weird issue ?????

[boatbuster]

I had the van die on me again on wednesday night. Almost came home on a tow truck. But after about 15 minutes she started up like nothing happened. Today, I made it to the kid's school - about 4 miles, drove home and when I went back to pick them up she really started acting up on me. She started bucking like running out of gas. I picked up the kids but never made it home - she died on me again about a mile from the house. Waited a bit and got her started, this time she was running really rough - made it home and she died again in the driveway. I waited a bit and she started right up as if nothing happened. All this time I was listening for the fuel pump and it was cycling the way it should.

Is it possible that the pump works when it feels like it and doesn't when it doesn't feel like it. Is it possible for the pump motor to run while not pumping? Everything looks good, but I did not drop the tank to look inside.

How bad of a job is it to drop the tank without a hoist? Any tricks I should know about before I release a few unwanted words at this van?

Thanks for any help!

[boatbuster]

I found the problem!!!!!!

When I replaced the spark plug wiring not too long ago, I decided to install Bosch wires - now that was a mistake. I removed the dog house tonight to have a good look at what the issue was before I did something stupid. Turned the key and got huge fireworks coming from the coil and coil wire to the transmission dipstick tube. So I had a closer look and saw that the coil was arking from everywhere I could see. Luckily, I had a coil assembly handy, replaced it and the van started. She still sounded a bit rough, so I turned off the lights and admired the fireworks in front of me. The new spark plug wires that I installed about a month ago were arking from everywhere they could.

Other than the need to replace the coil I learned a valuable lesson today:

NEVER BUY BOSCH PARTS FOR MY VAN!!!

Any suggestions as to what kind of wires I should get?

[diggin]

Originally Posted by boatbuster

I found the problem!!!!!!

When I replaced the spark plug wiring not too long ago, I decided to install Bosch wires - now that was a mistake. I removed the dog house tonight to have a good look at what the issue was before I did something stupid. Turned the key and got huge fireworks coming from the coil and coil wire to the transmission dipstick tube. So I had a closer look and saw that the coil was arking from everywhere I could see. Luckily, I had a coil assembly handy, replaced it and the van started. She still sounded a bit rough, so I turned off the lights and admired the fireworks in front of me. The new spark plug wires that I installed about a month ago were arking from everywhere they could.

Other than the need to replace the coil I learned a valuable lesson today:

NEVER BUY BOSCH PARTS FOR MY VAN!!!

Any suggestions as to what kind of wires I should get?

Remember that electricity always takes the path of least resistance , meaning you should check your plugs and the gap as wires will arc if the power has nowhere to go. OEM would probably work well for wires , good luck with it.

[brcidd]

For wires, caps, and rotors, I always goe OEM-- AC Delco in this case......

[old_master]

I found an article on the web about an independant testing lab that tested several different brands of ignition wires. From cheapie no names to the expensive name brand "high performance" wires. The Autolite Professional Series wires have the best specs, and as luck would have it, they're cheaper, go figure. AC Delco wires come in a very close second. I've installed the Autolites on countless vehicles with ZERO problems, as long as the silicone dielectric grease was used as directed.

Don't get totally down on Bosch. Although their plugs and wires are not the greatest, you can't buy a better oxygen sensor!

Another perfect example of "Just because it's new, is no guarantee that it's good". Glad you got her going!

[flyingnut1]

My 1999 Astro had the same problem - ran poor in moisture- the coil was the main problem.

[boatbuster]

We found the problem. This time we really did. MAF connector was broken by someone who serviced the van in the past, the contacts were green from corrosion. I cleaned them and reconnected with good readings. The distributor gear was stripped and was slipping, so I replaced the distributor gear. Distributor looked good with no play found in shaft. The cat converter was also limiting flow, I took out one of the O2 sensors and she started right up. I had the GM dealer replace the cat converter since I get discounts there due to my company, I do industrial shrink wrap, like the stuff on boats, and I wrap accidented cars and other stuff for them on a regular basis. One of those I scratch your back you scratch mine arrangements.

The MAF connector on the sensor is broken and the only way I was able to get it to work properly, after cleaning it, was to use a zip tie to hold the plug in proper position.