot this? The fuel pressure seems low but it did start once and I don't think fuel spraying out of the TB all the way to the valve covers is normal.
You are a experiencing multiple unrelated issues here. No worries. All fixable.
Fuel system: 10 micron should be the 2nd filter in the system, not the first. You may have typed wrong.
Fuel Pressure: All Fitech units run at 58psi, except the 30003 400hp unit (43psi). Did you run the Orange wire directly to the pump. If so, what is your PWM set at.
Prime Shot: fuel bouncing off butterflies is sometimes an issue. Usually when the fuel pressure is way too high. Most disable the Prime shot and then add fuel to cranking fuel. Reduce the Prime Shot to -100 to disable.
Starting issue: Your white wire is not staying over 11v during crank, effectively turning the unit off. It starts off the Prime fuel and then the injectors don't fire. Sometimes you can get to stay running if you let go of key fast enough. Try testing by placing white wire directly to positive battery post.
Coolant temp sensor: CTS running cold is a common issue. Fitech offered a feature to calibrate the sensor, but most of us go buy a Delco sensor and call it good. Late 80s to early 90s GM coolant temp sensor.
I'll check the filters but be clear, the 100 should be before and the 10 after thee pump?
The orange wire is connected to the pump (no relay) with a ground wire from a ground block next to the battery
The PWN is set at 74.9
I'll try the direct connection from the white wire to the positive side of the battery when I get a starter. Now it's connected to the fuel pump wire from the fuse box (Painless kit) and I assumed it stayed under power (maybe not)
Any specific P/N for the temp sending unit?
And, by the way, thanks for your help.
Here is the the part number, GM 15326386.
GM number to cross to Delco.
Here's the update. Installed the filters in the correct order. Connected the switched power to a source that had power during cranking. Replaced the temp sending with the recommended one.
I hit the switch and she fired right up, came up to set temp and turned the fan on. Fuel pressure still reads about 40 but it pegs the 100 pound gauge at first.
At this point the car doesn't have a plate so I can't do a road test (soon)
First, I watched an FITech video on "youtube" and they said to disconnect the vacuum line on the diaphragm on the right side of the TB if your not running boost. It says nothing about that in the directions that came with unit and, as shipped, it is connected to a vacuum port. So should this be disconnected?
Second, the idle is varying between 600 and 800 RPM. Does the ECM need to learn by driving the car and that will correct the issue or is there a setting that needs to be tweaked? The fuel pressure holds steady.
Leave the vacuum line on. It helps keep pressure up during quick throttle changes.
What is your IAC steps when at temp? I like to see around 15.
Can you send a 30 second idle log at temp? You can post a Dropbox or Cloud link here. Sounds like you are on the right track.
Let me know if you need more than this.
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Not sure your cam setting, but I would recommend 2.
All is looking better. Need to bring the IAC steps down a little. I like around 15. Get those down and let it learn for awhile.
You may experience some starting issues and hesitation during acceleration. This is not an issue and tunable. Nothing to worry about in the beginning.
You will have to forgive me but you got to remember I a rookie at this and I don't know how to get the IAC Steps down. Maybe I should read some more. Is it a setting that is labeled in the programmer as that or another setting that will affect that. By the way, the cam choice is set on 2. I can get you the numbers on it if that will help.
Ian step setting is part of the instructions, but Bryce (head of tech at fitech) has his one and only tutorial video on setting the steps. Find it on YouTube