Engine shuts off while driving
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CF Beginner
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 5
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From: Frankfurt
Engine shuts off while driving
Hey together,
last sunday I took my 89 Caprice on a nice drive to the "Wasserkuppe", the highest mountain in Hassia, Germany. It was a very hot day (95°F in the shade), but the car drove fine up the hill, no overheating even with AC, maximum 200-210 degrees according to the gauge, 195 thermostat installed.
When driving downhill, the service engine soon light came on, but I didn't notice any difference how the car drove. I took my father to his home, the car sat for maybe 45 minutes, so it got pretty good heatsoaked and after starting it, it almost stalled but then kept running just fine, ses light was off at this time.
After a couple miles on the highway, the ses light came back on, again nothing different with how the car ran. This time I left the Autobahn, just in case something was wrong with the car, so I would not brake down on the Autobahn. In the next town, after a couple red lights, while going uphill with 20mph, the engine just shut off, no stuttering or hesitation, just like turning the key off. I tried restarting it twice, it cranked fine but didnt start.
I called Adac (german AAA) to get me towed to my mechanic shop, and after waiting for 1 hour, the car still did not start back up. The towtruck driver sprayed starting fluid in the air cleaner, the engine started right away and died after he stopped spraying. I am pretty sure I heard the fuel pump prime when turning the key, so it is at least not totally dead. The driver also hammered on the tank to see if the pump is stuck, did not start.
The next day I called my mechanic to tell him what happened, he told me he got in the car and it started on first try, just as it should. He took it for his drive home and to work for several days, did not act up. The code in the ecm is about the egr system, but he said the egr would not make the car die instantly.
So right now he cant recreate the problem, nothing obvious to see under the hood and under the car, like a chewed wire or hose.
It was the first time I drove the car in such a heat and I suspect something electronic didnt like it. But with the problem disappearing like that, I dont feel comfortable taking anyone with me in that car, especially with the heat outside, I dont want my family or friends in the car with it breaking down again.
Has anyone of you experienced a problem like that? I do not want to start changing every part on the engine, since I have to order everything from the US, shipping is pretty expensive plus german tax.
Car is an 89 Caprice 305 TBI, 30k miles, everything stock.
Thank you!
last sunday I took my 89 Caprice on a nice drive to the "Wasserkuppe", the highest mountain in Hassia, Germany. It was a very hot day (95°F in the shade), but the car drove fine up the hill, no overheating even with AC, maximum 200-210 degrees according to the gauge, 195 thermostat installed.
When driving downhill, the service engine soon light came on, but I didn't notice any difference how the car drove. I took my father to his home, the car sat for maybe 45 minutes, so it got pretty good heatsoaked and after starting it, it almost stalled but then kept running just fine, ses light was off at this time.
After a couple miles on the highway, the ses light came back on, again nothing different with how the car ran. This time I left the Autobahn, just in case something was wrong with the car, so I would not brake down on the Autobahn. In the next town, after a couple red lights, while going uphill with 20mph, the engine just shut off, no stuttering or hesitation, just like turning the key off. I tried restarting it twice, it cranked fine but didnt start.
I called Adac (german AAA) to get me towed to my mechanic shop, and after waiting for 1 hour, the car still did not start back up. The towtruck driver sprayed starting fluid in the air cleaner, the engine started right away and died after he stopped spraying. I am pretty sure I heard the fuel pump prime when turning the key, so it is at least not totally dead. The driver also hammered on the tank to see if the pump is stuck, did not start.
The next day I called my mechanic to tell him what happened, he told me he got in the car and it started on first try, just as it should. He took it for his drive home and to work for several days, did not act up. The code in the ecm is about the egr system, but he said the egr would not make the car die instantly.
So right now he cant recreate the problem, nothing obvious to see under the hood and under the car, like a chewed wire or hose.
It was the first time I drove the car in such a heat and I suspect something electronic didnt like it. But with the problem disappearing like that, I dont feel comfortable taking anyone with me in that car, especially with the heat outside, I dont want my family or friends in the car with it breaking down again.
Has anyone of you experienced a problem like that? I do not want to start changing every part on the engine, since I have to order everything from the US, shipping is pretty expensive plus german tax.
Car is an 89 Caprice 305 TBI, 30k miles, everything stock.
Thank you!
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acamp88
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