Car Died Out of Nowhere

[marcusa]

I was going to my gf's house yesterday and about a mile from home the car just died. No explanation, no nothing, just died and would not start again (although it cranked). I was in a turn on the road and I at first thought I had a flat because it got hard to steer (no engine = no ps).

 

Tried hitting the accelerator while it cranked (what I had to do to start it when my IAC was sticking a while back) and it had no change. I think it died when I let my foot off the accelerator (I was coming to a stop sign), but not sure. I also saw the red oil canister light, but it's always on when on Run but not startede, and my oil was fine.

 

Mechanic hasn't fully looked at it today, but says he thinks it's the coil pack. Seems weird, it was idling and accelerating just fine, and save for an occasional need for a second attempt for it to start there was nothing wrong. Plus, I never heard of a coil pack just going out like that, I figured it would run rough, stall, and misfire before giving out.

 

It's the 1998 Intrigue w/3800 series II, about 155,000 miles on the clock.

[SigEpCutlass]

Coils are extremely easy to change on a L36. When was the last time anything was replaced (wires, coils, plugs)?

[terryk2003]

did u try starting it up after it cooled off a bit?...almost sounds like an ignition module to me...

[1990lumina]

what about a crank sensor?

[marcusa]

I think the wires are original, plugs not sure. Coilpack I planned on just cleaning and leaving on. I have been meaning to replace them since I got the car a little over a year ago but have successfully put it off since, hey, it was running smooth! I was waiting to run Sea Foam through beforehand so I wouldn't foul the new plugs.

 

I did give starting it a shot after 5-10 minutes, still cranked with no avail. I had only driven a mile, so the engine was barely warmed up (past what the Houston sun warms it up). I have no idea how to test a crank sensor, on the Saturn (the only other car I'veowned and one I can work on quite a bit) most crank inputs are actually just from the spark plug firing...

 

If it is a coilpack, should I replace it with DELCO or is there a better brand? Any brands to avoid?

 

BTW, I got NGK V-power plugs, are those the best?

[DiscoStudd]

Tap lightly on the fuel pump relay with the handle of a screwdriver and see if she'll start. Also wouldn't hurt to pull out the relay, sand down the contacts, and bend them out a tiny bit. If that doesn't work for ya, put your head down by the gas tank, have someone switch the ignition to "ON," and listen for the fuel pump to cycle. If it's working properly, you'll definitely hear it "hum" with your ear close to it. If not, then your FP is shot...

[Crazy K]

spark test: remove each plug one at a time, stick a screw driver into is and lay it somewhere will it can spark to ground. this will test each coil pack and show if the car has spark. if the crank sensor or module is bad, you'll have no spark.

 

if you do, then time for a fuel test.... like discostudd says..... but I personnally like to decap the relay and operate with a toothpick.