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car stalling 1991 mercury sable


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taverner
Novice

Mar 19, 2006, 3:48 PM

Post #1 of 9 (2119 views)
car stalling 1991 mercury sable Sign In

I have changed the coil thinking that was the problem. I still have the same problem and the battery and the altenator both appear to be in good working order. when i drive the car for 2-20 miles the car will than stall or i will turn it off and it will not start back up it acts like the timing is off tries to turn over a little but very sluggish and then nothing acting like the battery is dead but will not start with a jump start either any clues what might be going on after the engine in heated up .


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 19, 2006, 6:12 PM

Post #2 of 9 (2112 views)
Re: car stalling 1991 mercury sable Sign In

A battery over four years old should just be replaced. You can start by cleaning it's connections and testesting output of alternator. Looking good means nothing. What may be happening is the alternator can't keep up with a bad battery or either and fuel pressure drops too low. A bad battery can kill a good alternator.

If just battery and voltage a good jump start should do the trick but the quality of cables and how well they are hooked up can be tricky and misleading.

I can't move on without knowing that these items are good. T



taverner
Novice

Mar 19, 2006, 9:34 PM

Post #3 of 9 (2110 views)
Re: car stalling 1991 mercury sable Sign In


In Reply To
the battery is good and so are the cables the alternator is putting out 100 percent


In Reply To
A battery over four years old should just be replaced. You can start by cleaning it's connections and testesting output of alternator. Looking good means nothing. What may be happening is the alternator can't keep up with a bad battery or either and fuel pressure drops too low. A bad battery can kill a good alternator.

If just battery and voltage a good jump start should do the trick but the quality of cables and how well they are hooked up can be tricky and misleading.

I can't move on without knowing that these items are good. T



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 20, 2006, 4:24 AM

Post #4 of 9 (2106 views)
Re: car stalling 1991 mercury sable Sign In

You said when it dies it behaves like a dead battery.?? The ignition does decide the timing thru it's computer and other devices and with super advanced timing would not just run poorly but knock too and would be impossible to start and have trouble cranking but would try.

Does the horn honk and lights work when it won't start? Do they dim severely when trying. What is the voltage at the battery and how much does it drop when it won't start?

If it's just heat related it will do it while just idling where you park it. It really can't get that warm in two miles as you stated unless that takes a long time where you drive. As a test make it happen and disable the ignition. Engine should still crank normally. If not you may be in trouble with the engine itself.

I'm still back to your battery and alternator. YOU said they were fine. Please tell me and all of us how you know and what the outputs are. Problems can be intermittent so you may need to test when you are having trouble. T



DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Mar 20, 2006, 4:52 AM

Post #5 of 9 (2104 views)
Re: car stalling 1991 mercury sable Sign In

This is just a guess because they were so prone to failing and that is the ignition module on the side of the distributor. These things will do all kinds of strange things until they completely burn out. Another reason I’m thinking this is that a mechanical issue like a timing chain doesn’t get better if it’s jumped you’re done but like I said an electronic module can do all kinds of strange things.
They’re not all that expensive, so it is not like you’re taking a chance of a big-ticket item, throw a new one on and see what happens.
If you are going to try one make sure you use a smear of dielectric grease on the mating surfaces of the module and the distributor; it’s there to help transfer heat.
Dan



Canadian "EH"






taverner
Novice

Mar 20, 2006, 8:25 AM

Post #6 of 9 (2096 views)
Re: car stalling 1991 mercury sable Sign In

 

I have had the altenator tested and I also tested the battery

In Reply to

You said when it dies it behaves like a dead battery.?? The ignition does decide the timing thru it's computer and other devices and with super advanced timing would not just run poorly but knock too and would be impossible to start and have trouble cranking but would try.

Does the horn honk and lights work when it won't start? Do they dim severely when trying. What is the voltage at the battery and how much does it drop when it won't start?

If it's just heat related it will do it while just idling where you park it. It really can't get that warm in two miles as you stated unless that takes a long time where you drive. As a test make it happen and disable the ignition. Engine should still crank normally. If not you may be in trouble with the engine itself.

I'm still back to your battery and alternator. YOU said they were fine. Please tell me and all of us how you know and what the outputs are. Problems can be intermittent so you may need to test when you are having trouble. T



taverner
Novice

Mar 20, 2006, 8:38 AM

Post #7 of 9 (2094 views)
Re: car stalling 1991 mercury sable Sign In

I was thinking it was the little plate inside the distributor thinking it was maybe cracked and was not sending the right about of spark when it heated up it expanded and than caused the car to do what it is doing but we will try that modual and see what happens thank you


taverner
Novice

Mar 20, 2006, 8:43 AM

Post #8 of 9 (2091 views)
Re: car stalling 1991 mercury sable Sign In

I have had the altenator tested and the battery tested they are both good.. thinking maybe it might be the igniton modual or the plate under the rotor inside the distributor ???


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 20, 2006, 10:50 AM

Post #9 of 9 (2087 views)
Re: car stalling 1991 mercury sable Sign In

To replace that module you need a special socket. The plate inside the dist., is the pick up coil. If you just bench tested the alternator it's NOT a sure thing. An old battery can be fickle too and you are refusing to answer questions so how are we supposed to help you? This could cost you the whole car at it's age and or tons of bucks.

If you replace that module -- note that the bail says PUSH to release it's connection to the wiring. T







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