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Imminent Demise of TBI; Bad TBI causing intermittant start
Topic Started: Jun 24 2010, 04:03 PM (590 Views)
bfoley
Fresh Fish
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Hello; My 1998 Metro has been in and out of a repair shop twice now due to an intermittant start problem. After two days of tearing my poor car apart, I've been told by a mechanic that the TBI has gone bad and I need to replace it. This is a $1500 part and as a student way out of my price range. Are there any tricks, tips, alternatives that I can try to get my favorite vehicle working normally again? I'm keeping it since I can get it to start by pulling the fuel pump relay and a random assortment of harness connections [can't be good for my stereo], but I'm afraid it's going to permanently die at some point on a frozen stretch of interstate.

Anyway, I love this car - any help at all will be greatly appreciated.

- Brian
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JellyBeanDriver


The TBI has 3 passive electronic parts on it.

- throttle position sensor
- injector
- coolant sensor

All 3 can be replaced separately and for less than $1500.

I'd find a new mechanic.
Edited by JellyBeanDriver, Jun 24 2010, 04:13 PM.
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mwebb
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FOG

agreed with JBD
there is no way you justify paying $1500 for a throttle body injector ?

of course the description "TBI" is kinda vague

assuming you do have a bad injector , i think they are around $200 new , less in a salvage yard
but

i would have little confidence in that particular shop

this should be in "metro tech" imho
with a better description of symptoms ... do you have any test equipment ?
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

bfoley
Jun 24 2010, 04:03 PM
I'm keeping it since I can get it to start by pulling the fuel pump relay and a random assortment of harness connections [can't be good for my stereo], but I'm afraid it's going to permanently die at some point on a frozen stretch of interstate.
Welcome to the forum, bfoley! :coffee

It's common for grounds to rust on these cars and corrosion to build up in, say, a wet winter. Try cleaning all the connections on the TB, especially the 3 grounds that are a pain to get to under the TB near the starter (both ends of the wires. Click: How to pull a G10. Picture #27. Might try some electrical contact cleaner for the sockets, IAT and TPS for example and last resort would be to start replacing some wires as they do crack and are getting old. :shake

I appreciate the student perspective so sandpaper will work for contacts. I use a cheap Dremel clone ($10 Harbor Freight) with the wire brush to clean contacts. :) HF is in Missoula and Billings.
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slander
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Tech Certified

It's so rare I find a throttle body that's bad these days, I would just go to a wrecking yard and see what they want for an entire unit, and use it, and keep your original for spare parts if the need arise!
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