I was on my way home 2 nights ago and all of a sudden my 86 IROC started losing power, and when i downshifted it kep losing power. after maybe 20 seconds of this it just died right there, then would start up again. I kno it had gas cuz i filled it up that morning. I had it towed home and the tow guy told me totry and start it when he got it off the truck. I tried startin it and it almost started then went back to just turning over and not starting. Then, the next morning it started right up???? I replaced the thermostat a few weeks ago with a 180 degree thermostat, and changed the coolant. My friend thinks its overheating. Could this be the problem, and if so why is it overheating?

Thanks
-Scott

 

Why do you think it's overheating? Did you check the tempiture gauge when it shut off?

 

Do you have spark? Check the pickup coil and ignition module in the distributor.

 

Check youre starter,it might be going out

 

Could be fuel or spark related. Could also be an ECM, but we wont go there until other tests have been done.

But just to K.I.S.S. check all of the fuses, and fusible links before you do anything.... then if everything checks out ok:

Get a fuel pressure reading (borrow a guage from a friend, or "rent" the tool, or buy it for like 50 dollars), and get the fuel pressure readings.

Check to see if you're getting spark when it gets turned over. If so, what color is the spark?

I dont think that your starter going out would have caused your car to die while driving, sorry.

 

What? Oh my.


Spark or fuel. Simple things to test are what Aperion said. Go get yourself a repair manual or two and while your at the parts store bring your ignition module to get tested and rent a fuel pressure guage. I'd also pull the codes to start.

 

I didnt say that was the problem for sure ,i just had a similar prob a while back and my car died on the freeway too.I had to change the distriburor to get it to start and started fine until a week later I went to crank her up And nothing.So then I installed a new starter and havnt had any probs starting the car or stalling on me.But yeah,I shoulda mentioned you prob have a fuel prob,Cuz I also changed my fuel filter and fuel pump when installed the dist.