Hi Guys,

I'm having trouble with my 3.8 dying out of no where. I went to crank ti the other day and it took longer than usual to crank. Well I had driven about 10 miles and all of a sudden it started acting as if it wasn't getting gas and finally died completely. I tried and tried to crank it and it would not start. I waited about 20 minutes (on the side of the road) and it cranked up rough but got me back home barely. I waited a couple of hours and it ran fine for a while and did the same thing. I replaced the fuel filter, which seemed to be clean, added injector cleaner and I still have the problem. I ran a diagnostics from Autozone and it had multiple faults which were all vague. I was told it's the fuel pump but the source is unreliable. I would take it to shop but the timing couldn't have been worse for me regarding my finances. I sure would appreciate your help.

 

When is the last time you changed out the fuel filter? It's a silver canister looking thing under the car on teh drivers side behind the back wheel?

Would be good if you could post the codes your car is throwing....

 

The fuel filter is less than 500 miles old. I don't remember the exact code but it was a general code that explained there were about four differnt things wrong. Air, fuel, spark and something else. Just from talking to some people, the general concensus is the fuel pump. I also heard that when a fuel pump goes it just dies. It doesn't work intermittenly. I was hoping it was something I could at the house.

 

Fuel pump works or it doesn't. Sounds more like the ignition module. When they go bad they can do funny stuff. Usually only after they get hot, and go into thermal runaway.

 

Thanks for the reply. This is the first I've heard about the Ignition Module. Is this something that could be replaced in the drive way without a lot of newer car knowledge?

 

Yes you can do it yourself.

You'll need a 7MM socket to get the ICM out. Take off the 3 coil packs (where you plug in the spark plugs). I forget the bolt size (I have MSD and it uses a differnt bolt than stock) but there are 2 bolts on each coul pack. Once they are removed you can see the ICM. It's the long silver board under the coil packs. Very carefully, there is a bolt in the middle on the back of the ICM. Using the 7MM socket remove the plug. Now take the ICM to Autozone and have them check it. Not all autozones have the equipment to check so call around to find the right one. Also if the ICM is fault only when it gets hot, it may show good when they test it. Have them test it atleast 4 times to give it a chance to heat up. Autozone sells a new ICM for 150ish I think and I think it has a lifetime warrenty.

 

Thanks for the help. I guess I have plans for the weekend now.