car died...

[rdrr96]

car acted up pretty bad while getting food and then it died. it died 15 times on the way home but i managed to get it home. after i got her home i left it idling and would rev the engine ever once 30 seconds or so to see if it would just stop. but no luck. after about 10 minutes the car died and wouldnt start again.

thought it was the fuel pump but it wouldnt start even with starter fluid. so i checked for spark, sure enough i have spark. i know im getting air because i had to remove my air intake to use the starter fluid. so now im lost.

if i have fuel, air, and spark it should start unless something to do with the timing got messed up, right?

so i was thinking about replacing the cam position sensor and the crank position sensor... HOPING thats the problem. because the onyl thing i can think of other than what i have already tried is the timing chain.

anyone else have any other recommendations?

[rdrr96]

Re: car died...

oh and there was only an EGR insufficient flow code stored in the computer.

i supposed the Ignition control module might be bad. but if im getting spark i dont see that being an issue.

[UDLOSE98]

Re: car died...

you timing wouldnt just get "messed up"

your compression might be **** tho.

[kristen]

Re: car died...

no other codes?

[rdrr96]

Re: car died...

no other codes that our diagnostic tool found.

ive explained my reasons for thinking its the timing... but as UDLOSE stated, it shouldnt just get messed up. unless the timing chain broke, which is what im worried about. its entirely too cold for a compression check right now but maybe when it warms up i can check that out.

[UDLOSE98]

Re: car died...

i dont think your timing chain broke, it wouldnt be consistant with the car working for a few min then dying, you would get absolutely nothing if that chain was broken, there would be no valve movement at all.

[bah]

Re: car died...

it has to be in the ignition, i know when ye old camry did something similar it was the distributor cap, now i know we have a distributorless ignition, but it could be icm or a bad coil pack etc...

[UDLOSE98]

Re: car died...

also test fuel pressure, could be a bad regulator, clogged injectors.

[stlunatics2oo3]

Re: car died...

check every coil pack and take the icm off and take to autozone they will test it for free. and have you checked the fuel pressure at the schrader valve at all. sounds like fuel issues like maybe clogged fuel filter. but i would check those first.

i doubt its timing chain since you said it started then it would die then start back up, sounds like something is clogged

[CDNFB]

Re: car died...

I'm not saying that it is your problem, but you can't rule out the timing chain being the root cause. Yeah it's doubtful the chain broke, but the tensioner could have failed and the loose chain could have skipped a tooth and now the gear set is not aligned.

Seen this happen with the earlier series 3.8.

[seancon112]

Re: car died...

i wouldn't suggest using starting fluid unless you have to its hard on our engines

[lilchubby]

Re: car died...

my money is on the crank or cam position sensor.

[smithtim]

Re: car died...

oh and there was only an EGR insufficient flow code stored in the computer.

i supposed the Ignition control module might be bad. but if im getting spark i dont see that being an issue.

here some info on your code

http://www.ls2.com/boggs/dtcs/DTC%20P0401.htm

I don't think it is the EGR valve causing the problem as I had one that was bad and I drove it forever with the code still there and it was fine.. only way the EGR will cause problems is if it is stuck in a certain postion.... Easy way to rule it out is unplug it, pull it off to make sure it is in the closeed postion, reinstall it (do not plug back the wire connector i.e. leave it closed so it is kind of acting itslef like an EGR blcok) then clear your code, start the motor and see if you still have the problem with rough idel

persoanlly I think this is either soemthing to do with your PCM or the crank/cam postion sensors which is ultimatley leading to the symptoms like timing being scrwed...

[rdrr96]

Re: car died...

already bought cam and crank sensors but havent had the chance to pop them in yet. when i get the chance ill pop them in... if they dont work i have very few options as to what the problem is. but hopefullythe weather will clear up and be nice and warm so i can work on her and get her running again. i miss the RDRR

ill keep you guys informed.

[slow6]

Re: car died...

any time you unplug the crank sensor or the ECM
you should do a crank position(case) reLearn procedure
using a tuner or tech 2, etc..
just FYI