Hi there,

I've got a '93 3.4L V6 Camaro with 208,000 on it. Never been rebuilt. Yesterday I was pushing the car a little harder than I usually do as it's a daily driver and I baby the thing while driving. Yesterday I was climbing a hill at 3,400 rpm. Usually the thing never sees much above 2,700. Got to the top of the hill and let up a little on the accelerator and flame out. Engine went dead in an instant. No bang, no smoke, no leaking. The electrical is still good. The starter turns the motor over but no ignition of any cylinders. Here's some other fun facts about this motor:

1. It's idle has been surging for the past couple months. It's idle also runs high, around 1,800 surging to 2,100 and back.
2. The head gasket leak is an exterior leak only, no exhaust gas, no blending of oil and antifreeze, just a steady slow antifreeze leak. Goes through about a cup of antifreeze a day in a 40 mile commute total miles.
3. I filled up the fuel tank the night before. It however drove 40 miles(almost home) before it flamed out. I'd think if I got water in the tank that the pick up would have ingested that during the morning commute with the water settling at the bottom of the tank.

So it's a bit of a mystery. I have an idea of what it might be but I'd like some input from you guys to confirm my own theory. They key is it literally flamed out. No sputter, not stutter, not smoke, nothing it was as if someone turned the motor off.

Thanks,

Tom

 

that kinda thing happened to me a few months ago, my car just shut off. I havea 95 3.4L and it turned out the ignition wires had melted and i could turn the key all I'd want and there would be not a sound of anything trying to turn on. the only thing that worked was my lights.

 

The car does turn over. The starter does turn the engine over and it sounds normal it just no cylinders fire. I didn't crank and crank and crank on it though as I didn't want starter problems on top of it.

Thanks,

Tom

 

fuel pump fried? no fuel getting to the injectors; you can do a pressure test (ask someone at advance or somewhere how to do it) or better yet turn the key to the on position (but not all the way to thestarting position)and see if you can hear the fuel pump kick in momentarily...if you dont hear anything the pump may have gone bad, and i suggest still doing the fuel pressure test...

 

If the timing chain let go would the engine just snuff out like that or would you get a more violent result? I understand if the timing chain goes you can potentially really hose up your engine at least that's what my Haynes manual tells me. It's in the shop now being diagnosed as I have no clue. I also think the fuel pump could be the issue as it would explain the surging at idle but that's likely a small vacuum leak. Tough call. I don't think the engine itself is damaged because there was no ruckus, debris, smoke, nothing and it freely turns over with the starter engaged. I think a blown fuel pump would mimic it nicely but also remember the power didn't bleed to a halt. It switched off. I would think if the pump went that you'd lose power quickly just as if you had run out of fuel but that it would sputter while the fuel system lost pressure. The timing chain however would stop the cam rolling and right away spark would be lost. Is the spark actuation on these engines directly driven by the cam gear like it would be in a small block? I mean if that's the case the cam stops and it's lights out for motor. I don't know. I'll be sure to post what the problem winds up being. It's a tough call in a situation like this because it's fuel/air/or spark and there's a wide variety of causes to choose from. I was just curious if anyone else ran into a similar situation to get a better guess. Thanks for the help!

 

Just got a call from the guy at the garage. No spark. Fuel pressure is fine. The timing chain is intact. So.....he's thinking crank sensor or ignition module. What do you guys think?

Thanks,

Tom

 

if the crank sensor goes out it usually wont turn for you becuase i doesnty knwo where the crank is. check coil packs(loose wores coming to it), and wires. If shes not fireing your missing Fuel or fire. Youd know if it was the battery. Sometimes when batteies crap out they do similar things, but you said nothing about power loss.

 

The crank sensor has nothing to do with the starter turning the engine... Tom I would try whatever is cheaper to replace and see if that helps. Both sound like viable options. I believe the 3.4 has 2 crank sensors. z28pete posted about it in someone else's post awhile back. I believe one controls idle to 2,000 some odd rpms, and the other controls startup and where the other takes off. That's if I remember what Pete said correctly.

 

The problem was indeed the ignition control module. Replaced it and the car fired right up. Thanks to all that offered advice I appreciate it!!!!

Thanks,

Tom