'88 3.2 - Sudden Engine Stall

[EMJ]

Hello,
I have an '88 3.2 with 144k on the clock that was just given a major service about 6 weeks ago. It's my daily driver (About 50 miles a day), and drives great. It has an Autothority chip, mass flow sensor, and B&B exhaust. Leak down results were very good.

I just experienced a severe stall on my way home when I hit the gas -- very strange. I put the car in first gear, released the clutch, and stood on the throttle like I always do. It took off okay but then I felt "air" when I stood on the gas -- the car didn't go but didn't turn off. Didn't feel like a miss, didn't hesitate like when a spark plug is misfiring. Just air when the gas was depressed.

I pulled over and stood on the gas in neutral a few times -- the idle was going up and down the range but still didn't have full power. I waited a minute and took off again. Had full power after a minute but then I was hitting the gas with no power again. Felt like a fuel pick-up problem now that I think of it.

Had the car washed yesterday at a car wash and the water blast under the car caused a slight hesitation once I took off. This has happened before but quickly burns off after about 5 minutes and then it's fine. Could this be related to the issue I'm experiencing now? BTW, the DME relay is about 1 1/2 years old. Also, the weather was dry -- no rain.

You guys are the best and have helped me with several questions in the past. Thanks a bunch in advance for your help.

EM

[EMJ]

Also, two years ago I repaired cracked joints in the DME that was causing the car to stall and shut off. Three cracked joints in the DME were soldered and the issue was fixed (Never happened again).

The symptom now is different, but just a little more background on the car.

[cygtoad]

Does sound like a fuel delivery issue.   My first guess would have been the DME, but it seems your issue might be something else.   I don't know if there are other relays involved, but I know that others here will know.   Perhaps it is the pump itself or the wiring to the pump shorting out.

On another note regarding the car wash hesitation, does this happen when it rains as well?   If so maybe it is time for a new set of plug wires.   I experienced similar wet weather hesitation that cleared with a full tune up with new wires, cap, rotor, plugs etc..   That being said I don't think this is your core issue here.

Good luck.

[movin]

How did you find the cracked solder joints on your DME? There must be thousands!

[EMJ]

The car is fine in the rain, no hesitation issues, but I agree that it sounds like a fuel delivery issue. I'll start with the fuel relay before going the fuel pump replacement route.

As for the cracked joints in the DME issue, the joints were easy to find with a magnifying glass. The issue was diagnosed right here on this forum, and I found a good DME brain to pinpoint the cracked joints and solder them.

[htron435]

I'd guess maybe a failing fuel pump.

[ZOA NOM]

If you happen to have Clewett Ignition wires, there is a known moisture problem with them Do a search for several threads on the issue. Also, if you had a known issue with the solder joints in your DME, I would suggest revisiting them. The quality of the re-solder may not have been sufficient.

[DonMo]

I had a similar DME problem EMJ, fixed the cold solder joints and after a short while a transistor failed in the DME (heat related failure). It would fail then cool then start, warm up then suddenly fail, cool then start then finally fail all together.

[EMJ]

Originally Posted by ZOANAS

If you happen to have Clewett Ignition wires, there is a known moisture problem with them Do a search for several threads on the issue. Also, if you had a known issue with the solder joints in your DME, I would suggest revisiting them. The quality of the re-solder may not have been sufficient.

Hey Zoanas,
Great to see you're still on the forum. You actually helped me with my DME issue a couple of years ago.

These symptoms are different. When I hit the throttle I get air but the engine doesn't shut off. Definitely feels like fuel isn't being delivered. After a few pumps on the throttle, the car takes off again but it doesn't feel like a spark plug miss.

Thanks all. I'm having it checked out this week. Will let you know.

[ZOA NOM]

Glad I could help. It sounds like your checking the things that make sense. Be sure to report back when you get the issue resolved. There seems to be a never-ending list of possibilities.

BTW, it isn't me who's been away, judging by your post count.

[DonMo]

Bad DME relay will turn off the fuel pump.

[ZOA NOM]

Originally Posted by DonMo

Bad DME relay will turn off the fuel pump.

Careful, this is not always true. The DME relay is actually two relays in one. Half provides voltage for the fuel pump, and the other half provides voltage to the injectors. You an lose the power to the injectors without losing the fuel pump.

[EMJ]

You guys raise a good point on the DME relay. I swapped it out 2 years ago but better to replace that first before replacing fuel pumps. I'll put a new relay in today and see what happens.

And Zoanas, yes, my post count is low -- the car has been flawless for 2 years, at 50 miles a day on the commute. Been great. Forgot how much I learn from you guys here on the forum -- you guys are the best!

[EMJ]

So I turn on the car yesterday for the first time since the issue occurred and heard something I hadn't ever heard before: rattle near the stick shift. Car goes in gear just fine in all gears but I've yet to drive it again. I haven't changed anything -- DME relays, fuel pump relays, etc., but this rattling, the infamous g50 rattling I've seen here on this forum before -- is new.

The car idles just fine in neutral, but now there's this slight rattle. I believe this is a common issue discussed here, thoughts? Different symptoms, of course, from the fuel pump/fuel delivery direction we were headed.

I'm searching the forum for g50 "rattles" "Problems," etc., but I think you guys will be all over this.

Thanks, guys.