90 EFI Festy won't run after VAF replacement

[TristanReveur]

I've got a 90 Festy 5-speed that had been sitting in a lot for a while, I've been getting it road-ready off and on for a few months now, new air and fuel filters, new plugs, cap and rotor are recent, new 02 sensor, oil change, new pcv. After all that, it would run but roughly and clearly very rich, the engine would bog down and die under load so just moving it around would require constantly over-reving the engine. I replaced the pcv and plugs again and that resulted in the engine running better but still far too rich. Now to the current issue: I just replaced the VAF, as the old one would stick, the door wouldn't open and close as it should. Now what's happening is that every time I start the engine, it revs to about 3k or so, then the rpms will drop steadily until it dies. I can hear the VAF door open and close with the hood open, so it's working better than the old one. Any ideas?

[SiliconSoul]

Any codes?

[TristanReveur]

No CEL except the usual instrument cluster light-up on ignition

[dalebwilson]

Measure the engine compression and report back. If the car has been sitting for a long time, drain the fuel and replace it. Lift up the back seat, remove the fuel pump and replace the fuel sock at pump. Is the VAF new? Just because the door moves does not ensure it is working properly. Also make sure there are no air leaks from the VAF to the throttle body.

[bhearts]

Fuel filter?

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[dalebwilson]

If you have a timing light, make sure you are set at -10BTDC with the ST1 diagnostic wire grounded and engine warm at idle.


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[TristanReveur]

Thanks for all the good advice! The VAF is an A1 Cardone reman. I checked the fuel pump last night and discovered the sock floated in the fuel, separate of the pump, purchased a new one and replaced it. Replaced the fuel filter earlier, because why not? Revved the engine earlier today in an attempt to keep it from stalling right away, and to my surprise, it started to idle just fine. I adjusted the idle and, as of now, the car has passed smog with flying colors and runs perfectly.

THANK YOU ALL!