TBI not wanting to start.

[megolfer]

I just got done installing a tbi on my 350. It runs and idles great, but it wont start without putting gas down the tbi. Does anyone know what could be causing this. I am using a howell harness and computer. There is no fuel coming from the injectors when cranking. Any help would be great.

[fj40charles]

Do you have it grounded properly? Turning on the ignition should energize the TBI injectors.

[fj40charles]

From painless wiring's web site.. FAQ

I’ve just installed my fuel injection system and the engine turns over but it won’t start. What do I do?

Watch the "Check Engine" light. If it stays off, or goes off when the ignition is in the "start" position, the pink/black wire needs to be moved to another power source. This wire must be hot in the start and in the run position or the car may never start. We suggest using the coil feed circuit.

[fj40charles]

Meg,

From Howell's web site.

http://www.howellefi.com/shop/custom...s.php?pageid=6

Open up the TBI installation PDF file and look on page 3.

INSTALLATION
A high pressure (18-20 PSI) fuel pump is required to operate the TBI fuel system The TBI unit
has its own built in fuel pressure regulator that maintains a fuel pressure of approx. 12-13 PSI. GM
production vehicles use an in-the-tank electric pump that is reasonably priced, but difficult to install if
your tank isn’t made for it. Howell Engine Developments markets an externally mounted fuel pump for
TBI units that can be located in the fuel line between the tank and engine. You will need a hole in the
firewall large enough to pass the largest engine connector along with the harness, threading it through
from the passenger side of the firewall. (Approx 1.5-1.75 inches)
Mount the ECM, Fuse block, ALDL connector, and check engine light on the passenger side of
the firewall or dashboard as you choose. Make or buy a protective grommet to protect and seal the
harness where it passes through the firewall, or seal it with body putty.
In the engine compartment, you will need to mount the fuel pump relay, battery power, and fuel
pump fuse in convenient locations on the firewall or fenderwells. All other sensors are on the engine.
Connect the small brass ring terminal, that parallels the knock sensor connector wire, to a
terminal on the starter solenoid that has 12 volts only when the engine is cranking.
Connect the large ground terminal, to the back of the engine.
Connect all other sensor and injector lines.
Connect a 16 gauge wire directly from the battery positive terminal, or other full-time 12 Volt
connectors to the battery feed terminal on the harness. A Weather-Pack male terminal and female
connector is supplied to connect this line to the harness. This battery power feed is color coded orange
and is protected by its own 20 Amp fuse and weather proof fuse block.
Connect a 16 gauge wire from the harness to your electric fuel pump. A weather-pack connector
is supplied for this. This power feed from the harness is color coded red and also has its own weather
proof fuse block and 15 Amp fuse.
TBI Harness Page—3
Connect a 16 gauge wire from your ignition switch or vehicle fuse block to the power lead at the
3 fuse block close to the ECM.
THIS 12 VOLT LEAD MUST HAVE POWER DURING THE TIME THE ENGINE IS CRANKING~
so be sure that it does. This power feed must turn off when the ignition switch is off. Power for the ECM
and injectors comes from this connection, and they are protected by three 5 Amp fuses. A Weather-Pack
connector is also supplied for this power lead.
If you do not intend to use a light bulb already in your dash board, you will need to purchase (at
Radio Shack, or an automotive parts store) a suitable 12V bulb and socket for a “Check Engine” light.
This will be connected permanently to the wires marked as such near the ECM connectors.
The “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light should be mounted where it is visible to the
driver. It will come on whenever the ignition is turned on with the engine not running. It should remain on
while cranking, and it should go off when the engine starts. If it comes back on in a short time, it means
one of the sensors or systems is malfunctioning, and the ECM has stored a trouble code to tell you where
to look. The enclosed service pamphlet should help you locate any troubles. If not, any Chevrolet
mechanic with a current service manual should be able to troubleshoot it for you. Most of the original GM
wire color codes have been retained in this harness.
Under ECM control, the fuel pump will operate for 2 seconds when the ignition is turned on. It
will resume operating when you start to crank the engine, and continue running when the engine starts.
You will need a 12 or 14 gauge ignition wire to the ignition terminal on the coil. This should be a
full 12 volt with no resistor in series. The coil accepts a grey molded two pin connector that is a unique
design to fit GM coils. This connector is not a part of our EFI harness. It can be purchased separately
from GM or Howell Engine Developments if you cannot salvage one from the old vehicle TBI harness. It
should be spliced to the ignition lead already in your vehicle. Usually you can use the engine wiring
harness originally installed in your vehicle to power up the ignition and other standard sensors and
gauges, on your TBI engine.
It is necessary for you to retain the oxygen sensor in your system and run the engine on unleaded
fuel. The GM ECM is a “smart” computer, and as long as the battery feed is connected, it will improve its
driving calibration while operating “closed loop”. Normally the engine will go closed loop after the
oxygen sensor reaches 600 deg F. Whenever the battery power feed is disconnected, the computer will
lose its memory, and your vehicle will not drive as well for a while until the learned calibration is restored
by driving. The attached pamphlet tells you how to use the computer diagnostic system to find out if your
engine is going into closed loop operation.
With all of the above connections made, and 15 PSI of fuel pressure, your vehicle should start
right up, and smooth out as soon as the air is purged out of the injector nozzles. In case it doesn’t, our
service manual will help you trouble-shoot it.
TBJ Harness Page-4
In the event you are using a late model automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter,
you will not be able to control the lockup with the ECM. To do that requires a vehicle speed sensor and
brake light wiring. We market a lock-up kit of our own design to operate converter lockup in fourth gear
under light load conditions. This kit can be used with any 3 or 4 speed auto trans with lockup converter.
EMISSION CONTROL FUNCTION
Our testing indicates that your emission controls should operate correctly on your late model
engine. There are however, a number of non-engine components that are required for emission
compliance in different vehicles, and in different states. These include catalytic converters, air pumps and
AIR plumbing. In California you may have to present your EFI vehicle to a referee to determine its
emission compliance and legality to license.
Our harnesses are designed to accept a vehicle Speed Sensor signal if your emission compliance
requires it. A vehicle speed sensor also requires a functioning Park neutral switch (for auto trans
calibration proms), or use of a manual transmission calibration prom. If you are required to install a VSS
and Park neutral switch, please call us at l-810-765-5100 for sources and further instructions.
A pamphlet explaining California’s unique engine swapping emission rules is available upon
request, by calling Howell Engine Developments.

[fj40charles]

If you still can't figure it out.. call Georg...

[orangefj45]

F that, call charles 972-900-926$!


i think you'll be ok if you double check everything charles suggested.

[megolfer]

The check engine light is not on. I have it gropunded properly. I am thing thia I have bad injectors. Are the injectors suppose to spray fuel when cranking. Sometimes they will sparay and sometimes they wont. Also there is two wires going to the injectors. What does each one of the wires do and what volts are they suppose to be running.

I have went over the howell instruction book ten times and nothing. I will call them tomorrow if I cant figure it out.

[fj40charles]

Originally Posted by orangefj45

F that, call charles 972-900-926$!


i think you'll be ok if you double check everything charles suggested.

If you call my 900 number, you'll be billed $10.00 per minute for tech support you can't understand unless you have a heavy chinese accent..

[megolfer]

Also when the engine is running, there is a squel coming from one or both of the injectors.

[fj40charles]

Originally Posted by megolfer

The check engine light is not on. I have it gropunded properly. I am thing thia I have bad injectors. Are the injectors suppose to spray fuel when cranking. Sometimes they will sparay and sometimes they wont. Also there is two wires going to the injectors. What does each one of the wires do and what volts are they suppose to be running.

I have went over the howell instruction book ten times and nothing. I will call them tomorrow if I cant figure it out.

Don't think it is the injectors since it will idle once you get it started. What kind of a fuel pump are you using? Do you have 14-15 PSI?

[megolfer]

Im using the howell inline pump. I have not checked that yet. Wanted to see if there was anything else to check before I put a guage in. I know the pump is pumping, just not sure if it has the pressure. When I give it throttle it does not hesitate at all.

[fj40charles]

Meg,

It does not sound a fuel pump problem.

From this link.. http://www.4x4xplor.com/TBI-2.html

Troubleshooting Tips The number one reason why your engine won't start after installing the Howell TBI is that the 12V source you chose to power your ECM is incorrect. The ECM power wire needs to have an un-interrupted 12V supply when the key is in the ON position and while cranking. If the ECM light turns off when cranking the engine, you have picked an accessories lead. The ECM light should not turn off while cranking the engine.

If you cannot locate a 12V power source, you may want to consider hooking up a direct lead to the battery with a toggle switch in between.

The Howell TBI instructions come with all the other troubleshooting information you might encounter.

[megolfer]

I will check that right now. Thanks

[fj40charles]

When you turn the key to start the engine, do you get 12volts at the injectors?

This sounds like your problem. Look for "bonehead"

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/158372/

I mentioned that I had 12v at the big pink wire to the coil and I did. But NOT while the engine was cranking! The fuse block on this model is a little confusing. I had the 12v coil wire plugged into an accessory spot. When I switched to a place that gave 12v ALWAYS when the key was on it fired right up! I can't believe what a bonehead I am......

[megolfer]

You are the man charles. Thanks for your help that was the problem, I had it wired to the wrong wire. I could not find anything like this on the howell page or the book that came witht eh harness. It works great. Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it.

[fj40charles]

Originally Posted by megolfer

You are the man charles. Thanks for your help that was the problem, I had it wired to the wrong wire. I could not find anything like this on the howell page or the book that came witht eh harness. It works great. Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it.

You're welcome Meg. Georg could have figured it out faster.. All I did was search the internet using a chinese browser.

[TxCruzr]

Originally Posted by fj40charles

You're welcome Meg. Georg could have figured it out faster.. All I did was search the internet using a chinese browser.

ahhh I read the first post and thought I was going to be so smart and say that some acc. wires might be hot with the key on but as the motor is actually cranking, they are not. Kinda like when you start a truck and the radio turns off while cranking.
Thanks Charles, I was hoping to fill smart today.....chinese browser my ass

[fj40charles]

Originally Posted by TxCruzr

ahhh I read the first post and thought I was going to be so smart and say that some acc. wires might be hot with the key on but as the motor is actually cranking, they are not. Kinda like when you start a truck and the radio turns off while cranking.
Thanks Charles, I was hoping to fill smart today.....chinese browser my ass

Don't believe me Joseph? So you thought you were going to be smart???? Does that mean you're smart Aggie? Smart Aggie would be an oxymoron.. Hahahaha!!!!

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3349

[TxCruzr]

I believe they exist, trust me. I work for the computer information services here at A&M and I can insure you there are a few international students that pop in on occasion...
I just couldn't come up with anything better on such a short notice

[fj40charles]

Originally Posted by TxCruzr

I believe they exist, trust me. I work for the computer information services here at A&M and I can insure you there are a few international students that pop in on occasion...
I just couldn't come up with anything better on such a short notice

You should try the chinese browser extensions.. It works real well for lots of people.

[TxCruzr]

Originally Posted by fj40charles

You should try the chinese browser extensions.. It works real well for lots of people.

Right untill they try to get registered on the A&M network, then all hell breaks loose. I tend to work nights during that time of the year

Oh yeah, glad you got your cruiser running megolfer

[fj40charles]

Originally Posted by TxCruzr

Right untill they try to get registered on the A&M network, then all hell breaks loose. I tend to work nights during that time of the year

Oh yeah, glad you got your cruiser running megolfer

Do they really use it? I was making crap up.. I can't read chinese. All I know is.. all asians rook arike.

[TxCruzr]

Originally Posted by fj40charles

Do they really use it? I was making crap up.. I can't read chinese. All I know is.. all asians rook arike.

Ha! I knew it, you're an asian poser Quit a few do use the different plugins. You can actually get them for xp and they convert everything. I swear they do it just to jack with us sometimes