Engine Problems

[revmred]

My daughter has an 88 Buick Century, It was purchased from an eldery lady that drove it very seldom. When they test drove it it died once on them, after they bought the car it would occasionaly die, usually at an intersection. I have been driving the car for a few weeks trying to find the problem. We have replaces the fuel pump and cleaned the tank. Two things are happening. 1. The car will just die while youa re driving down the road, when it dies you have to wait 10 -30 minutes before it will start. 2. you can drive it, short or long distance does not matter, kill engine get out and come back 5 minutes or 2 hours later and it will nto start. You can attenpt to start the engine and come back later (10 minutes) and it will start and run fine. HELP!!!

[Anthony Cosenza]

Originally Posted by revmred

My daughter has an 88 Buick Century, It was purchased from an eldery lady that drove it very seldom. When they test drove it it died once on them, after they bought the car it would occasionaly die, usually at an intersection. I have been driving the car for a few weeks trying to find the problem. We have replaces the fuel pump and cleaned the tank. Two things are happening. 1. The car will just die while youa re driving down the road, when it dies you have to wait 10 -30 minutes before it will start. 2. you can drive it, short or long distance does not matter, kill engine get out and come back 5 minutes or 2 hours later and it will nto start. You can attenpt to start the engine and come back later (10 minutes) and it will start and run fine. HELP!!!

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The first thing that come to my mind is a clogged gas filter . . that will stop engine operation when stirred up . . Then allow starting when a little settling takes place . .

[groundeds10]

ive also heard of the tps going bad and causing this problem, could get another from a junk yard, its an easy fix too...

[Anthony Cosenza]

Originally Posted by groundeds10

ive also heard of the tps going bad and causing this problem, could get another from a junk yard, its an easy fix too...

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Well, if that doesn't work, I'd try replacing the Radiator cap . . The cap
is supposed to keep coolant in and air out . . Air is getting IN . . The washer in the top of your cap could be cracked . . or there might be a leak in the cap head . . Check it out . .

[groundeds10]

how would low coolant cause the vehicle to stall???

[Anthony Cosenza]

I don't know . . overheating in the engine, is my guess??? But you don't know that it's the low coolant that is causing the stall . . Correct one thing at a time . . If you get the coolant to stay in the Radiator and engine . . and it doesn't stall anymore, you're all set . . Why ask "WHY?" or "HOW?"

[RABarrett]

My suspicion is the ignition system, typically the ignition module. In order to troubleshoot this problem, it will be necessary to determine whether the loss is ignition or fuel. My guess is fuel. You can next make checks to determine whether the system involved is losing a signal or not responding to one. I'll help where I can. let's start with what system is failing and go from there. Ray

[RABarrett]

My suspicion is the ignition system, typically the ignition module. In order to troubleshoot this problem, it will be necessary to determine whether the loss is ignition or fuel. My guess is ignition. You can next make checks to determine whether the system involved is losing a signal or not responding to one. I'll help where I can. let's start with what system is failing and go from there. Ray

[pcv]

What size motor do you have in it? I suspect you have a bad cam and/or crank sensor. When the vehicle stalls, check if you have spark at two adjecent spark plugs wires. If no spark, replace cam sensor first and go from there.
Good Luck.

[groundeds10]

take it into a shop to run a diagnosis if you got $75 or so to spend and they can check all the different sensors voltages and pinpoint which one(s) are bad...

[cartdriver]

try driving the car with the gas cap off. Sometimes the air intake (to the fuel tank) will get plugged and cause a vacuum in the tank not allowing fuel to leave. It would explain why after a period of time it will run again. Good luck

[high desert]

replace the crank sensor when they go the car will stall and after a little while run fine the worse the sensor gets the longer the wait when the sensor is going out it starts hitting the harmonic balancer and the sensor reads it as a crank knock and kills the engine to save the pistons

[Jaice]

try the tps, it cost $28 at autozone. My 89 wouldn't start for 2 days and its the tps, I haven't replaced it yet though. Is the check engine light on?