hi

new member, long time lurker...

I have an 87 convertible, that has a really random stall/start problem.. by random, i mean like every 2-3 days (driven daily) so REALLY random.

here is what happened tonight.

I leave my house to get dunkin doughnuts coffee, which is about a mile from my house. Ride to the coffee shop is perfect. Go in, get my coffee, come out, and it wont start.

Turn the key, no foot on gas, it starts, goes to maybe 2500 rpm, then right to 0. repeat same thing, over an over.

I end up pressing the gas ever so slightly, and drive with one foot on gas, one on brake.. I get home (one mile), turn off car.. try starting it again.. everything perfect again. no problems.

when i couldnt start it.. no smoke out back, no gas smell, no check engine light or anything. everything looked great except for it didnt start/run..

Next scenario...

take car to store about 10 miles. everything fine, come out an hour or so later, car starts and runs perfectly... get a couple miles down the road, when coming up to an intersection, RPM's get 300 or less and then dies. rest same as above.

I'm thinking possibly fuel pump? (I have never changed it, and i dont know when/if it was ever changed... i would suspect never changed since the previous owner didnt do alot of stuff)

the thing is its so random, you cant recreate it. just sucks when it happens because of course your in the worst possible place when it does.

any ideas of what else to check? or is replacing the fuel pump/filter the way to go.

 

I would check the IAC valve first - do a complete TB clean if possible and/or reset everything (base idle and check TPS voltage) - the proceedure is well documented.
Check for vac leaks as well
If that doesnt work , check fuel pressures and if they all ok , try change the fuel pump relay(I had similar issues and it turned out to be the relay) and then check your fuel filter.

 

Is the check engine light ever on (except lamp check)? I'd also consider changing the MAF relays (burn-off and power) as preventative maintenance if this has not been recently (last 3 to 5 years).

Steve

 

the check engine light never comes on, MAF's are good.

new development is the car wont start at all now, which is good in a way, because now it does it ALL the time.

my buddy came over last night, and is coming back today, we are going to try what rodney recommends.

HE suspects its the fuel pressure regulator.

Ill let you know how it goes...

 

Have someone turn the key while you listen under the gas tank to hear if the pump is kicking on or not. Good place to start and will at least tell you it's fuel pump related.

 

thanks for all the help, and for the google searchers who find this thread....

Turns out it was the idle control valve.

it looked like it was stuck in the open position, killing the engine.

We suspect it was occasionally sticking, until it finally totally failed and happen to be stuck open

replaced it, and all is good again.,

thanks for all the suggestions.
--Karl