Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Jennifer · Post by **Jennifer** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 12:58 pm

Hi guys,

It's been a long time since I've been on here. I'm sorry I haven't been contributing. I have a serious problem and am stranded in Moab, UT. The car died at idle in a parking lot and started up again long enough to get to a parking space, then wouldn't start at all. The battery is good, the alternator is good, we changed the cap and rotor. Something shorted and there was no power to the left half of the fusebox, but we hotwired it so for now it is working. There is spark, the fuel pump and relay are working, and if you pull the air filter and spray stater fluid while starting it it will run as long as you high rev it, but dies as soon as your foot comes off the gas. Has anyone else had this problem? It seems like there must be an electrical problem keeping fuel from making it to the injectors. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Smiliesafari · Post by **Smiliesafari** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:29 pm

How did you determine that the fuel pump is working? It sure sounds like a fuel pump problem. $\:D/$

Jennifer · Post by **Jennifer** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:16 pm

Hey,
Sorry I was rushing when I posted this because my computer was about to die so I neglected to put that the first time the car died we were going 70 down the highway and charging my camera battery via the cig lighter and it is just died and the battery light started flashing light it was really low, so after coasting to the median we shut off the lights, unplugged the charger, turned the car off and tried to restart it... nothing it acted like the battery was dead... like the alternator went out. I got on the phone with AAA and while they had me on hold my husband tried it one more time and it started right up and we drove it until now without issue (that was back in Nebraska... since then we've done most of Colorado and ended up in Moab, UT). We did stop by a Midas in CO and have it looked at and they ran every test they could on the alternator and said it and the battery were both good, it must have just been a GM gremlin, so we continued on. Then last night we tried charging that camera battery again for the first time since that happened (we had been charging the GPS with no problems) and the car died going through a grocery store parking lot... it took a couple of tries, but it started back up... the battery light flashing again like it was low. We parked it and went inside to get supplies, crossing our fingers that we wouldn't need a jump when we came out. We came out and it wouldn't start, but not only would it not start, none of the interior lights or even the headlights would come on either. Of course we thought "oh crap it must be something electrical... perhaps a connector between the battery and alternator... let's try and get someone to jump it and see if we can get it to start" We tried jumping it three times with vehicles bigger than ours to no avail. This morning we walked across the street to a parts store and had them test the battery just in case... totally fine. They recommended a guy who comes out and works on cars. He changed the distributor cap and rotor, checked for spark... which there was, checked the fuel pump and relay.. .both working and discovered that our cigarette lighter had gone bad and shorted out half the fuse box. He hotwired it to see if that would get the car to start... it made all the lights work again, but the car still wouldn't start. He took off the air filter and sprayed starter fluid into the intake while my husband tried to start it. It would start off the starter fluid, and run for a sec if my husband's foot was all the way down on the throttle, but then die. The guy who came to look at it gave up and we had it towed to a shop, where it sits and puzzles all who here it's tale. Any anwsers?.... ideas?... condolences? Is it gone forever or has someone else had this problem?

Jennifer · Post by **Jennifer** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:52 pm

I'm starting to get more worried... I'm watching my views go up with no replies...

leadtrombone · Post by **leadtrombone** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:32 pm

if for sure that the fuel pump is bad. Perhaps the short affected the injectors?? They are electrical ( i can t remember the year o your van was but its a 98 or newer right.) and if you shorted out the fuse box it may have done something to them.

Thats just my two cents. I hope its not that for your sake. But something to check if you havent already.

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:09 am

Just two things I can suggest.Check the fuel relay above the heater blower motor in the engine compartment,(just move one to the other)you want to know what the fuel pressure is ,so have the parts store lend you a gauge for that,and all through fuseable links normally work or not,there are two fuse able links behind the battery on the bulkhead.I am guessing everyone has looked at the fuses in the fuse box already.

Post by **MountainManJoe** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:23 am

I don't like the sound of "hot-wiring". If the short was that catastrophic, I would check all the fuses and relays in both the under-hood and instrument panel fuse blocks.
Especially IGN-A, ECM-B, STARTER ENABLE RELAY and FUEL PUMP RELAY (underhood)
and
Fuse #8-crank (instrument panel)

mdmead · Post by **mdmead** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:27 am

I'd guess fuel relay... or any other electrical item between the fuel pump and the engine... up to and including the ECM. Sounds like something got fried. I assume somebody has checked EVERY fuse. (Sometimes fuses control things you might not expect them too so it pays to check the ones you don't think are related.)

Sorry to hear this is happening. I know the stress it can cause when travelling.

Jennifer · Post by **Jennifer** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:34 pm

Hey guys,
Thank you for your input. We did check every fuse, and took it to an ex GM mechanic who tested every wire and narrowed it down to the ECM not sending power to the injectors. He managed to bypass it and wire them power as a temporary fix, but it needs a new ECM... bummer. I hope no one else gets this problem.

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:17 pm

Well good to hear your running again.Maybe you would want to look at the links section here to get a replacement ECM that would be cheaper than buying from a dealer once you get home.

CaptSquid · Post by **CaptSquid** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:05 pm

Wonderful! The van's brain fried. ECMs ain't cheap. Try the JY.

Jennifer · Post by **Jennifer** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:10 pm

It had a van stroke :( ...but miraculously we found a replacement ECM for $80.

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:49 pm

$80.00 is a good price.That is a great save Jen. =D>

Post by **MountainManJoe** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 11:40 pm

Youpee! I'm glad you guys are mobile again. Electronic faults can be tricky to pin down and yours was diagnosed quickly and fixed inexpensively. Fate smiled on you.

CaptSquid · Post by **CaptSquid** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:56 am

Just make sure your van goes through therapy for a while. Your van has been severely traumatized.

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Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start

Re: Died at idle, restarted hard, then died now won't start