engine cuts out like 2x a day?

riverfreak · Posted: Apr 14, 2003 7:15 am Post subject: engine cuts out like 2x a day?

OK, we've changed out the plugs and fuel filter, my engine 4.3 vortec efi cuts out ( a brief pause) like twice in a day..... its going to be hard for a dealer to find the problem because you can run it for an hour or two and it may or may not do it.....the only thing I can think of is the rubber gasket around the gas cap screw in is gone.....could it be getting some air or something.....clueless.....

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

Fuel injected? Does it completely die or do you just loose power? Intermittant problems are the worst. Could be clogged fuel injector, fuel pump, fuel pump relay, ignition control module, etc... Can you tell for sure your getting spark? Does it act like you ran out of gas?

My very preliminary guess, based on a friend's car I recently fixed is fuel pump or fuel pump relay.

Her car would just sort of loose RPM, sometimes dying, but it would usually restart ok until one day when nothing happened. In her case it was the fuel pump but it also could have been the fuel pump relay.

What year? Does it have a check engine light or a connector to connect something to for reading trouble codes?

Nick
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DC MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

riverfreak · Posted: Apr 14, 2003 7:34 am Post subject:

its a 98, yes it is like it looses rpm for a split second but it never dies, and then it runs like a dream, If it were the fuel pump, you would think it would do it more than a few times in a day of riding.....?

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

That's what her car did at first, then it steadily got worse until it would die and finally it would die and not restart. Your problem is most likely a fuel or ignition (spark) problem, but it really could be a lot of things. Since you put new plugs on it would probably be the coils or possible the igition control module, big maybe on the wires. Another friends car would lose RPM and that ended up being an ignition coil. You can check the wires pretty easily by running your engine when it's dark and looking for sparks, and/or by measuring the resitance through them. It'll be hard to figure anything out while it's running perfect...so the next time it "misbehaves" try to figure out it's because of fuel, spark, or air. Air is unlikely, just check if anything is constricting the air intake and inspect the throttle body, linkage, etc... For fuel if you have a fuel pressure gage you could measure it, but the cheap and dirty way is to push the valve in and see if fuel squirts out. The fitting looks like the valve on your tire and should be on the fuel rail.

Nick
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Coach Handbags

JamesP · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 64

riverfreak,

Under what condition does this happen? Idling, Under Load, Cruising?

-James

Millertyme · Posted: Apr 14, 2003 2:38 pm Post subject:

Your distributor may be getting wet. Check your plug wires!

Millertyme

eeven73 · Posted: Apr 15, 2003 12:23 pm Post subject:

I had a problem like this with an 88 prostar, turned out to be clogged fuel pickups in the fuel tank. might help!

riverfreak · Posted: Apr 16, 2003 7:34 am Post subject:

it only does it during cruising.....I hate to start replacing stuff not knowing what the problem is.....I guess whatever it is it will eventually be found when it totally fouls out....?

Troy · Criminal Joined: 16 Apr 2003 Posts: 79 City: Nor Cal

I had the same symptoms on an S10 Blazer and it was the fuel pump. The EFI needs constant pressure to work properly. You should be able to have the fuel line pressure checked by most mechanics.

poston · Posted: Apr 16, 2003 8:39 pm Post subject:

I know this may sound obvious, but when there's a problem start with the simple things first. Could there be a bit of water in your fuel tank from condensation over the winter?

Monkey · Newbie Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 City: Carlsbad, CA

A couple of things to check... there are 2 ignition kill type devices. One that's attached to the safety wire that goes to your arm, like a PWC cord. The other that's attached to the shifter so when you put it in reverse, the engine's not over-reving. Those may be worth looking at...

tc · Posted: Apr 28, 2003 7:37 am Post subject:

sounds Similar to the problem I had. Then it started to get worse after a few more times out.

Read my post

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?p=79863#79863