Engine dies . . .

[Everett Z]

I went to the beach the other night, as i was driving home, my 944 just dies on me. It didnt chug along or start sputtering, it just turned off as if i turned the key. I try to turn it back on and it turns but it wont start. I wait for a minute or two and it starts up fine again.

On the way home it did this several times, increasing its frequency each time. By the time i got home, the engine was cutting out randomly, almost every 20 seconds. Id wait and start it up. Sometimes it would start and die right away.

My questions are:

Why? (obviously)

Could it be a bad sensor somewhere? It cuts out as if something is telling it to, not as if the engine is having trouble.

If it is a bad sensor, which sensors should I check that would cause the engine to die automatically?

If its not a sensor, what other possibilities could it be?

Thanks in advance, you guys have always been here to help and offer useful/critical information.

-Everett

[This message has been edited by Everett Z (edited 06-22-2001).]

[Mrmerlin]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mideastmafia:

Go Shaun , I couldnt have said it any better than that..................Stan

[Everett Z]

Thanks.
I remember where the DME and ill check that, but how do I check if i have spark or if the fuel pump is working?
When you mentioned fuel pump it reminded me that sometimes when its cold, it hesitates as if not getting fuel.

thanks again

[Scott R]

I had the same exact problem as you have, replace all the relays and sensors you want, it will not go away. People on this board have replaced everything down to the fuel pressure regulators with no success. First off IT IS NOT the fuel cutting. Listen to his symptoms, it's ignition. And once you turn it off and wait a bit, it starts like nothing ever happened. Now for the solution. I am guessin that you have the factory alarm in the car. This system uses a +12 wire from the key switch to the alarm brain, which then goes through the alarm relay, and to the back of the +12 term on the alternator. When the key switch gets old it shorts out, and causes the alarm to cut the ignition circut. So you turn the key off all the way then back on and it resets the alarm brain. I replaced my alarm key switch and the problem stopped. For an easy fix you can cut the wire from the alarm relay to the alternator. I wanted to still have the use of the alarm so I replaced it. If you need the wiring diagram for the alarm and brain I can email it to you. I made some updates to it as the service manual didin't have all of it.

[Everett Z]

I dont have factory alarm. Its a Viper, could it use the same system?

[lousailor]

I fought this problem in my 924S. I drove to work fine, but when I went to head home all crank and no start. After changing the entire ignition system (coil, cap rotor wires, plugs), fuel pump/filter, and catalytic and OBTW buku bucks it still happened and it was hiccuping as well. Finally with the right tech on the job, a bad sensor was found that reads when the engine is turning and tells the ignition computer to energize the fuel pump and ignition circuit. Bad sensor =, no fule, no spark = no start. It's run fine ever since. Hope this helps.

Louie