Stalling

[Puggsley456]

I had a problem a month ago with my car with an iratic idle and stalling at a stop light. It was determined to be a bad Camshaft position sensor and attached harness which was replaced. This solved my problem.

 

Yesterday, My car had very little heat. And it started stalling while driving. The engine would show no signs of problems, It would just turn off and then start back up. It proceeded to do this four more times. Every time I was either driveng over a bump or turning a corner.

 

I took it into a local shop and my thermostat is shot.....but they were unable to reproduce this problem.

 

Any ideas? Its a 94 cutty..... 3.1....with 260,000 KM.

[Crazy K]

Straight up... when's the last time you had a tune-up, oil change and filter change?

 

And you should have the 3100 engine in a 94, not the 3.1 (unless something is just odd with your car... no offense)

 

If you haven't... you should start there, it's regular maintence and might solve the problem. add fuel injector cleaner, fuel filter, air filter, pcv valve, plugs, and plug wires if old...

 

And when you say start up, you mean you have to restart the car, and not on it's own?(engine stalls, but starts firing and running again before it actually stops turning... something I have had happen).

 

Let us know after you make sure the regular maintence is up to date and we can keep trying to help.

[Intlcutlass]

Mine stalled at red lights until I figured out I had a plug wire shorting to the head...

 

Somthing to look at....

[94CutlassSLCoupe]

sounds like a bad plug or wire to me

[Puggsley456]

I have had my car tuned up, oil changed three weeks ago, Intake manifold gaskets changed, Fuel pump replaced, Injectors cleaned, O2 sensor replaced, and the above mentioned camshaft possition sensor. All in the last 6-9 months

 

I got my car back and it hasnt done it yet. But I have described the problem to two different mechanics and they both came back with the same likely problem.....A break in the crankshaft possition sensor harness that shorts out when going over bumps. Thus killing the engine. Has anyone else had any expierience with this problem?

 

Oh and sorry about the 3.1 thing...lol.....My family has so many older GM's that if i say 3100 arround here that they look at me funny....force of habit.....lol

[Crazy K]

And when you say start up, you mean you have to restart the car, and not on it's own?(engine stalls, but starts firing and running again before it actually stops turning... something I have had happen).

 

I ask this again... On my 3.1 a failing fuel injector would stall the engine(it shorts out the ecm), if I was moving at speed, the tranny would continue spinning the engine.... so if the injector unshorted... a couple hard shudders and the car would lurch and come back to life.

 

You didn't mention filters. a car could stall if either the fuel or air were clogged. Are you having any other performance issues?

[Puggsley456]

And when you say start up, you mean you have to restart the car, and not on it's own?(engine stalls, but starts firing and running again before it actually stops turning... something I have had happen).

 

I ask this again... On my 3.1 a failing fuel injector would stall the engine(it shorts out the ecm), if I was moving at speed, the tranny would continue spinning the engine.... so if the injector unshorted... a couple hard shudders and the car would lurch and come back to life.

 

You didn't mention filters. a car could stall if either the fuel or air were clogged. Are you having any other performance issues?

 

Sorry for not responding to your question.

 

But the engine just shuts off. No bucking or surging. I have to pull over, put the car into park and restart it.

 

As far as the filters. My air filter was replaces at my last oil change not long ago. And my fuel filter was replaced when my fuel pump was. Within the last 6 months.

[ShockTherapy]

you try an idle re-learn ? just a random thought, and hey, it couldnt hurt anything.

[Crazy K]

So it was only acting up when cold, you say... maybe everything is ok now? I think your bases are very well covered, but I agree... maybe an idle relearn would be a good idea. If it acts up again let us know.