After i drive my car for a little while it stalls.check gauge and sevice engine soon lights come on.(so like the key is in the onposition) then i go to start it back up and it rotates but wont start. i let it sit for a while and i get it going again. i had the fuel pump replaced (not saying they didn't screw it up or it was a bad pump) but i still hear it prime after it dies. i took the ignition control module in to auto to get it tested and it passed all 3 times. (but it could be the fact it didn't run for as long as it takes to usally die) the spark plugs probbably need changing butthere are to many rusted out bolts to actuall get everything off to do get it done so i must take it in. Just today the check engine light came on saying cylinder 1 miss firebut it went off in an hour or so later. does anyone have ANY possible ideas on what could be wrong here?


Also it doesn't matterif i'm getting up to speed at 4000 RPM or have cruise control set and it resting at 1000 or braking. i can'tfind any variable in the time that it dies.

 

Start fixing things, one at the time, starting with the trouble codes first. The light going on & off indicates that there is a marginal trouble and won't get better by itself.

 

i'm taking the car in monday is there anything that i should tell the mechanic to help find out whats wrong with it?

 

Just tell him what you told us. Ask him to be sure to test drive it (perhaps with you in the vehicle). His scan tool should be taking freeze frame data when problems occur and he can then use that data to help isolate certain problems. Intermittent problems are really hard to catch, so let's hope for your sake it really acts up Monday!

 

I just got my car back and they couldn't reproduce the results that i got. On the way home i step on the gas (because slow driving just bugs the hell outta me) and as the rpm drops it doesn't seem to drop like normal it seemed to take a little bit longer to drop. the cylinder one miss fire happened at about 1700 rpm nothing special but just have the exact stats it happened at. does anyone know of anything i should check when it dies?

 

Need to drive it around with a scan tool connected and record the data and trouble codes when the problem is taking place. And you need to take care of the misfire.

 

I kind of wonder if it isn't in the ignition system. When was the last time your plug wires were replaced? As the engine heats up, so do the wires and as they heat up, the electrical resistancewill increase especially in bad/old wires. Sometimes the resistance can get so high that you can't get enough electricity through to really spark.Then your engine will actfunny maybe even kill all together.Something to check. Air, Fuel, Ignition it's one of the three. Sounds like you've got fuel that leaves air and ignition, if you haven't already check your wires.

Thanks,

Tom

 

I really don't buy 'Well, we couldn't get her to act up'. Once in a blue moon it may be true, but with the latest scan tool technology (of which any respectable shop should own), the scan tool can be plugged in and monitor all systems. When the system detects a problem, it is freezeframed and stored into the memory. That way, when the technician returns to the shop, he can review the data at the time of the system error/failure. This leaves me to wonder if the actual manufacturer specified test drive cycles were performed (i.e. idling for 3 minutes, driving at 45mph for 2, decelerating without brakes, accelerating to 55mph and cruising for 5 minutes, etc.) Each stage monitors systems, and if the enable criteria isn't met for those tests to be run, chances are it may be possible for the problem to go undetected.

 

i have no idea. i bought it back in november. 75,000 miles on it so i doubt it has been but with **** all rusted out and one srew or something that we broke so there are the treads left in it it will be a all day project if we can get things off. but i plan on getting it done. i took it out for a drive earlyer and if i drive like a old lady (rpm not above 3000) it doesn't seem to want to die as fast. is it normal that when i brake my gas gauge drops down a bit and so does my oil gauge.

 

First, replace your spark plug wires making sure thatthewires are nottouching any part of the engine. I had a simular problem not to long ago. If that doesn't work, then I would suggest changing the spark plug. if the problem is still there, replace the coil pack that corresponds to the cylinder misfire. One of the three should fix the problem.