Re: Stock 85/auto - had it 15 years

Hello All,
I have a weird problem (another weird problem). Its rainy today so I'll get into it tomorrow but thought I ask you guys for ideas to get a clue. I have an 85 driver; had it 15 years. I drive it everyday. Replaced the MAF last month and I put a new cap and ignition wires on it about 2 weeks ago which cleared up an annoying miss. It was running pretty much great for an old car. So, I'm driving yesterday in PA, 88 degrees, humid, air on, running fine no issues. I'm in semi traffic and it was heating up; just pulled away from a light, going 35 mph at probably 1,000rpm and the engine stops. I'm on a hill, so I shift to neutral and start coasting at 40 and while I coasting Itry to crank it to get it started and it doesnt start. I get down to the bottom of the hill, coast off the road and into a parking lot and pick a space; pop the hood. It was pretty hot under there. I had 2 or 3 ticks on the fuel gage so I thought it might be out of gas. I pushed the shraeder valve and gas squirted straight up 16" like a geiser so it seemed like it had fuel and fuel pressure. I cranked it a couple times - it wouldnt start. I waited about 5/10 minutes; cranked it and it started normally and idled perfect. I closed the hood and drove off. 3 miles later, same thing - i was in the fast lane and it died. Changed lanes, pulled off and coasted into a parking space ... poped the hook, waited, cranked - no start. After 10 minutes, I cranked and a few cylinders were trying to cooperate. 10 more minutes, I cranked it again, it started, was running rough but it was running ... I drove off; it smoothed out and was able to make the last 4 miles and got to my driveway. I tried to starting it about 3 or 4 times yesterday and today and it started and idled perfectly. So, I think it undriveable because it might at any time.

I'm thinking that something in the distributor hei setup got hot and failed. When it cooled down, it was ok. I dont know.

This is a daily driver and i have a lot of new little parts in it; the fuel system is all recent - from the pump to the injectors. I put a new cap and ignition wires on it about 2 weeks ago which cleared up a miss.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

You might be in need of a new ignition module that is failing under heated conditions. They are not very much and if you have yours checked out it might show a problem it might not, you can’t really duplicate the heated condition of driving during a off car test. I have heard some people trying to heat them up with heat guns or hair dryers not sure that works.

 

My money is on the spark module in the distributor. This is a common failure, one with age that fails when it gets hot. This is one repair where I don't mind trying a part because it is a common failure and the part isn't expensive. Parts stores can usually test them and I have recommended taking a hair dryer to the store to try and simulate the problem. It would be confirming if you carried your timing light with you and varified that you have no spark when it quits.

 

Ignition Module ... well, thats one part that I never replaced. Good one. Thanks.

 

Man, there's a lot of this going on lately! Must be that time.

 

Spark module ??? Is that the same/different then the ignition module? I'll look that one up. I read something at one time that the ??? module in the coil fails hard. And, that is what it did ... except that it came back after either a short period of time or after it cooled down. It was pretty darn hot under the hood.

Thanks jfb and florida ... I'll look right there.

Thanks again, I appreciate it a lot.

Tim

Tim

 

Yes I think the summer heat combined with added road temps cause a few problems as the under hood temps increase. The Ignition Module can fail and come back a few times before it shuts down completely

 

That, and a lot of these are still original parts that are seeing their last miles.

 

Yeah, this one is from 85.