couple days ago, driving like normal....car shut off.....didnt bog, didnt stumble, just shut down! i put it in neutral and it started fine. so next day did the same thing on the way to work. it didnt want to restart the first couple times, but eventually it did. well the next morning, i go to start it, and i hear the starter motor whirrrrr, but no ignition at all, just the whirrrrrrr. i turn key again, and it starts perfectly normally. same thing happenned this morning (w/ starter) but it didnt cut out on the way to work. well im getting worried. WTF is the deal.

my thoughts: after it cut out the first time, i pulled a code for IAC (35 i think it was?). the IAC looks clean. it isnt relatively old. it doesnt explain the starting does it? could it be ignition related? my coil and distributor (im thinking module?) are fairly new as well.

 

Fuel pump maybe? When you try to restart and it doesn't start, can you hear the pump coming on to pressurize the system?

 

coil?

 

Three things jumped out at me when I read that; 1) fuel pump, 2) coil, and 3) clogged fuel filter.

With all the problems I've had lately w/ this EFI setup, I'm probably not the one to be giving advice... however, the "all of a sudden dying issue" and able to restart it sounds like one of the above scenarios.

-Metal

 

but would the fuel pump or fuel filter issue cause such a sudden stall? i mean, i would think it would be more of that boggy choking feel, like when you run it out of gas, before dying. i mean, this thing is dying so suddenly that the first thing that it wasnt like "oh no its cutting out"...more like "oh no, power steering is out....oh i guess it cut out"

 

While it could be a host of probabilities w/ these EFI engines, it comes down to the basics of internal combustion engines when you think of it.

An internal combustion needs the following to operate:
* Air
* Fuel
* Voltage
* Exhaust

A sudden drop in fuel pressure (fuel pump going out) or intermittent spark (coil going bad) could cause the engine to die and restart.

About 8 years ago, I had an Eagle Premiere that would do exactly what you're talking about... not so long after that, I had to replace both the coil pack and the in tank fuel pump.

Let's hope it's not your fuel pump going out.

 

well, today, my friends, i was standed on the side of the road during my lunch hour. damnit. i now am claiming this problem is heat related. let the car sit at home. when i got home this evening, it started fine. of course. i tested the coil (with a screwdriver, cough cough) and i saw plenty of spark (actually got blue-er the further away i pulled the screwdriver.

i'm noticed that the coil will move a little if you wiggle it with your hand......the part that seems loose is where that black square part connects/wraps the cylindrical part?? is this normal??

im thinking tonight i will pull the coil and the module, get the module tested tomorrow, and see if theyll test or exchange my coil too.

those are both new (few months) parts, damnit.

any other ideas????

 

A clogged fuel filter CAN cause a very sudden stall. Used to happen to me all the time, particularly as I slowed to a stop. It would completely turn off.

When you installed the new ICM, you made sure to use PLENTY of dielectric grease right?

 

well i got the module tested....according to autozone, it was bad. i replaced it. used plenty of dielectric grease. drove to the tire shop and back in 90degree plus FL weather today, and no problems. will let you know if it happens again.

what sucks is that it was a brand new module, maybe 3 months old, that came with a new (remanufactured) distributor. if i wanted it replaced free (under warranty) i would have had to remove and bring in the whole distributor! not worth it to me. too bad.

 

Careful man, I have the same issue with my car. However, I have replaced the ICM 3 times in the past 4 month's alone. Going to be looking at my 4th alternator for the cause soon enough.

 

I have been told that many 3rd party ICM's like to die.

This coming from a shop that could have sold me one of their ICMs, but outright said their stuff was kinda junky, go and get one from GM. The guy I talked to said he has seen several of the aftermarket ones go bad in aonly a couple weeks.

Mind you bad installation could be part of the problem.