Stranded In A Parking Lot Right Now! Help.

[jyl]

Just got into my 89 Carrera at the BART parking lot. Now I'm stranded.

Started it up, it drove normally for about 30 feet, then the idle dropped to <500 and the engine started "chugging". Applying throttle made the engine die, lifting off let the engine barely chug along. After 30 seconds or so, the engine died. I can start it up, it starts normally and idles normally for about 5 sec, then the idle slows and the engine dies. If I apply throttle during the first few seconds after startup, I can get the engine to rev up, it isn't smooth (feels like a missing cylinder, or similar), and when I lift off the engine dies.

1/2 tank gas. Oil pressure normal during all this.

I've replaced my DME relay (carry a spare), which made no difference.

I'm in a parking space, on my wireless internet connection, hoping for ideas. Thanks.

[ken_xman]

fuel issue? maybe someone can chime in with a good & easy way to check.
ever change your fuel filter?

[jyl]

Have never changed the filter.

I can restart the car, no problem. It idles normally, 1000 rpm, for a few secs then dies.

I've checked all plug wires, they all seem seated. No obvious unplugged connectors in engine compartment.

[ken_xman]

quick idea... pop off the dist cap and inspect the cap and rotor.

[ken_xman]

battery connections seated properly?
...trying to think of simple things first.

[ken_xman]

all things considered....sounds like you are not getting fuel.....either from a plugged filter ...or fuel pump that went south.

[Emission]

How did it drive on the way to the BART station?

[Carl83911]

It seems you on the right track by checking your fuel filter. I don't think it has anything to do your your cap and rotor 'cause it starts normally but dies after a few seconds. that tells me that your fuel delivery system is clogged.

when you let the car sit for awhile, the remaining pressure in your fuel line has enough force to let through enough fuel through your filter for you to be able to start the car but not enough continuous fuel to keep it running. Just my .02 cents.

[jyl]

Done. They look fine. Replaced both last month. No moisture either.

[twin plugged targa]

As Ken_xman said check the dist cap for wear- also the rotor- check if it is hitting the top inside of the cap. (this would indicate possible excessive end float in the dist. drive)
The only other thing which got me stranded was the fuel pump on my 86.
You can test this by turning on the ignition and listening for the buzz- located under the fuel tank nr the rear of the tank I think from memory.

Hope this helps?
Ben

[arerrac]

Same thing happened to me last summer. Start up, idle then die. It was my Fuel Pump.
-Wade

[Jim Smolka]

1. First push in the multi-pin plug at the DME brain box.

2. Add some more fuel (gauge problem)

3. Run a jumper wire from a 12 VDC hot source on the fuse box [one of the higher number fuses with a big solid read wire] to the fuel pump fuse. Should hear the pump run.

4. Check the connection of the speed and reference sensors inside the engine compartment on the drivers side

[JP911]

Check the wires at the coil. One of mine came loose a few months ago causing a similar situation (but with some backfiring). Which BART station?

[bento]

bump for my buddy jyl.
which bart station you at?

db

[patkeefe]

It's that farmer thing again, John. Sorry you're stuck.

[gorfllub]

Similar problem here, was just a hose wiggled off behind the air filter box.

[smestas]

Small wire (green on my SC) coming off of the distributor had me stranded before. You might want to wiggle it around and se if that helps.

[Bobboloo]

Sounds alot like contaminated gas. That or fuel pressure (pump) as mentioned. You might try some gas stabilizer in case there's water in your tank.

[lendaddy]

Major vacuum leak can cause this. Look for a hose in the vacuum system that came off. My 930 did the EAXCT thing and a line had come off.

[jyl]

Sorry I disappeared there. The laptop battery died.

Anyway, I checked all the plug wires and the coil wire, they were all seated. I checked the fuse for the fuel pump, gave it a twirl in case the end was corroded. Looked in the tool kit - not enough wrenches to counterhold the fuel lines so couldn't remove the fuel filter. After 1/2 hour of this, with no improvement, I gave up and called AAA.

Yeah, I threw in the towel. Did I mention I was in work clothes and it was starting to drizzle?

Well, when AAA arrived an hour later, the car started up and ran fine, so I drove it home. Boy did I feel stupid. The driver said I should still suspect the fuel filter.

I read through the suggestions that came in while I was gone. Seems to me that if it was bad speed/reference sensors, loose hose, or bad fuel pump, either the car wouldn't have "recovered" or I won't detect any problem now that it has apparently "recovered". Make sense? So I'll take the filter off tonight and try blowing through it, indeed I'll replace the filter this weekend. What else might I check to avoid this happening again?

I'll tell you what I will do, too, is put together a better tool kit. Right now I have just the factory kit with a handful of extra bits. Seemed inadequate. Cripes, I could hardly unbolt the DME relay.

I'm thinking:
- Get decent-quality replacements for all the wrenches, plier, screwdrivers, and other standard tools in the kit
- Add visegrips, adjustable wrench, a few allen wrenches, pocketknife
- Keep the Porsche-specific tools like the sparkplug tool and fan pulley wrench, sell the rest of the old tool kit
- Test light, some lengths of wire, alligator clips, electrician's tape, and a small wire stripper (I wouldn't have been able to do the fuel pump test Jim suggested)
- Check my spares, I think I have fan belt, AC belt, DME relay, 1 lug nut. Add some fuses, a single plug wire and a single plug, a coil wire, 1 qt oil.
- Hey, why the heck don't I carry a fire extinguisher? I was thinking about this as I eyed the fuel filter.
- Anything else?

P.S. it was the N. Berkeley BART station.

P.P.S. David, did you ever get your Carrera running right?

P.P.P.S. As I look through the trunk I can't even find a flashlight. Not exactly "prepared", was I?