Stalls: Suggestions Please!

[Alibi]

Hello all. I've got an issue w/ my PA w/ 180k vin c. New plugs, wires, fuel filter, battery, alternator, air filter, and PCV valve.

I started the car, moved it to my backyard, reversed it, and then it stalled. Jumped it, and ran it for a few minutes and it stalled again when I tried to move it (runs fine when I just put it in gear). Tried to jump it again but the same result.

The first thing I thought of was a bad battery, coil packs, or ignition control module.

No SES light but I haven't checked for hidden codes yet.

Any suggestions? Help!! I need the dang car for school transportation and I've already missed two classes because of it...

Thanks
-Eric

[MT-2500]

If it is the one with the PCV valve in the plastic housing.
Look around for the o ring you left out of it.
That will do it ever time.
Also if battery was unhooked it may need time for the pcm to reset.
MT

[maxwedge]

89 had the old style pcv, of course if the silly little things like the year were omitted, we are still guessing.

[Alibi]

Sorry about forgetting the year (1989)... I did have it before I accidentally deleted my first paragraph when moving it...

Anyway, I dont have a plastic housing for my PCV valve, so that isn't an issue. I thought I would play with it tonight with what extra parts I have sitting around. I pulled the battery and charged it and then I installed an extra alternator. The engine would start fine on the first try and the car ran down the street just fine untill I stopped at a stop sign, and then accelerated while turning before it died. Started up again just fine, ran it back home and then it died while trying to park it by the curb...again while turning...hmm

Could there be something locking up in the undercarriage that could cause a car to stall? Could a bad CV joint do that (one of 'em are going bad)?

Well, anymore suggestions anyone??? Please???

[wrightz28]

When is the last time it's been "tuned", i.e. fuel filter and throttle body cleaned?

[Alibi]

I replaced the fuel filter two or three weeks ago. I haven't checked the throttle body though. Would a gummed up TB cause a car to stall all at once though? The only sign of this problem before was one slight shudder when accelerating the day before--I'd figure that something like a gummed TB would be more gradual...hmmm...

Anyway, my girlfriends dad is going to drive it to the mechanic shop down the street from where I live to see if they can do an electrical system check/scan today after he gets off work (shop closes before I get off) so I hope they can track something down...

Edit: G/F dad took it to the shop and found out that the electrical system is fine and that the problem is with the steering column. Apparently, something shorts out whenever I turn the wheel and kills the car. Conveniently, My g/f dad and I had already pulled the steering column out of my '90 olds 88 wreck and were planning on putting the column in this weekend. When my car was stolen (happened to previous owner) the theives broke the tilt-steering mechanism on the wheel as well as pulled the ignition cylander out so we were planning on replacing the column anyway.

I'll post back if that is the sure problem, and I sure do hope it is

[Alibi]

I know I'm just replying to myself, but I guess someone could run accross it in the future...

The problem was the steering column but if was a PITA the change out. Pulling the old one wasn't too bad, it was just getting the replacement back into the turning knuckle (for lack of a better word). I couldn't seem to get the two sections that held the turning mechanism on the column apart, so I ended up using a grinder to remove a tiny bit of the outside surface of the turning mechanism to get it to slide into place (as well as a bit of grease to help ease it in. After that, installation wasn't too bad and she runs just fine.

And I dont have to start my car with a pair of pliers now either!! Yay!!!