I was driving my car back to my home from my dad’s house and I idled at a stop sign and it died after resting at 1100 rpm, dropping to 600 and then dying, I started it again but it immediately died. The third start I pressed the gas on turn and the car started. I immediately shifted into drive and drove up a hill, heard a bang and drove it into the yard where it died again once stopping. I’m thinking it’s a bad ground because it did rain today and I didn’t have the battery covered and we recently installed a new battery but I’m a young and dumb 19yr old so advice is appreciated.
------------------ Finn Craigg -------------------- Proud owner of Starr, an original 84. Year: 84 | Color:White Engine:Iron Duke | Model: SE?
The battery being uncovered would not cause a "bang". Was it a "back fire" from the exhaust ? I think that would indicate timing. Which should not have changed unless you did some specific engine work.
The battery being uncovered would not cause a "bang". Was it a "back fire" from the exhaust ? I think that would indicate timing. Which should not have changed unless you did some specific engine work.
I forgot to mention this about the bang I heard because it sounded less like a gun or a bang, but more like something dropping or hitting on metal. I was taking a right on a hill and I have worn suspension and hope that noise could have been it.
[This message has been edited by F Craigg (edited 04-02-2025).]
I don’t know exactly how ‘new’ you are to fieros but I’ll give you the warning anyway. Be very careful when selecting a shop to service your fiero! A lot of shops these days have young kids working on cars who’ve never even seen a mid engine car before. As such, they may not pay enough attention when lifting your vehicle. This is a problem because where virtually every other car has safe lift points on the frame, your fiero has delicate coolant pipes that WILL be crushed if put under stress. Look around and you’ll find plenty of horror stories about this exact thing happening to fiero owners. Before you take your fiero anywhere to be serviced, take time and date stamped pictures of your uncrushed coolant pipes to prove that they were fine before being taken to the shop. Additionally print out two copies of the lifting point diagram:
Give one to the technician that will be servicing your vehicle (if not possible, leave it with whoever you talk to when you bring the car in, and STRESS the importance of proper lifting to them) and then leave the other one in the passenger seat of the car where hopefully someone will stumble upon it before trying to lift it. (This is someone else from the forums idea not my own, regrettably I don't remember who to give proper credit to.)
EDIT: Oh! I didn't know who your pops was. I haven't been here long myself but he seems like a true and trusted veteran around here. I'm sure you're in good hands regarding any of this.
[This message has been edited by Doggo (edited 04-02-2025).]
Pull codes to see if any are there. Could save you a bunch of time and frustration! Pulling codes is easy....Use the search button or you tube for how to do it.
To simplify most failures to start and run are caused by lack of fuel or spark. If the engine only dies when you stop then I would suspect the torque converter clutch solenoid is bad so just follow jonrev's suggestion to check that. Also remember that you are driving a 40 year old vehicle and as a daily driver reliability should not be counted on . .
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
ignition module: I have seen this very thing, no spark loads up on gas then BANG week or short coil: had a coil that would get hot and do the same thing intermittent spark, load up on gas BANG Could be ground, those are not too hard to check.
ignition module: I have seen this very thing, no spark loads up on gas then BANG week or short coil: had a coil that would get hot and do the same thing intermittent spark, load up on gas BANG
Is there any way you could go into further detail, I just have had 1 bang at a turn and it starts either with pressing gas or after sitting for a day or two I believe.
------------------ Finn Craigg -------------------- Proud owner of Starr, an original 84. Year: 84 | Color:White Engine:Iron Duke | Model: SE?
The ignition module is the black module inside the distributor. These go bad due to heat soak. There are a lot of threads on here. I am not aware of a test. They are not hard to replace as long as you can find one.
What I was experiencing is heat soak. As the car would get hot the parts expand in the coil and cause a short. This results in weak or no spark. Let the car sit for a day and cool off and it runs better until you heat up again.
If you cant find them local https://www.fierostore.com/ the Fiero store has the parts to fix your ignition. And wow has the price of the ignition module really gone up that much?
I have owned 12 of these little cars and 1/3 of them have suffered from the ignition module issue. Only one had the issue with the coil and in all cases it caused banging and the car wouldn't stay running. Watch your tach and see if its jumping all over the place or going to zero when it happens.
