Targa stalled on me last night

KCTarga3.2 · KCTarga3.2's Garage

Hey guys,
After washing the car last night I went to pick up carryout for the prego wife at home. Car ran great, but on the way home about a block from the house it stalled at a light. This has never happened before. For almost two years straight the car has fired up first time, every time.
Anyway, she would turn over but when I pressed the gas pedal there was nothing, and then eventually stall again.

Luckily a cop was right next to me at the light and offered to help. He stopped traffic enough to let me coast back into a parking lot. After 5 minutes she started up and puttered back home. Still the same way today. Any ideas where to start? Did I do something while washing the car? Fuel issues?

Cool part of the story is that the cop said he was a fan of my car and had seen it in the neighborhood. Wish I would of had time for a pic - it looked pretty cool with the recently detailed targa alone in an intersection with two police cars blocking the traffic.

pete3799 · pete3799's Garage

This could be hard to pin point. Start by Pulling the dist. cap and check for moisture or cracks.
If it's wet spray some WD40 or PB blaster in it and try that.

Zeke · 07-18-2010, 12:21 PM

Sounds a bit like the old DME relay deal or the head temp sensor. When you wash your car, over the motor and put your keys on that cover. Don't ask me why because I've never sucked a towel into the fan.

KCTarga3.2 · KCTarga3.2's Garage

Now the car won't turn over at all. Luckily she made it into the garage last night. The dist cap and plugs were replaced less than a year ago. I have a spare DME, let me try that first and see what happens. Thanks for the advice.

kidrock · 07-18-2010, 06:40 PM

even if the plugs and dizzy cap are brand new, these cars are slightly notorious for allowing moisture into the cap during rains or washings. I'd look there first before replacing the relay.

KCTarga3.2 · KCTarga3.2's Garage

OK guys, I replaced the relay and got her to start and stay started. She's alive, but now is shaking while in idle. I haven't tried to drive it yet. What is causing the shaking - do I adjust the idle? Is it the fuel pump?

Any advice?

geoz · 07-23-2010, 12:47 AM

Mine stalled then would crank but no start. It was a faulty fuel pump. But since yours runs that does not seem to be the case.

E Sully · E Sully's Garage

It's probably not firing all 6 cylinders. Make sure the distributor and rotor are clean and dry, and that each spark plug wire is securely attached.

ossiblue · 07-23-2010, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E Sully

It's probably not firing all 6 cylinders. Make sure the distributor and rotor are clean and dry, and that each spark plug wire is securely attached.

Agree. The shaking is probably from misfiring from one or more cylinders. Given the circumstances on when/how this developed, I'd still suspect an ignition problem. Be sure you fully confirm good ignition at all cylinders before going after fuel issues.

E Sully · E Sully's Garage

If not a spark issue you might also want to check that the electrical connectors to the fuel injectors are dry and secure.
When I first got my 3.2 it had 2 injectors that were sticking. A couple of taps with the handle of a screwdriver got them working again.

KCTarga3.2 · KCTarga3.2's Garage

Update - guys thanks for the advice. I have very limited wrenching experience. I tried replacing the DME relay, opened the dist cap to check for moisture, reconnected the wires, even charged the battery. I didn't want to start messing with fuel pumps, etc before I got in over my head. Plus is has been 90-100 degrees and no less than 75% humidity. The Garage is literally a sauna and it's hard to be in there for more than 25 mins. I used the best tool I have, AAA card.

So she's off to Bob Hindson Racing in KC to get fixed up.

I will let you know what ended up being the problem - unless it's too embarrassing to admit.

KCTarga3.2 · KCTarga3.2's Garage

I said I would post what ended up being the problem, unless it was too embarrassing.....well this is too good, even if I look like a fool............are you ready............... The car was out of gas!

Jokes on me, but I don't feel too bad because the fuel tank level sender was stuck at 1/2 a tank. My guy at Bob Hindson Racing said that I had just paid my porsche idiot tax.

GothingNC · 07-29-2010, 03:44 PM

Better to have that then a $600 part failure.

NewfieMZ3 · NewfieMZ3's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by GothingNC

Better to have that then a $600 part failure.

+ 1 on that, i'd rather suffer the embarrassment.......

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

"Street cred" increase for honesty.

teenerted1 · 07-30-2010, 02:27 PM

i would have said to check the fuel filter... but sounds like the issue was a little upstream for there

ard · 07-30-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCTarga3.2

I said I would post what ended up being the problem, unless it was too embarrassing.....well this is too good, even if I look like a fool............are you ready............... The car was out of gas!

Jokes on me, but I don't feel too bad because the fuel tank level sender was stuck at 1/2 a tank. My guy at Bob Hindson Racing said that I had just paid my porsche idiot tax.

Glad to hear it was a simple fix (BTW, AAA also brings you free gas

).

Begs the question though: am I the only paranoid guy here who resets his trip odometer at every fill-up, so as to serve as a backup in case the fuel level gauge fails?