Stalls while driving???[SOLVED]

[ekstrandt]

I have been driving this car for awhile without problem. The last two days it has stalled 4 times while driving. It just stops running. It will not start right back up but usually within 15-20 seconds it starts and goes like nothing happened. Idles nice, pulls hard no problems before and have done nothing in the engine compartment this winter. Replaced coolant temp sensor last night just because it's the only sensor that I can think of that would stop the engine if bad. It stalled this morning on the way to work. Anyhow I will be going through the FI checklist/ tune-up just wondering if someone has a solid idea of where/ what I should be looking at.

[GeorgeT]

My '82 did this for a few years and I could never diagnose it until the Double Relay totally failed (injector side).

[124JOE]

also try this grab the battery cable and give it a tug,then the other one
i had a bad connection and it did that over and over and...

hope this helps.joe

[ekstrandt]

124 joe

Thanks for reminding me that I had installed a battery cutout this winter. Checked the connections and they are tight and battery reads 13V. I was hoping that was it. While checking the battery connections I heard a "gurgling" / "clicking" sound??? It stopped before I could locate it besides the gas tank area. I installed a new evap valve 2 years ago during the rebuild. No pressure or vacuum when I unscrewed the gas cap and the sound continued. Disappeared when I got under the car. No idea what that was.

So it stalled again (x2) and has a slow start. I'm thinking AFM, coil (replaced last year) or double relay (no clicking). Guess I will be doing the full FI check/ tune and hope I find something.

[124JOE]

best of luck to you.joe

[RRoller123]

hhmmmmmmm..... that gurgling sound may indicate something. Make sure your charcoal canister (#4 on this schematic dwg) is not blocked, it is the ONLY way that make-up air gets back into the fuel tank if you have a sealed gas cap. If it is clogged to the point of allowing only a small amount of air in, the car would run a little while, then starve, then run again after sitting. When you pull the cap off of the canister top while the engine is idling, there should be a fairly strong and noticeable vacuum. If you hold your thumb over the hole for a while, the engine will eventually stumble and stall.

[joelittel]

My '80 had an issue that was similar. It would start and drive fine, then out of the blue shut itself down (as in dead).

My problem was the connector between the ignition switch and the wiring harness.

[ekstrandt]

So I did the complete FI checklist/ tuneup and everything checked out fine.
Rroller
No gurgling this time after running the motor to get it up to temp and check timing and idle. You are right in that it will stumble and stall after plugging the vacuum line to the evap canister. Personally I don't why it does that but in my opinion doesn't really fit what happens to the car. There is no stumble or loss of power before it stalls. It just stops. So a problem with the evap system doesn't seem to fit the problem. Though the "gurgle" was strange maybe I need to run it hard and check that again.

I'm at a loss of what to do next.

[ekstrandt]

Joelittel

I cleaned, tightened and checked those connections when I had a starter issue last year. Cleaned the ground pod above it also. Does anyone know what else besides loss of power to ECU, loss of coolant temp. sensor and failure of double relay would cause the engine to just stop but then start up shortly thereafter?

[76was124]

When it doesn't start have you determined whether it's due to no spark, or no fuel?

[124JOE]

i ran low on oil once and mine stalled out

[ekstrandt]

It's good on oil I check often because it's Italian. Spark is a good question but since it is usually on the highway w/ traffic I don't stop to check. I just push in the clutch wait about 10-15 seconds and it will start up and go like nothing happened.

[76was124]

..... it is usually on the highway w/ traffic?....

Does it ever happens when just idling, stop and go city driving, or ONLY at highway speeds, or at a higher RPM range?

[RRoller123]

try driving it with either the gas cap off, or get a vented gas cap and see if that does it. Sounds like fuel starvation from lack of makeup air to the tank.

[ekstrandt]

Only once while idling, the rest generally 3-4000 rpm. She has to be hot never when shes warming up. She only stalled once yesterday . I'll try removing the gas cap today and see what happens.