1994 grand am stalling - Page 2

datslegne · #16 10-05-2005, 08:17 PM

GTP Dad --- When we got the car in (died onceon the way - tried to die a second time but threw it in neutral and kept on the gas and got it through its "moment"). The shop said they said something about checking the harness? I will call them again tomorrow - I've brought up changing the CPS and both times was told there would be no way the car would start back up and that it wasn't the problem. I know - its time to go to a new shop - I'm the customer right?! This is just an area I have absolutely no knowlege (thats why I'm here - I'm trying to be an informed customer!). Will let you know! In the meantime I have a very frustrated daughter who wants a different car... NOW.

GTP Dad · #17 10-06-2005, 07:23 AM

I really can't blame her! The problem with crank position sensors is that they are designed to monitor the rotation of the crank so that the car fires at the proper time. The CPS can fail and will not give a code just the constant stalling issue. When the car stalls, the CPS resets and then will allow the car to start again. It will continue to do this until the CPS totally fails and then it will not restart. You will find this to be a common problem on a lot of GM cars and I would venture to guess that I have replied to 50 or more members with this issue. I hope you get it resolved!

datslegne · #18 10-07-2005, 08:38 PM

The shop called today and told us to pick up the car. They don't know what else to do with it. The Grand Am is a shop flunk out. I even asked AGAIN about the CPS. He doesn't believe it could be it. But he did say to call next week and if we REALLY wanted it in he'd put it in. So, there the car sits --- can't let my daughter drive it knowing any minute it may (will) stall. Sad.

richtazz · #19 10-08-2005, 10:13 AM

Whomever this crack headed mechanic is needs to have the tool police come confiscate his tool box and put a "Parking Only" sign on his garage. As GTPdad as stated, your car shows every classic sign of a CPS failure. The windings in a CPS will swell with heat, short out, and fail with age. After it cools down, the windings straighten out until the cycle starts again.

datslegne · #20 10-23-2005, 06:15 PM

Just an update - going on 2 weeks with no stalling (I probably jinxed it now and it'll stall tonight). Haven't made an changes to the CPS yet -- we talked to another mechanic and they said they'd have no idea where to start and that it's impossible to know what it is until it does it consistently.

Maybe the car heard us threatening us to pull out her battery and toss it her in the junk yard.

datslegne · #21 11-20-2005, 07:38 PM

No laughing now...... after fighting with this car for the last month -- (my daughter switched to my husbands pickup - he's been stuck driving the beast so she is not injured) ----- my husband took in to a "quick" oil changing place. After talking to the guy about this beast of a car - he took a peek at the fuel filter. He just about peed in his pants laughing as it was the ugliest filter he'd seen --- was sure it hadn't been changed ever.............. guck thick as guck can be. After a new fuel filter, the car is back to its rev-ing little self and hasn't died since. I'm waiting a bit to go back to the "shop" and ask them a few questions. Expensive lesson?????

GTP Dad · #22 11-21-2005, 05:33 AM

I am extremely pleased to hear that the car is in running order again. Unfortunately, it is hard to find out just what is going on with a car when you only have a description. As for the CPS, your mechanic is all wrong about the restart issue. The CPS often overheats when it is going bad and when it shuts off, even for a short time it will reset and allow you to start the car.

Secondly, that mechanic should have known to check the fuel filter the very first thing. Fuel filters are easy and inexpensive to change and are often overlooked when diagnosing a problem. As I have said on most occasions, there are no mechanics anymore just technicians. Now that is not a slam at technicians because they know their business, the slam is at the fact that everyone relies on the computer to tell them what is going on not on their eyes and ears.

Hopefully, this car will not give you some good service from now on. Just remember to keep up the maintenance and what ever you do find a new shop to go to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by datslegne

No laughing now...... after fighting with this car for the last month -- (my daughter switched to my husbands pickup - he's been stuck driving the beast so she is not injured) ----- my husband took in to a "quick" oil changing place. After talking to the guy about this beast of a car - he took a peek at the fuel filter. He just about peed in his pants laughing as it was the ugliest filter he'd seen --- was sure it hadn't been changed ever.............. guck thick as guck can be. After a new fuel filter, the car is back to its rev-ing little self and hasn't died since. I'm waiting a bit to go back to the "shop" and ask them a few questions. Expensive lesson?????

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