Beretta.net

Hi all,
I am new today on this board Hope someone can help.
Here is the story, sorry if it is long but I want to explain it good: We bought a 88 GT 2.8l that has been sitting for awhile(5yrs or so). We drove it about 40 miles the night we got it and it ran crappy but made it. When my girlfriend went to work, it died on the way and would not restart. Cranks fine. New battery. If you let it sit for awhile it will restart. Ok, I checked for codes, 42 and 45 i think, O2 rich and ignition timing bypass?
Checked coils, one was opened on the secondary, replaced it. Ran better same prob. Read all about ig modules going bad, replaced it. Runs MUCH better, same prob. Replaced plugs and wires. Runs GREAT but still dies. Cleared ECU and only code 12. The o2 sensor wires are frayed and I will replace it but here is the wierd part. We figured it might be a thermal problem. It dies when warm...right? So last night it did it again, went to get it later, started right up drove 10 blocks...died. No restart. Waited over an hour and talked trying to figure out whats wrong. Contrary to the thermal issue, last Sunday we let it warm up (1/2hr)to force it to die. It ran BEAUTIFULL for over 1 hour driving it. SO, I said screw it, lets let it warm up.....made it home great!!!!! So it seems to run when you warm it up but if you dont it dies and you need to let it sit. I have a fuel filter to change tonight and change the oil/filter. Oil looks good but will change tonight.

Oh yea, the check engine light does not come on now on the bulb test OR when I try to get codes. It did work fine. I dont want to go spending more replacing sensors or the ECU like a mad man hehe. (been there

Other things just in case: Muffler rusted out...died on the way to get new one  Fuel pump works, fuel spews from valve at fuel rail if you press, have not checked pressure yet. The engine has been replaced before. The oil pressure sender(the one buy the coils) is a little oily inside the connector, I cleaned it good and the gauge works but sometimes shows low. If this matters, not sure if it was me or not but it seems the small hose to the charcoal canister keeps popping off???

I heard if I move my RX-7 and dont let it warm up if might flood and you are pulling plugs to clear it out...anything like that??? some kind of vapor lock??? (although Beretta's are not rotary's

I'm no mechanic but from what I hear, the o2 if bad would not do this right? Original GM service manual on the way from ebay...have chiltons...hmph not very descriptive on anything.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated...getting tired of pushing the damn thing.
Hope someone can help, it runs great and will be better with exhaust for a $600 car! Power everything and everything works...well almost  lol. Again,Sorry for the long post but want to give as much info as possible. If you need more, please let me know.

Thanks VERY MUCH in advance,
Kalman

Sounds like a fuel pump to me.

Thanks for the reply, why would the pump work when warm and not when cold? I am not questioning this...just curiouse. I dont doubt it would be it, it did sit for quite a while.

Thanks again

see if any feul comes out of that valve when you cant start it.  As far as no codes at all, you could have a fuse to the ecm that is bad, and it could have been blown by the oil on the oil pressure sending unit's connector.  I have been there and done that before, but it would cut off the fuel if that were the case (or atleast that's what mine did).  All else fails, crank position sensor could be going out.

To be honest I would chek the fuel pressure when the car is warm and dies, you could have a bad fuel pump, relays, but most likely it is an ECM. after time they get hot spots in them and once warm they die intermittently.

Hi,
But it works fine when I let idle for like 1/2 hour to warm it up and it drives fine. It's when I start it up cold and go that it dies in a few blocks.
Wierd problem, I will try a few more things and then I'm afraid it's going to a GM place or something. ACK!!!
Thanks everyone for your help!

Crank position sensor it was!!! I measured its resistance when it ran and then when it just died on me I measured it again and it was open. Next morning, it was back to a good reading. Damn thing was so brittle...it burst into pieces when I tryed to pry it out. It would not come out, it rotated but was seized in there by the o-ring. Heheh, I had to drill the damn thing out and the rest of it fell into the oil pan. Had to pull the oil pan and clean it out. What a PITA! Oh well, after doing that and having a power steering hose MADE because no one had one(?)...it works ok now. Time for an exhaust and then figure out why its hesitating a little. More sensors probably I guess thats what you get for a car that sat for 5+ years Oh well, $600 and its in ok shape (everything works).

Thanks to everyone for there help!!!

Glad to hear you figured out the problem.