1998 GP GT problems

[gyvoji]

Hello all - I'm new to the forums but I've been reading them over the last couple weeks.

I can't say exactly when problems started to occur with my car but I'll guess it was early August. Like the subject says it's a 1998 with almost 100k miles on it. I'll try to describe the problems as best I can and give as much info as possible.

Basically what the car started doing was hesitating while driving. It wouldn't be a specific speed, the car would just somewhat hesitate. From what I remember the first time it happened to me, the rpm gauge did go down, in fact I think all the gauges dropped off but went back to normal. It did this for a few weeks until recently it's begun stalling.

What happens when it stalls is like a total shut off. The car just cuts out and you lose power steering/brakes etc. It will turn back over fine most of the time, however the other day when it happened I did have to try 2 or 3 times to get it to turn over properly. I've checked everything I know how to without really digging in, I'm not really experienced with car maintenance.

It isn't visibly overheating or burning oil, doesn't appear to have any leaks and nothing odd is coming out of the exhaust. The oil and filter were changed in June and are just about due to be done again, and the air filter was recently changed. These things were happening *after* the oil was changed. When I installed the new air filter I also replaced the serpentine belt as it was overdue for changing.

I've had a lot of people tell me to have the alternator and battery checked at Autozone. Several have told me it could be the O2 sensor, the catalytic converter, plugs and/or wires.. I've heard a million ideas.

When the car does stall out it tends to fire up right away, sometimes it takes 2-3 times like I said, but most often it fires right back up. It also seems to be only when the car has been in operation for the first 10 minutes or so. My girlfriend usually drives it to work during the week and has had it do the same thing. From what she can remember, the RPM gauge did drop if it hesitated, and when the car stalls out it loses everything. You just have to pull it over and start it back up. It doesn't seem to happen when the car has been 'warmed' up though. I drove her the other day and it stalled twice, but after that it drove fine for the rest of the time I was in it.

If anyone could offer some advice as to what to check I'd really appreciate it. I'm going to throw on a new fuel filter today and I put in some injector cleaner with a full tank of gas the other night. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Also about the engine, it's a 3800 Series II non-sc.

[BNaylor]

I suggest the basics - ignition and fuel. Spark plugs and wires. On fuel: the fuel filter and get the fuel pressure checked at the fuel injector rail specifically at the fuel pressure regulator. The FPR has a Schrader valve.

Cleaning the fuel injectors is a good idea too.

As a final resort, it could be the crankshaft position sensor (CKPS) going bad. One symptom is the car will stall even intermittently and the rpms drop to zero on the tach. You may get a trac off light too. After stall it normally starts right up. The SES light should turn on but not always.

Good luck!






Thrasher CAI, DHP v1.0 PCM, SLP Headers,
3.25 SC pulley, CAIT GMAF, 2.5 DP/Hi-Flow CAT,
u-bend delete, 160 TS, ZZP Stage 1 72mm TB,
TB spacer, MSD 8.5mm wires, Autolite 103,
Goodyear Gatorback Serp. & SC Belt,
Nitto NT555R Drag Radials
1/4 ET: 13.210 sec. @ 104.490 mph
0 - 60 ft: 1.945 sec.

[richtazz]

Sounds like a crank position sensor to me. IF it's been a long time since you've had a tune-up, then it's possible that plugs and wires could be the culprit.

[gyvoji]

Originally Posted by richtazz

Sounds like a crank position sensor to me. IF it's been a long time since you've had a tune-up, then it's possible that plugs and wires could be the culprit.

It has been awhile since it's had a tune-up. I'm having the fuel filter changed out this week as well as the plugs and wires, and also taking the car in to have it tuned. My girlfriend drove it to work today though and had no problems with it. I turned it on before she left and let it idle for about 20 mins or so and it never stalled out, she said it never did it to her on the way to work either. I think this is the first time in about a month it hasn't stalled out at least once after starting it up. We'll see how it goes over the course of the week.