‘74 2.0 Wont Start Options

[Jackba]

Hello,
I’ve read through quite a few posts on this subject While working through the problem but I’m still stuck. I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

This is an original car with FI. Car was cutting out while on the freeway. Was able to get it home. Weeks later I got back to it, started it and took it on a test drive. It was cutting out even worse on local streets. Got it home.

Posted on the site and the advice was to pull and clean distributor. Did that and checked trigger points ignition points and cap. Looked good. Changed condenser. Checked all wires and saw nothing out of place. Removed and checked and cleaned the board on throttle body. Very clean with minimal tracing. Hooked up battery and turned key to on 4 times. Fuel pump running. Pressed accelerator to check for 20 clicks. Then tried to start. Cranks well and catches then dies after one revolution. Tried again several times and it only cranks. Tried again and it catches and runs well for 3 seconds. This was repeated many times in no particular order.
Still won’t run.

I rechecked the static timing again and went through the same process and got the same results.

Next I plan to pull the fuel filter and injectors and see if I’m getting fuel. If no fuel in the rails could it be the fuel pump even though it runs for 1.5 seconds each time I turn on the ignition? Fuel pump is 3 port and probably original to the car.

Any other ideas are welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Jack

[Jackba]

Following up on my original post, here’s what I’ve done per suggestions received:

Checked fuel pressure on driver side rail. 30# while cranking. After cranking pressure dropped to 20#s and held that pressure for 20 minutes or so until I removed the gauge.

Rented a Noid light kit and and determined that power was present at the plugs.
Changed the fuel filter. Opened it up and it looked clean between the flutes.

Pulled two injectors and did a spray test on the bench with carb cleaner and 3 volt battery. Pattern looked good with no hesitation. Injectors are about 2 years old and run for about 2,000 miles.

Removed relays from relay plate and cleaned all connections including the two multi pin terminals, fuse holders and the other 3 plugs. When I plugged everything back in the fuel pump didn’t work. Really?? Then went through a troubleshooting routine found on Bowlsby.net and discovered an open fuel pump circuit. All the activity on the plate probably caused a connection to be broken. Ordered a relay plate from Brad Mayeur and that fixed the problem with the fuel pump.

Rechecked static timing.

After each of these tasks I attempted to start the car. Same result except it did sound more eager to keep running....

Three years ago I had the tank out and pulled the sock which was actually clean and the tank wasn’t rusty. I was trying everything else before resorting to draining and pulling the tank. I pulled the plate under the tank and inspected the lines for kinks and found none. Then I pulled the incoming line from the filter and started draining the tank into a series of gas cans. The fuel flowed without resistance or hesitation, all five gallons and it was clean.

I’d really like to avoid pulling the tank if I don’t need to.

Have I missed anything? Any other ideas? Running out of patience!

Thanks in advance,

Jack