Fuel problem?? Engine cutting out while driving...

[Mike_944]

Ok so my car is acting up as soon as I post it for sale. FML.

It's now taking about 2 attempts to start it when it used to fire right up.

I'll be driving down the road and the engine will choke a little then just cut out. Then I'll try to start it again and it will take about 3 tries or more. I did this just so I could make it home the other night. It happened about 4 times on my 1.5 mile drive home from work.

Fuel filter? Fuel pump? Other suggestions would be appreciated. I don't really have the money to fix something that isn't a problem.

Thanks everyone!

[mikepellegrini]

It could be almost anything.

I'd start with the easy stuff and pull a couple plugs. If they look nasty, clean and re-gap them - or buy new ones. Take a look at the distributor cap and rotor. If they look nasty, clean or replace them. How about the plug wires?

If you want to rule out fuel, then get a pressure tester and hook it up. Fuel Pressure - Checking If the pressure tests low, then perhaps it is the fuel filter. But it could also be sediment clogging the screen on the intake in the tank. And it could also be a bad fuel pump.

There is no silver bullet for any of this. You just have to be methodical and go down the checklist and eliminate possible causes.

[tamathumper]

Which car? Guessing from your signature, is there a DME relay issue with the mid-80's 944s like there is with the 968?

[curtisr]

Originally Posted by Mike_944

Ok so my car is acting up as soon as I post it for sale. FML.!

Ever sell a house..?!

[Tervuren]

What RPM range is it doing this at?

[mytrplseven]

This certainly sounds like either a fuel filter or possibly DME relay. Good thing is, these are both cheap and easy to replace. The relay is a little over 20 bucks, however make sure you get the one PP sells. It has the right part number. The earlier part number relays have documented failure history. The filter is cheap, too.

[75ohm]

Happen when going over a bump?

Check the coil connections... don't ask...

[88Silver924S]

I concur: it could be any number of things.

That sounds like what happened to me when my DME/Fuel pump relay went out. When I took the cover off of it the coil had a copper-green corrosion stain on part of it so I assume the coil was not producing full magnetic strength 100% of the time hence the intermittent running and dying.

On a different car (1962 356B) I have had "carbon tracks" (Google it & read and check Google images) on the inside of a distributor cap that took me a while to find; also one can get carbon tracks on the coil tower or the center coil lead on the distributor cap which can cause the car to die since the coil wire affects all cylinders. Otherwise carbon tracks can cause just one cylinder to misfire if the track is on just that cylinder's tower (internally or externally on the distributor cap). Keep these things clean and dry to help prevent carbon tracking.

How old is the fuel filter? When they get dirty they can cause fuel pressure at the fuel rail to get erratic especially upon acceleration and hill climbing (when you want more power/fuel = high fuel flow) the pressure drops enough that the engine dies but will restart and idle (low fuel flow rate).

Good luck.

[Mike_944]

Thanks for all the replies everyone!!

First I jumpered the DME relay to see if the fuel pump was operating and it was. Then I just changed the fuel filter and DME relay today. then filled with gas. I just happened to have them lying around!

It seemed to idle and pull a lot better than usual. I drove about 6 miles with no problems. I guess I'll see if it's fixed if I make it to my automotive paint class tomorrow.