Twice in the last two months while cruisiing normally @ 20-40 mph in town car dies. After coasting to a stop hit starter and nothing (no click, nothing) happens. I wait 10-15 seconds and both times it starts back up and runs perfectly. Battery was replaced w/ optima after first occurance. The only codes were the normal loss of communication codes plus the last time something about speedometer reading malfunction. Help. Thanks in advance for any and all help and your thoughts. I'm at work so can't stay on computer but will be checking back from time to time if i need to answer questions. Thanks again.

 

Check the Security light next time it happens. I had the same thing happen to me once in my '94 Z-28. I'm not positive, but the security light was on when it quit. I waited about 3 minutes, then she cranked right back up and I've never had it happen again.

Other than that, I'm clueless (just ask my kids ;)).

HTH, and have a good one,
Mike

 

I would look for a bad ground - the other end of the negative cable coming off the battery. Good Luck! :thumbs:

 

TTT

 

ttt - more thoughts please - help

 

I am looking at something of the same issue. Although it never died while running I have had the car off and tried to start it and had no starter click or anything else. However the lights worked Etc. I than pulled the key and it restarts. I have not noticed the security light on but I really wasn't looking for it. Next time it happens I will check that out. Do you use a column lock bypass? I do.

 

Yes, i have a column lock bypass.

 

Had the same problem and had to be towed and when I got to the shop it started just fine. Turned out the main computer ground next to the battery on the fram was loose. Tony (By the Air Park) found it. It must be a change in weather thing. I think I'm going to put a belvill washer on it.

 

Thanks, I'll check these items out this weekend. Any more comments welcomed.

 

^^There is your answer bud! Bad ground. There are two main ground wires in the car. Check both of them.

 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help. Any easy to tell me exactly where the two main grounds are. Thanks again.

 

ttt

 

My Vette had a similar breakdown. In my case, the ground wire connecting the left side head to the block was broken. If you have a fuel line pressure guage, take a reading with the ignition on. If the pressure is less than 30 psi, check for a broken or loose ground wire on the back of the head. Not much room to work with back there.

Best of luck in finding a repair...ground wires are never an easy fix.

 

The grounds that you need to check are:

1. On the passengers frame rail just inboard of the battery.

2. On the passengers frame rail just aft of the head light.

3 On the passengers side of the engine block, just below # 6 plug and just above the starter.

4. On the drivers side of the block just below the # 5 plug.

5. Back of the engine. look in from the drivers side towards the fire wall.

6. Rear wheel well frame between the tire and the wheel well for both the passenger and drivers side.

Remove both door sill plastic covers. Where the front of door sills start to turn up (near the lower door hinge) there will be a ground lug in a small well area

The ground lugs in the engine compartment and wheel well areas will be rusty!
If you try to remove the nut with out removing the rust and soaking it in oil it WILL ring off!!!!! :yesnod: :yesnod: I busted off two!! :cuss Fixed it by drilling and installing a self tapping ground screw! :thumbs:

The only grounds that you probably need to check are in the engine compartment but I found that the other grounds were in other than desirable condition!

I would also make damn sure that the pos and neg battery terminals are clean and properly tourqued on. I have seem more problems there than with the grounds! :yesnod: If the battery terminals are loose, sometimes the car wont start but other low current drawing things like the radio and lights will work.


Bill Curlee

 

What module(s) are reporting loss of communication?

 

Thanks guys for this great response. Looks like I've got a lot of checking to do. Bill Curlee thanks so much for your great & very detailed info. I'll have to check on the exact codes. Numbers seems like 1016, 1054, 1096 but not sure. Thanks again.

 

a couple weeks after I installed my headers, I experienced the same type of problem and after alot of hit and miss and dealer checks we found a loose ground strap to the block on the driver side to be the culprit. no problem after that.