I'm looking for some guidance on how to fix/diagnose my car.

i have a 97 coupe 6-speed with 54k miles. only mods are a vararam, B&B cat-back and a tune.
i'm having a problem with it stalling out while i'm driving. i was driving down a back road about 30mph and i could feel it the engine shutting off, and then back on IF i tap the gas pedal. it would completely stall out if it was just idling at a stop light or in my driveway but i could keep it running with the gas pedal.

when i got home i pulled it into the garage and let it idle and i could hear the fuel pump whine get quieter then stop when the idle was dropping when it wanted to stall. i tapped the gas and everything picks back up again.

i had no check engine or security lights come on at all. and no codes.
when it stalled the gauges do not reset.

i did have the service ABS warning come on once.

the next day i let it idle in the driveway for a half hour to see if i could get a code out of it, and of course it didn't miss a beat.

has anyone had this problem? or can you suggest what to check first?

thanks, Jared

 

Ignition possibly?? Fuel Pump possibly?? I had to clean my ignition once because it would stall.

 

Fuel pump is a possibility, i did change both tank sending units over this past winter. but the problem just started now.

How would you clean the ignition?

 

Did you actually use the dash DIC buttons to look for a code or just expect a message to show?

 

i used the DIC.

crankshaft sensor?

 

I would put pressure gauge on the fuel rail and see what it reads and try and catch the car stumbling and see if it is fuel related.

Stock pressure should be about 58 psi.

 

So it is the yellow connector on the drivers side fuel sending unit what is
causing my problem. the whole connector can be turned. it looses connection when it's turned counter clockwise, and if i turn it all the way clockwise it makes connection and the pump runs.

looks like i have to take it out and investigate...

anyone ever seen this before?

 

If you need a new connector and terminals/pins let me know and I can find them new for you at one or more Delphi vendors. They are not expensive. Normally about $5 for a connector and a little more for the terminals since they are sold in a minimum of 50.

 

Thanks alot! i will have a better idea of whats going on in there when i open it up.

I'll let you know.
Jared

 

My car behaved similarly when the fuel pump went out. We started with near 50 . . .but rapidly dropped to 30 pounds. Fuel pump and filter are accessed through the driver side wheel well/liner.