My car is stuck in the parking lot, and won't restart.

Just got back from down the road. Her is the senario.

Was running fine, all sudden motor dies. Would not restart, then suddenly starts, and in same moment dies again, and won't restart.

Got spark, got fuel, tried unpluging TPS and starting, nothing, tried unpluging MAP, nothing.

I don't know what else to check. Could it be the ignition module, does the Ingition module act supuraticially??

350 TPI 92, Camaro. Speed Density, and everything was fine 4 hours ago, now this.

Any suggestions????

Thanks,
Rob Finelli

 

What exactly happens now? It cranks and won't start? It won't crank? You hear the fuel pump prime? How are you checking for spark and fuel? In my experience ignition components just flat out die.

Any work done to the car recently?

 

Heres what is happening, It cranks, but won't start, Fuel pump primes, got fuel pressure gauge on rail, and have pulled out #1 plug and checked for spark plenty of spark.

Then all of a sudden, out of 20 tries to start, it may start, and then quickly dies, it's really weird. I have a feeling it's a Ignition Module or the TPS. I am really stumpted.

It's a brand new swap into my blazer. The wierd part of the whole thing, is it was running just fine for about 2 weeks now, start no problem, run no problem, then this happend yesterday afternoon out of the blue, while driving it home, it just died, like it was not getting any fuel. So in the parking lot down the street, I pulled the fuel filter and checked it no blockage, not I can't get it to restart. Checked for codes, nothing.

That the issues, don't know what's up.

Rob

 

Did the motor cut out instantly or did it sputter and then die? Its probably the ignition module. When those things start going out they tend to work intermetently, which would explain the endless cranking and it starting up fine other times. If you think its the TPS, get a voltmeter and test it. Check the cold start injector as well.

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'87 Red Formula Firebird
-mostly stock LG4 w/cowl induction setup borrowed from '83 TA and T5 tranny

'85 Corvette
-stock L98/4+3 manual tranny
-z51 package

[This message has been edited by RedFirebird (edited December 08, 2001).]

 

 

Your MSD box died? Is that what happened?

And I wouldn't bother with the cold start injector, it would only cause your car to start rough if it wasn't working. I don't even have mine plugged in and I have no trouble.

Try to clean the MAF and reset the tps to solve the codes. MAF relay may need replacement, or the sensor itself. Try to start with it disconnected possibly.

 

if you have spark, i would think that your ign. module would be good.

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86 iroc 305tpi auto. mild cam

 

I had the exact thing happen to me last summer. How high is your fuel pressure after priming the pump several times in a row? Mine would get to about 35psi. My problem was the fuel pump, or specifically the rubber hose that connects the pump to the hard line. It blew a hole in it. I had enough pressure to get the car to fire on occassion, but not enough to start. It died very suddenly (in the middle of traffic). I had an ignition module die suddely, too. If that happens, you won't have any spark, period.

 

Yeah, the ignition modules go with no warning. It would be a good idea to keep a spare in the car, especially if going on a long trip. On a Sunday with no parts stores open...

 

Did you get this figured out, Rob?

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'79K5 Blazer with 406TPI

 

OK,

Here what happened after long hours trying all scenarios:

1. The MSD6AL box went bad. (All of a sudden)
2. When the MSD box went bad it fried the ignition module.
3. When the MSD box went bad, it was sending the computer code 22&34.

What I did to resolve issue:

1. Disconnected the MSD box, and sent back to MSD for repair. ($55 plus shipping)
2. Replaced the ignition module.
3. Rewired the ignition to factory specs without MSD until repaired MSD box comes back.
4. Had to reset the computer and reset the timing.

Currently:

Everything works fine. Waiting for MSD box back from MSD.

Moral of story:

The MSD box does mess with the ECM. When it feels like fuel issues, and you have a MSD box, make sure you disconnect the MSD box and check for same symptoms. The MSD box does and will throw codes to the computer, especially screws with TPS codes.

Everything is not fuel with TPI's.

That's my $.02

Thanks for everyones help, and just as a side note. I sent a message to the MSD tech and they were very quick to respond to my questions, within 2 days from private message sent to Joe directly. THANKS MSD, GREAT SERVICE!!!!

 

Just FYI, but when you unplugged the MAP (code 34) and the TPS (code 22), this is what caused the ECM to have the codes set in it...not the MSD box.

 

My MAF TPI did the same thing, but it was (hopefully?) just a loose connection in my MSD harness. After cleaning all contacts it works again.

 

I wouldn't trust an MSD box farther than I could kick it. My brother put one of their 6(whatever) boxes on his car. It died, he sent it back got a new one, new one died - in the middle of the freeway during rush hour traffic...

 

My msd box was stolen a while ago, I never had a chance to install it. If it would give me problems like this I'm rather happy about not using it.