need help with a 1993 century stalling

[primulas]

Been having problems with my 1993 buick century stalling for about 2 months now. I've had it into the shop twice and neither places could get it to stall for them(even though it stalls almost every time i drive it )

They ran the computer codes and found nothing...they also checked the fuel pump and the fuel pump pressure...they said it seemed to be fine.

usually it will stall randomly...sometimes at a light, sometimes cruising at 30, sometimes coasting at 20, and sometimes cruising at 70 on the expressway. Usually it will start after about 5 minutes of just letting it sit with the radio and blower on(seems to take longer if i turn the car all the way off.) though oi have had it not start for an hour or more on rare occasions(think it might be if i dont wait long enough before i try to turn it over). The really weird thing here is that after i wait the 5 minutes and get it started i have never had it stall again until after it's sat for a few hours, then i start it up again.(and it's stalled on me at least 80 times...and not once does it stall after it restarts after stalling...until i shut it off for a while.)

at this point i am about fed up with the car. Though i have had a few suggestions form various people. Most seem to think it's just one sensor or another. Mainly i hear crankshaft position sensor or ignition module. So ill prolly end up trying to change these before i take it into a mechanic again.


Any help is very welcome. what should i do?! any other ideas? suggestions?


Also i just learned how to get the codes with a paperclip....and it just repeats 12 when it's working fine...though next time it stalls for me im gonna see if it shows any codes(prolly on my way home tonight :O )


thanks alot

-Prim

[NakedDancer]

The ignition module and the ecm can be tested for free at any autozone. Not alot of time and no money involved.

[primulas]

ok, thanks i'll have em do that...though i am guessing my mechanic has done that when it was in.....but i dont know for sure. also wouldnt it have to be actually stalled at the time to test it, in order to find out anything? cause like i said, the mechanic couldnt find anything wrong with it running/starting ok.....but he couldnt get it to stall for him.

Also i did do a paperclip test last time it stalled and the computer didnt show anything just repeated 12.(which actually was on the way home after my last post :O )

Also, whats an ecm. Sorrymy automotive knowledge is very limited.

thanks again

-Prim

[computerdude14]

Originally Posted by primulas

ok, thanks i'll have em do that...though i am guessing my mechanic has done that when it was in.....but i dont know for sure. also wouldnt it have to be actually stalled at the time to test it, in order to find out anything? cause like i said, the mechanic couldnt find anything wrong with it running/starting ok.....but he couldnt get it to stall for him.

Also i did do a paperclip test last time it stalled and the computer didnt show anything just repeated 12.(which actually was on the way home after my last post :O )

Also, whats an ecm. Sorrymy automotive knowledge is very limited.

thanks again

-Prim

ecm is the cars "computer" which you may have heard referred to as the ECU, which i think is an acronym for electronic control unit or something. at any rate, its just the computer that runs the electrical components and sensors and stuff. try replacing your fuel filter. then if that doesnt fix it then just do some basic preventative manainence. aka PM. lol. anyway that includes stuff like replacing the spark plugs, plug wires, maybe the coil if you want, and probably the distributor cap and rotor. if none of that stuff fixes the problem, then its beyond my knowledge.

mike

[hardt17]

Originally Posted by NakedDancer

The ignition module and the ecm can be tested for free at any autozone. Not alot of time and no money involved.

I asked 1 time about testing my Century and he said they could only check cars from '96-on that have the OBDII system & that the check engine light has to be on when they do it.
Or am I misunderstanding and they can check these items separately?

[public]

Yes they can check them. Whoever you spoke to was mistaken.

BTW, it sounds like you may have a loose ground connection somewhere. This can cause these semi-random issues. They can build up a charge while it is running and then you sit with the radio and blower on and it will discharge and then run again. Good Luck.

[computerdude14]

Originally Posted by hardt17

I asked 1 time about testing my Century and he said they could only check cars from '96-on that have the OBDII system & that the check engine light has to be on when they do it.
Or am I misunderstanding and they can check these items separately?

yea the autozones around me (3 of them) all said they cannot hook it up to cars older than 96, and they cant do foreign cars like my honda or anything either. i donno... just thought id pass that on.

mike

[primulas]

Well, i pulled the harmonic blancer(huge pain in the ass, we ended up having to borrow a impact ratchet and renting the "harmonic balancer removal tool" from murrays) come to find out one of the wires connecting to my crankshaft position sensor was cut. fixed the wire and put er back together....hasn't stalled yet. though this is the first day....but i ran a buncha arronds for like an hour and it didnt stall...so i think it's all good now. ill post again if it didnt fix it.

just wanted to thank everyone for all their input and help. i really appriciate it.


Also as far as the electronics testing goes for a 93 century. murrays can test the ignition module if u pull it from the car and bring it into them. neither murrays or auto zone could test the ecm or crankshaft sensor.

-Prim

[computerdude14]

Originally Posted by primulas

Well, i pulled the harmonic blancer(huge pain in the ass, we ended up having to borrow a impact ratchet and renting the "harmonic balancer removal tool" from murrays) come to find out one of the wires connecting to my crankshaft position sensor was cut. fixed the wire and put er back together....hasn't stalled yet. though this is the first day....but i ran a buncha arronds for like an hour and it didnt stall...so i think it's all good now. ill post again if it didnt fix it.

just wanted to thank everyone for all their input and help. i really appriciate it.


Also as far as the electronics testing goes for a 93 century. murrays can test the ignition module if u pull it from the car and bring it into them. neither murrays or auto zone could test the ecm or crankshaft sensor.

-Prim

good luck! btw... be thankful that you arent having to pull a transmission out of a 91 honda prelude... cuz tahts an even bigger pain in the ass i bet lol. thats what i started doin today... all cuz my $7 rear main seal decided to go out! argh... good luck tho man!

mike