anyone know why my 964 is shutting down while im driving

[shane_c]

does anyone know why my 964 just stops for no apparent reason while im driving? its 1992 C2 tip. with 76000 miles. while im driving the system error light comes on and the car just dies completley. i can still turn it over to try and restart it but it wont fire for a few minutes. the same problem occurs if i stop after driving for a bit and try to restart it straight away. it wont. again it'll a few minutes to fire. problems also happens if you repeatedly start and switch off the car. after a couple of cycles it will refuse to start. im lost but ive ruled out the alarm as ive had it checked. any help or idea's?????????

[Don Plumley]

DME Relay?

[puma1824]

Try cleaning the ISV...that worked for me. (if it's not the DME Relay)

Proceedure LINK

ISV:

[unclebilly]

Dirty battery connection? Does the clock or radio reset?

[ekessel]

Replace the DME relay. It goes bad, and you lose the fuel pump randomly........

[shane_c]

thanks folks replaced the dme relay on thursday and i haven't had any problems since. all the advice is much appreciated. cheers!

[bigchillcar]

hmmm..i may be doing this very soon. my '90 C4 has been losing power intermittently, like it's suddenly not getting fuel for a few seconds, sometimes longer, then it comes back. it hasn't stranded me - yet. but i do have a new dme relay in the car should this turn out to be my car's problem.

[tbennett017]

It is a good idea to keep a spare handy in the trunk.. I have mine taped to the inside of the relay box...ready to go in an emergency.. do yourself a favor and get one... ;-)

[Don Plumley]

My trick is to buy a new DME relay, install it, put the old one in the glovebox...

[bigchillcar]

it's really getting time for me to do this. it must be intermittently shutting off the fuel pump. it feels like it's not getting gas or only a little. it responds to more pedal pressure, but until 'it passes', you're only going to get so much. make me do it! i have one in the glove box..brand new and ready to go!

[colo964]

Your fuel pump might be going, too. Mine was cutting out for a few weeks then totally conked out. Luckily it was on Mulholland Drive, not the 405. Relays are cheapish and are wear items so put the new one in - it might do the trick. Fuel pumps are easier to replace than the trouble a bad one might land you in, mine died at 147,000 miles. I've got 63,000 on the new (6yrs old, now) pump, hope to get another 50k out of it.

[bigchillcar]

thanks, colo964...i hope it's the relay. anyone know an easy way to distinguish between the pump and relay being the culprit?

[kurquhart]

Originally posted by bigchillcar
thanks, colo964...i hope it's the relay. anyone know an easy way to distinguish between the pump and relay being the culprit?

Simple: change the relay and go for a drive. This is a 30-second swap of a $30 part - as cheap and easy as they come.

[bigchillcar]

hi kris, i've thought of that, but the problem is so intermittent..sometimes a couple days pass between issues. but i guess if it didn't come back after days on end..i'd know.