One more stalled Buick...

I got 97' started stalling at low rpm at half temp like at the store parking lot . Now it can cut out at 35 to 40 full temp. Usually twice
in a row. Can slip into N and restart on the roll. NEVER any light and
the dealer checked twice and says everything is REAL GOOD. Oh , it
usually gives just a little surge just before dying. Then is OK until I start it again, so far.
I've read a lot about that crank senser. No one said anything about
slight surges. Does that ring another bell with anyone? Got new battery,plugs,fuel filter, INTAKE, Water pump.
Like I said , no lights , no warning, just a slight surge maybe before shutdown,so far at lower rpm's soon after start-up, then OK . So what do ya think? Crank thing or PCM ? Sure could use some imput before I start a Tim Rice saga of my own.

It sounds like you have the early warnings of either a crank sensor or ignition module failure. Another thing to consider, is the possibility of water in the fuel. Try a couple bottles of "HEET" in your gas tank first, to see if anything changes.

Thanks HotZ28 , I tried the gas thing first. Heet, B-12 and new fuel filter And 2trips to shop. They "gave" me new battery& water pump.
Talked to another guy that had same thing, even with the surge. He said it will get worse. It was the crank senser on his.
I started to work on it this week. Got it up w/wheel off and have bolt out of balancer. Will get puller and crank senser tomorrow but can only work 30 min. at a time. Got a 3 and 4 year old to watch. Wife works nights to pay shop bill.

Micker

Sounds like mine.. exactly.. surge.. buck... stall.. CRANKSHAFT SENSOR>..


GOOD LUCK

Any check engine light? My car did what I call "flash" stalling. In other words the red idiot lights by the gauges would flash and the engine would die for a second and then it would run again. The computer stored cam, crank, and spark timing sensor faults. Turned out to be the ECM itself that was bad. Swapped a used one in from Ebay and runs great now.

BD

Hey guys, I did change crank sensor and there was no change. But it not any worse. It seems very predictable now. Park for 20 minutes at store then it will try something in first few minutes after start up. If you're ready for it you can stop it by giving a bit more RPMs for 10 seconds. Then you're OK again. Weird.

Without codes you will be playing a guessing game with parts. You could pull the ICM (ignition control module) and have it and the coils tested at AutoZone. I assume that you have eliminated any source of vacuum leaks? Also, you need to check the IAC (idle air control) for proper operation. Other engine controls such as the PCM, TPS, CTS, MAP, 02 & MAF need to be monitored on a live scanner to see the operating parameters.