Car died on the freeway
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Car died on the freeway
So I just finished my hesitation problem by fixing a vacuum leak I found, and went to take it for a drive, and it would not start- no crank.
troubleshooted all of the issues with that, and pulled relays/14 pin/ and found nothing of concern, but cleaned the bridge (starter) relay contacts and it would crank.
Was a little flooded from my cranking earlier, but got her started and out on the road. Went to the gas pump, filled up, and was merging onto the freeway under acceleration at about 4 grand and it just turned off, engine wise. I still had guages, radio even, but the engine acted like I flipped the ignition switch.
pulled over to the side of the road, then cranked a few times, eventually sprang to life and drove home like nothing happened.
The similar symptom of it just switching off has happened twice before, both in the last month, but it was more of a 2 second hesitation and I never even left the gear.
Things it's not:
Brand new fuel system, back to front.
Fuel pump relay
Plugs/wires/distributor
Things I haven't replaced that are related:
injection relay
coil
Ignition box
L-jet brain
Barn door (however, I have inspected it and it is in excellent shape)
Any thoughts?
I have learned a lot over the past few years from y'all, and I really appreciate the help. I'm about 15k into her, figure I better get everything taken care of!
troubleshooted all of the issues with that, and pulled relays/14 pin/ and found nothing of concern, but cleaned the bridge (starter) relay contacts and it would crank.
Was a little flooded from my cranking earlier, but got her started and out on the road. Went to the gas pump, filled up, and was merging onto the freeway under acceleration at about 4 grand and it just turned off, engine wise. I still had guages, radio even, but the engine acted like I flipped the ignition switch.
pulled over to the side of the road, then cranked a few times, eventually sprang to life and drove home like nothing happened.
The similar symptom of it just switching off has happened twice before, both in the last month, but it was more of a 2 second hesitation and I never even left the gear.
Things it's not:
Brand new fuel system, back to front.
Fuel pump relay
Plugs/wires/distributor
Things I haven't replaced that are related:
injection relay
coil
Ignition box
L-jet brain
Barn door (however, I have inspected it and it is in excellent shape)
Any thoughts?
I have learned a lot over the past few years from y'all, and I really appreciate the help. I'm about 15k into her, figure I better get everything taken care of!
#2
Rennlist Member
Sounds like the cps (crank position sensor) might be going out. It is located under the airbox about the fly wheel. It is also possible you caused the connector to separate if your vacuum hose was in that area.
#4
Inventor
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Is the green-wire* green? If it's old and brown, it may cause problems.
The L-Jet brain is pretty robust.
*distributor pickup wire to ignition box
The L-Jet brain is pretty robust.
*distributor pickup wire to ignition box
#5
Instructor
Thread Starter
That... Is something I haven't checked. It looked to be in good condition when I bought the car, but that could be deceiving. I may order one just to be sure.
I'm doing injection relay and most likely green wire just to be sure.
I'm not completely sold that the problem I had with the starter wasn't related to the dying, but I don't know for sure. My car is by no means a basket case electrically (most hasn't been touched) which I think isn't helping anything.
I'm doing injection relay and most likely green wire just to be sure.
I'm not completely sold that the problem I had with the starter wasn't related to the dying, but I don't know for sure. My car is by no means a basket case electrically (most hasn't been touched) which I think isn't helping anything.
#6
Rennlist Member
"... but the engine acted like I flipped the ignition switch. ..." Maybe you did, effectively. I didn't notice a new ignition switch in your list of things it's _NOT_.
Symptoms match. Search ignition switch.
Symptoms match. Search ignition switch.
#7
Instructor
Thread Starter
Not saying it's impossible, but it's never given me trouble. There is resistance between on/run/off/acc, and it always seems to be correct.
I will look into it. It is usually the switch behind the key so I don't have to re-key the car, correct?
I will look into it. It is usually the switch behind the key so I don't have to re-key the car, correct?
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#8
Team Owner
check and clean the battery connections and replace the ground strap at the battery
#9
Rennlist Member
I suggested the search because there are a lot of miracle stories about replacing this 36yo switch and curing intermittent faults.
#10
Instructor
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Perth Western Australia
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Long shot but I had a similar problem with mine with damaged injector wiring. Found when I was idling the engine and moved a wire to get access and the engine died. Did it two more times with same result, slight movement and engine died. Tested other 7 leads and all okay. Rebuilt all 8 leads. Most of them were in poor condition.
#11
Instructor
Thread Starter
Update- Green wire and fuel injection relay are in, I would say that it wasn't helping anything. See pictures.
Doing rotor/cap for the hell of it while I am in there, better than taking it apart later. As intermittent as a problem as this is, we will find out in a week or so if it worked!
Doing rotor/cap for the hell of it while I am in there, better than taking it apart later. As intermittent as a problem as this is, we will find out in a week or so if it worked!
#14
Rennlist Member
$107.32 MSRP.
And if after 30yrs its died..time to fix other things too up there...?
But like I said, simple relay/wire/corrosion should be coming first, and a lot of those share this same symptom.
And if after 30yrs its died..time to fix other things too up there...?
But like I said, simple relay/wire/corrosion should be coming first, and a lot of those share this same symptom.
#15
Instructor
Thread Starter
It would of fired right back up I would figure if it was ign. Switch. But it cranked for a while.
Not it to say I won't replace it because I eventually will, I just don't think that is my problem directly.
Not it to say I won't replace it because I eventually will, I just don't think that is my problem directly.