HELP Please!

[sm1966]

I have a 1990 Chevy Lumina Euro. It has 191,000 miles on it. I can't figure out what is wrong with it. Three and a half months ago is when this started. I would drive about 2 miles and then all of a sudden with no warning it would completely give out and I would have to coast to the side of the road because it would not start again for anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. No warning lights came on and there was no indication that it had overheated. It did it so much that since then I still have the same tank of gas in it and now am getting near empty. In the past week or two though it has changed just a little bit. I would drive it about 5-8 blocks and that is all it would go till almost a hour later. Except now it acts as though it is trying to give out before it does by jerking a little and I have to be careful with putting my foot on the gas too much. But it will still give out. I had someone put a new part on it but can't recall what it was...........something like an air intake part. But it has made no difference. What could be causing this to happen? It tries to start but won't for a few minutes to at least an hour and then won't go far at all. Could it have anything to do with the fuel pump or fuel filter or something like that?

[amac209]

you need to check for spark when it dies. if it's sparking then it's a fuel problem. most of the time a car dies when warm it's either the crank position sensor or ignition module. you could try heating up the ignition module with a hair dryer while it's idling. if that kills it you found the problem

[sm1966]

Thanks for the advice. Since I don't work on my own car I do have a friend that I know will if I ask him to look for the problem you described.

[hoosier1]

Have the fuel pressure and fuel volume checked by a reputable mechanic. The fuel filter in the gas line could also be a problem.
The fuel pump in the gas tank has a screen that could be clogged Or the pump may be worn out.
If you have ignition problems ,most likely the car would not restart after a short time Unless there is a wiring problem of some kind. Usually a failed ignition component will not be intermittant- it either works or doesn`t work. Bad wiring may cause an intermittant ignition problem but it is rare.
Have someone pull the Diagnostic Trouble Codes and go from there.
You may have an ignition problem.

[droptop94]

one time I changed the rotor button and distributor cap on a 94 Nissan and after about 5 min it would die until it cooled back down. I put the old button back on and the car ran fine so I got a button from the dealer and it ran fine. what I'm trying to say is what amac209 said when it dies have your friend check for spark. he will need to do it right after the car dies.
has the check engine light come on?

[sm1966]

Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions about my car having problems. A friend finally figured it out because he has a friend who has the EXACT same car and it had the EXACT same problem. It was the cam shaft sensor. At least I think that is what it is called, lol. And the part was only $25 and a friend changed it for me for free. And since I had the same gasoline in the car for 3 1/2 months and it was almost empty I went and put some fuel injector thingy stuff in the gas tank and filled it up with gas and boy can I tell a difference.

[Mr Sand Man]

OK Ok OK OK OK lol I Think you Just Told Me The What Might Be wrong With My Car My Car Was Do And Still Doin The Same Thing By I Had Plans To Bring It To The Shop Im Stll Goin To Mybe I Can Tell That To The Guy Thats Goin To Work On It Will He Should Know

[sm1966]

I was extremely fortunate to have a friend who has a car exactly like mine (90 Chevy Lumina Euro) and had the same problem. It was actually the two of them that fixed my car. The friend of a friend who had the same problem as I took his car to the shop as you are going to do. They told him it would take 2 hours for labor but come to find out my friends friend could do it in 20 minutes as he did to mine. I just don't trust shops because they charge wayyyyyyyyy too much and waste time and all. It's too bad you don't have a friend or could do yourself to change it. The part is not expensive and it is right under the engine. All I know is he crawled under the car (of course after it was jacked up) and it took him no more than 20 minutes to take out the old one and put in the new one. Of course you don't want to have the car recently running as that part gets very hot and you will have to wait awhile to change it without getting burned. What year and make is your car by the way??? I really hope that is all that is wrong with your car because it just seems so easy to fix. Good Luck!

[Mr Sand Man]

Okay Ill Try 2morrow but to be real with you i don't know what to look for if i had some time of picture of this thing then maybe i know what to look for when i crawled under there. yea and i feel with your sayin when it come to that labor sh** the guy want to charge me $65 just to hook it up to some type of computer thing (awwwwwww) i really need to get this car fix's because i don't want to be driving around in other peoples car this summer or askin people for rides to work sh** i really don't know what to look for if you have a way to get me a image of this thing maybe some type on here may have one....... what is the name of this again so i can look it up ? (my car is a 94 Lumina v6 3.1)



Thanks for your help