car stalled when warm and wouldn't start. cranked and sounded like it would but had to tow home. started after sitting a few hours and drove up and down street then tried to start again while still warm and didn't. next day went to move car and it started, but when trying again while still warm didn't. battery, alternater recently new. prior to this, when trying to start, have to turn key a couple of times to get it to start...but other than that, has been strong running car! has 150K on it, no visible leaks, thermostat also new, hates to sit long time at idle (like waiting for a train)
we aren't real technical people, so keep it simple, please

 

the "350L" made me laugh, but your problem is far from funny.

There could be a dozen things causing this... let's try narrowing it down a bit more.
How hot is your car getting?
Is it ever hard to start when cold?
Do you smell any abnormal smells right before or when it dies?
Any obvious symptoms like smoke or knocking?



It's likely that you could be overheating... but let's not jump right to that.

 

It can be a number of things, but here is the simple check you can do. Take off air cleaner assembly. You should see Throttle body with two injectors siting in POD above two throttle cavities. Have a helper crank engine over while observing the TB cavities. Injectors should be spraying nice fuel cone onto walls of the TB. If there no spray or if all you see just some dripping you have a fuel delivery problem. With 150 k on the clicker I would suspect Fuel Pump and fuel filter.

Do this test and let us know.


//RF

 

well, we haven't really worked on the car cuz it's been too cold! but my son checked for the spray from the injectors and didn't feel any. so far, just because they were cheap parts (and kinda of needed) changed distributer cap and rotor, coil (since that was listed on on a trouble shooting site) and some kind of temp sensor on air cleaner (also on that site) now it 'cranks', but no start hot or cold.
is it possible something computer related is in need of rebooting? about only other thing we've been toying with past few months was the condition of the starter since there were times when you turned the key and got a click each time for a couple of times turning key then starting without hesitation. i just can't imagine why a car that had no problems, strange sounds or smells could all of a sudden 'crap out'!

 

Nature of the beast......

The car does not use the windows operating system (thank god) so, rebooting the computer... won't help. You could try disconnecting the battery for a bit, (minute or three) to reset it, but, I doubt that is going to do any good either. (or is that the same thing? Is it too early in the morning? Why yes, I do believe it is....)

Check for fuel spray from the injectors again. You should be able to SEE it, on a TBI car. If no spray, cycle the key on and off a few times, waiting about 30 seconds between cycles. Can you hear the fuel pump run? May have to pull the gas cap, and listen closely.. but, should hear an obvious "whirring" sound.