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Topic: hard time idleing and won't accelerate with out pumpin on the petal (Read 677 times) previous topic - next topic

hard time idleing and won't accelerate with out pumpin on the petal

This is my first post on this forum and this is my first ford ever...
I am a GM guy every car I ever owned was a GM. Infact My current project car is a 69 RS Camaro.. :burnout:  Well I got a DUI and ending up getting rid of my Seirra and my Grand Prix cuz i lost my license for a long long time.. :punchballs: Some how or another the other day I was given a 1988 T-Bird with a 3.8l V6 To fix up as a daily driver so i wouldn't have to drive my camaro when i get my license back. well who would have thought that it would have to be broken when i got it. :mad:

like i said its a 3.8l and when i start it the idle is very unstable and when i give it gas it falls on its face and boggs down. If i would tap and pump on the petal the car would gain RPM. I've seen this before and it ended up being a bad fuel pump on my grand prix. The T-birds check engine light isn't on when the car is running. I checked the air filter, the map sensor, the egr is decent, the vac lines are in good shape, and the Iac is working. the car was given a tune up very recently. more than likely my next move is to replace the fuel pump, but i just though i would search the forum and then ask you guys if you have any thoughts of the problem. before i do this. If you are unclear with whats the car is doing. i could always make a video and put it on youtube to show ya..

thanks for you help

Bill,

hard time idleing and won't accelerate with out pumpin on the petal

Reply #1 –
Pull the codes from the computer..they don't always turn the check engine light ON.
1988 Thunderbird
306 HO w/ A9P processor
AOD w/ Transgo Reprogrammer
Full Digital Dash w/ twin Cyberdyne A-pillar gauges 
245/50/16 Tires on Snowflakes
Engine swap - CA smog compliant

hard time idleing and won't accelerate with out pumpin on the petal

Reply #2 –
It could be the F/P, clogged injectors or maybe the MAP sensor, TPS etc... Testing fuel pressure would verify or rule out the pump... I'd recomend scanning it for codes first...

hard time idleing and won't accelerate with out pumpin on the petal

Reply #3 –
welcome to the board.

Click on my diy link below and it will lead you to a thread with tons of info on the details of your car.
Pulling codes requires a very expensive code reader,,,,,,,ie-paper clip.
I employ a 12v buzzer instead of the recommended test light option so i can hear the codes instead of looking and writting codes.  The buzzer came from radio shack, i think it was about a dollar.

click on the EVTM sticky in electrical tech and there is also a full blown set of wiring diagrams.