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1989, base convertible 70k. Has runot fine for over a year since tuneup. Stopped at an intersection after a 20 mile drive and noticed the idle was at 900. Went to pull away and died, and would not restart. No sputter or falter, just dead like turning the key off. Temp was fine, good cranking but will not fire up. Checked for obvious broken wires etc but a quick inspection did not give me a clue. When it died I could smell gas for a few seconds. A couple of guys pushed me to the curb and there it sits till I can get a tow on Tuesday.
Any ideas as to first place to start? Fuel pump maybe?
Well I am by no means a mechanic. But I don't think your fuel pump is the problem because it's been my experience with vehicles that fuel pumps don't just quit that sudden. There should usually be other problems. It could be that it will start now that it has cooled down if it was your fuel pump. I had a vehicle that would sometimes die but then would start again after the fuel pump was cooled down abs could develop a little pressure again. But there are so much electronics on these cars could be a lot of things. I'm sure someone in the know will come in. Sorry about your luck.
Went to pull away and died, and would not restart. No sputter or falter, just dead like turning the key off....When it died I could smell gas for a few seconds.
As above, your fuel pressure regulator is wonky. The instant die and fuel smells tell us something
..... When you came to that stop was your brake pedal harder to push than normal ? ... The 900 rpm idle indicates extra air or lean fuel mixture like maybe a bad power brake booster , major vacuum leak , or bad fuel pump/filter/gas ... lean mixture is hard to start and continuous cranking could produce the gas smell ... a bad fuel pressure regulator usually floods the engine which would kill the idle not raise it .....
Got it running today. Shop found that the coolant sensor was misreading...coolant would get at a certain temp, sensor indicated it was cold so it dumped fuel and "flooded". Cool down and it would start.