surging and stalling

Sylvester, my girls 92 Bravada just last week passed the smog check with well over 300k miles on it. My wife had been nagging me to get it done since the inspection was 30 days over due. Finally she went to her mothers in California for awhile and I got around to getting it tested. I sent her a simple text message that "Sylvester has passed". She freaked out and texted me back "Oh no what are we going to do for another car now? Did she wreak it or did it just die?" She loves that car.

So any way Sylvester started to surge Monday and the next day he stalled while my daughter was driving and wouldn't restart. Had him towed to my mechanic and he said it started right up and couldn't find a problem.

My oldest daughter mentioned that the weather had just changed to wet and cold and that she suspected the distributor. I vaguely remember some posts about non Del-co Caps causing problems in wet weather in the s-10's but a search turned up nothing. Does anybody have any input on this? or is it just women's intuition.

While I don't recall the cap issues, I'd suspect a fuel pressure problem. Put a gauge on it.
VIN Z should be 9-13psi
VIN W should be 55-61psi key on engine off.

How long since the last fuel pump?
I believe I did mine, the 2nd, last fall w/200k. The first let go at 37k and was replaced under warranty.
Here's the fuel pressure check picture,
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p288/Clunk_/Image033.jpg

60 pounds of fuel pressure and I can not reproduce the problem now, seems to run fine.

I guess it could've been a little shot of water, was there any smoke?

I guess it could've been a little shot of water, was there any smoke?

LOL, any smoke? it's a 4.3 with well over 300k on it and dilution issues on the exhaust. Barely passed emission testing. I don't think she would have noticed any smoke.

She did fess up to taking on over a half tank of fuel on a cold and rainy day just before it happened. Might have been a little water there in the fuel or on the sides of the tank. Shes afraid to drive it so I'll throw my bike on the roof and drive it for awhile.

Speaking of smoke are the fires effecting you at all?

Thankfully no. All the fires are in the southeastern part of the state. I'm in middle Tenn. but we did have smoke blown in from the east a coupla weeks ago from the Carolinas.
I just put my Bravada back in service for winter duty.
Wouldn't it be neat to find a low mileage 91-92 Bravada barn find?

Weather turned cold and it went to a no start. Fuel pressure was good but no spark. I replaced the ignition module and the coil and all is good again.

Good work, glad you narrowed it down....I'll be watching mine for that.