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car just *dies*


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priann
New User

May 31, 2009, 12:30 PM

Post #1 of 8 (2455 views)
car just *dies* Sign In

2004 chevy cavalair battery good alernator good all of sudden just dies out ?? whyUnsure


mr_notorius5500
New User

May 31, 2009, 1:09 PM

Post #2 of 8 (2451 views)
Re: car just *dies* Sign In

Are you sure that it's an electrical problem? You could have fuel system issues too. Things like a plugged fuel filter or not enough fuel pressure due to a dying fuel pump or bad pressure regulator. I'm only speculating because I don't know enough about your problem yet, but it's just something to look into Smile


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 31, 2009, 1:32 PM

Post #3 of 8 (2447 views)
Re: car just *dies* Sign In

Does it crank right back up?

Do you have battery power when this happens?

Is the engine cranking normally?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on May 31, 2009, 1:33 PM)


priann
New User

May 31, 2009, 7:11 PM

Post #4 of 8 (2429 views)
Re: car just *dies* Sign In

yes and yes


priann
New User

May 31, 2009, 7:13 PM

Post #5 of 8 (2427 views)
Re: car just *dies* Sign In

yes my ex husband said might be fuel pump too said possibly try adding gas additive with fuel injection in name might clear it up otherwise he too thinks fuel pump


leevit2stever
Novice

Jun 1, 2009, 7:54 PM

Post #6 of 8 (2413 views)
Re: car just *dies* Sign In

Cool OK.....when the car dies out, is it like its running out of gas? (chugs a bit,takes a couple seconds to die)
OR
BAM!! its just dead......like someone just shut the key off?
The first is fuel related...fuel filter....(start with that ) its fairly inexpensive and generally easy to replace
fuel pumps are expensive (usually electric fuel pumps either work or they dont) but I have been wrong once or twice
The 2nd
Is electrical........usually its the electronic ignition control module.....Crazy it will die out then 15 minutes later
it starts right up...(control module overheats , then cools off and works again)
G.M. vehicles use to have a problem dieing under acceleration,this was caused by the vaccuum advance plate
on the bottom of the distributor moving to advance the timing (ignition module is mounted on this plate)
and it would separate the wires where they plug into the module,causing it to die for a second,then kick right back on
when the vaccuum plate would return to its original positionUnimpressed
Sly The good news is electronic ignition control modules are now fairly inexpensive and not that difficult to replacePirate


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 2, 2009, 1:19 AM

Post #7 of 8 (2411 views)
Re: car just *dies* Sign In

Well, distributors haven't been used in these vehicles for years and an ignition control modules is hundreds of dollars for this vehicle, so I wouldn't be jumping to that conclusion.

All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be test during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.



Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.


2) Test for injecter pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injecter with the key on.


3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.

Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.


One of the more common failures on these is the Crank Position Sensor but you still need to know what's dropping out before replacing anything.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 2, 2009, 2:07 AM

Post #8 of 8 (2403 views)
Re: car just *dies* Sign In

Right on again Hammer!


Don't waste money just tossing parts - gets expensive quick!

T







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