Yet another issue.

zero32700 · April 20, 2009, 11:46:52 PM

Ok so Im not quite sure what is going on... but I will tell the story to see what you guys think.

I want to think its the alternator, when i come to a stop it wants to die/stall but its fine if you give it a little gas and let go(like a tap). Has been idling irratically with turn signals on at a stop but ok when you turn them off.

The car has been intermitantly dying while driving mainly after getting on it for the past 4 days or so... but not always sometimes just under normal conditions. It will be running then just cut out and then catch itself if you start to coast and kind of restart. The engine kind of just dies out and the tach will bounce and it will start going if it restarts.

Other times have to pull over and it will start right away but not tonight. Died once tried to start it cranked sputtered died... repeat, nothing. Let it sit for half an hour and starts right upafter a few sputters. Tried to drive it home died again... nothing even after an hour. Call a tow truck get it home... try to start it for the fun or it and sputtered sputtered started. Let it run for a min, idled fine reved up normal... turned it off... Tried to start it again, nothing.

When you try to start it will crank want to idle for 1-2 seconds, then die. Or it will run really rough then die.

Car sat for almost a year and a half while replacing the tranny, powermaster, xover etc. Was running poorly so just did a tune up on it. Seafoamed the engine and ran pretty good then put it new battery, plugs, wires, o2 sensor. Was running like a champ. Only mod is Topgun 160 chip/themostat/airfilter. Only run Shell v-power 93, getting good gas mileage. Can hear fuel pump running everytime.

Sorry for the long post, just trying to be very descriptive... Im so close to getting this thing running perfectly and something else always goes wrong.

TGP Nick · April 21, 2009, 12:25:40 AM

It could be an alternator, based on what you said about your gauges bouncing. Have you replaced the crank position sensor or the ICM?

Does the car do this when hot, when cold, or at all times?

zero32700 · April 21, 2009, 01:21:22 AM

negative on replacing either... and it seems to be just whenever, can be when i first start or after driving a bit. now its pretty much a no start...

but the battery doesnt die, can it still be the alt? i think i have an icm & coils, is the crank position sensor easy to change?

NTRCOOL · April 21, 2009, 01:39:06 AM

maybe you should ohm out your fuel injectors to make sure one of them didn't short out. that will also cause random kills

TGP Nick · April 21, 2009, 12:51:54 PM

Yes, the crank position sensor is easy to change. Just be careful pulling it out, people have been known to snap them off in the block.

zero32700 · April 23, 2009, 04:05:51 PM

so went and purchased a cps. went and tried the car to move it to the garage started up perfect drove it in the garage let it run and it runs just like it should. turned it off started up again... and so on.

ill put in the crank sensor in a bit and update you guys.

zero32700 · April 23, 2009, 11:46:00 PM

Ok changed it out and ran like a champ! seemed to have better response time, more power, and no more dying. ran let it sit started it drove it, let it sit, drove it, filled up with gas parked in the garage for half an hour... went to leave and crank crank crank sputter sputter.

hmmmm? i will recheck it tommorow to make sure its plugged in and everything still... seems weird that it start up run a few times then just go to not starting again....

zero32700 · April 24, 2009, 11:39:16 AM

So this morning crank crank sputter, then it just went to cranking with no sputter. Then it started right up after a few mins and continues to run. I dont dare drive it anywhere.

killinprixs · April 24, 2009, 06:26:30 PM

i wonder if it a fuel issue. have you ever hooked up a fuel pressure tester to the fuel rail when it has these problems?

zero32700 · April 24, 2009, 08:49:57 PM

i dont have one, i will look into getting one next time it does it. do you think its the fuel pump? Isnt it weird that it would work then not work? i will replace the fuel filter next time i have a chance and see if that changes anything.

When i drove it after replacing the crank sensor it had so much more power it seemed like. Would spin the tires, something it hasnt done in quite a while.

Edit: was just out playing with it and ran fine... did notice a little message that said check fuel on the display screen, I know i have half a tank as a filled it last night and there is no gas light on, is it trying to give me a clue?

And it did die again tonight, it doesnt stumble, just completely cuts out, i pulled the fuse to the fuel pump and it came with a differant result... dont know if that means anything. but it ran till it got hot i turned it off and it wouldnt start again.

mfewtrail · April 24, 2009, 11:39:05 PM

You need to check to see if you have fuel pressure AND spark when it's not starting to see which one you do not have. If you feel like wrenching...you could remove the ignition module and have it tested for free at an auto part store. Advance auto, autozone, o'reilly, etc. will test it for free. If you do this, request that they run the test a few times to really heat the module up.

zero32700 · April 25, 2009, 12:13:37 AM

Will do that as well. Tried it again since last time it died and it will chug at like 500-750 rpms and die if you press the gas. I have a spare ICM and set of coils i picked up a while ago. Maybe Ill just have that one tested and put it in since it runs so much better with fresh parts.

zero32700 · April 28, 2009, 01:07:32 AM

Is there a trick to getting the bottom bolts off the icm? I got the tops off fine, the bottom left i got the socket stuck on the bolt and cant get an extention in there cause of the bolt on the starter. I took the dog bones off and the fan out to get room but still not enough.,... and I havent looked for the last bolt yet.... Changed the fuel filter last night, looked old but no change.

Edit: Nevermind I guess theres only 3 bolts... and i just gotta wiggle in there till it comes out. Im not putting that bolt back in, its part of the weight reduction.

blackntan · April 29, 2009, 08:41:48 PM

this does kinda sound like mine when i first bought it......but here is an idea cuz it does sound like what mine was doing....it would spit and sputter and not want to start after awhile...well i found 2 fuses on the left had side of the car and you should have 2 fuses for the injectors...pull one of them out and try to start it....it will run like shit if it does start just for the mirr fact that your running only on 3 cylinders...if that doesnt help put it back in and pull the other one....and it may do the same...if it does start when you do this....have someone plug the fuse back in while its running and if it dies...then more an likly you have bad injectors...because when mine would run off of three and i plug it in it would kill it right away...so try that....and if you think its your fuel pump...ive been told by lots of people when it doesnt start get out and hit the gas tank a couple times then try to start it....idk its work for me

zero32700 · May 01, 2009, 01:20:30 PM

Will be checking more tom. I will try the fuse thing and hitting the tank, thanks.

I replaced the ICM and tested for spark which I do have on all cylinders. I pressed the schrader valve after it primed and not much fuel came out... Im going to get a pressure gauge tommorow and check it.

Ive also checked all the vaccum tubes i could find and they are all fine.