I have a 1988 Chevy pickup - the small one made in Japan. It has low mileage - 20,000 - has been garaged and care for. I have never had a problem with until this spring/summer. First sign of trouble was the engine was racing while idling and even when you pumped the gas you could not get it to readjust. Then that went away and the exact opposite problem has taken over. The truck at first was hard to start - felt like it was not getting any gas - now it has evolved to never starting when it has been sitting for any time. You have to take the air filter cover off and squirt gas or the starter-stuff and replace cover and then it starts up. Once it is warm it usually stays running okay and will start up without the spray.

So far the mechanic has changed a fuel sensor, fuel pump and temperature sensor. I need this truck to move so am asking anyone out there if they have any ideas. My mechanic is running out of ideas.

Thank you

 

Throttle position sensor maybe?

 

Well, we tried the throttle position sensor and for the first time in a long time we can get it to start up but only sometimes. Yesterday I was able to start it up and actually USE it! But today, I could not get it to start without spraying whatever it is into the air filter. It starts with that but it stops shortly after. It just isn't getting any gas. You can't smell gas, nothing. This is very frustrating to say the least! Any more ideas would be great!

Thank you,
Mary

 

Have you used an injection cleaner in it?
Changed the fuel filter?
It sounds like the fuel systemis clogged up.

 

I am pretty sure that has been done, but I will check. Today, after a lot of spraying ether into the air filter, I was able to get it going. What I learned today, is if I do get it going not to press on the gas pedal, but to just let it sit and idle and warm up. Once it was warm today, I had no problem using it. Even dared to turn it off and it started back up after sitting for about an hour. So the saga continues...