I was driving my cutlass and it just cut off on me. This was the first time, never happened before. Car still cranks up and everything. I know its not overheated cause everythings full. Could it be my fuel pump? Dont know too much about cars any suggestions would help. Thanks!
Ride cut off on me
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G
Guest
·Hey there,
When you crank over you car, does it fire up or is the motor just turning over and nothing else?
Something like that happened to me one night on the freeway in my El Camino, it was a strange deal. I was cruzing and all of a sudden, the car just...shut down, as if I turned the ignition off. It wasn't the fuel pump, rather, an electrical problem that caused the motor to shut down. Now, I am wondering...have you done any type of service to your distributor? situations are the same (we breakdown), but the reasons why the breakdown occured are always different. answer my question and let me see if it's similar to what had happened to me.
Later
When you crank over you car, does it fire up or is the motor just turning over and nothing else?
Something like that happened to me one night on the freeway in my El Camino, it was a strange deal. I was cruzing and all of a sudden, the car just...shut down, as if I turned the ignition off. It wasn't the fuel pump, rather, an electrical problem that caused the motor to shut down. Now, I am wondering...have you done any type of service to your distributor? situations are the same (we breakdown), but the reasons why the breakdown occured are always different. answer my question and let me see if it's similar to what had happened to me.
Later
Joined
·
8,953 Posts
If you ask me, it sounds like an ignition module. Both of these cars, assuming they both have an HEI ignitions (I know for a fact, the 79 cutlass came stock with one) have he ingnition module under the distributor cap. I would do a simple test.....pour some gasoline in the carb, crank it, if it doesnt fire up after doing so, check for a spark. Pull a spark plug wire off one of the spark plugs and put a screw driver in it and put the screw driver about a 1/4 inch awat from something metal thats grounded. If it sparks, you got a fuel problem or a compression problem, If it doesnt spark, most likely its your module, take it off and have it tested at the auto parts store (I know AutoZone does it if you have one near by) The only other possibility is that the power wire that goes into the distributor got disconnected, ive also seen this before. Bottom line is this....an engine needs 3 things to run:
1. Fuel
2. Fire
3. Compression
Knowing that, troubleshooting your problem is simple.
1. Fuel
2. Fire
3. Compression
Knowing that, troubleshooting your problem is simple.
Yeah it doesnt start up it justs turns over. I havent had no service to my distributor. Its weird cause I was just driving and all of a sudden it turned off on me. I tried putting gasoline in my carb but nothing happened. Im not sure what brown was talking about when he said check for a spark. But I know hes saying take off the spark plug cap and put a screw driver in it. Then what? Thanks for the suggestions.
Joined
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406 Posts
I didn't read browns post, the way i check my spark is to take the sparkplug cap off and lay it up against something metal(the hole where the sparkplug goes into), like the alternator braket or something. Crank the engine, if it doesn't spark then its more than likely your ignition module, which can be found under the distributor(sp?) cap.
Oh, I forgot, its easier to have another person help you while testing. one person to crank the engine and another to watch for the spark.
G
Guest
·I just had the same problem with my monte...I was driving and all of a sudden it just cut off on me.....after that it would turn over but wouldnt start....turns out it was the fuel pump....I would just pump the gas a couple of times and check if there is any gas actually goin to the carb, if there isnt then it's probably your fuel pump. Good luck
Joined
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7,288 Posts
ignition problem, seems like youll need a iginiton module, check under your distributor cap
yea i agree a couple weeks ago my lac cut off out of no were and it was the module take it off and take it to schucks to get testedOriginally posted by BROWN SOCIETY CC@Nov 15 2003, 06:31 AM
If you ask me, it sounds like an ignition module. Both of these cars, assuming they both have an HEI ignitions (I know for a fact, the 79 cutlass came stock with one) have he ingnition module under the distributor cap. I would do a simple test.....pour some gasoline in the carb, crank it, if it doesnt fire up after doing so, check for a spark. Pull a spark plug wire off one of the spark plugs and put a screw driver in it and put the screw driver about a 1/4 inch awat from something metal thats grounded. If it sparks, you got a fuel problem or a compression problem, If it doesnt spark, most likely its your module, take it off and have it tested at the auto parts store (I know AutoZone does it if you have one near by) The only other possibility is that the power wire that goes into the distributor got disconnected, ive also seen this before. Bottom line is this....an engine needs 3 things to run:
1. Fuel
2. Fire
3. Compression
Knowing that, troubleshooting your problem is simple.
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
