My '86 stalls when it heats up

[thedarkeye]

It has done this a couple of times now...

Basicly, it gets up to tempature after a few miles and then it just stalls. No sputtering or anything. It turns over no problem but it won't fire. Almost like there is no gas.

After cooling the engine off, it fires right up and goes untill it gets hot again.

I don't get any abnormal lights on the dash, and the computer does not have any errors. I don't think it is leaking anything. Fuses all look good.

Could this be caused by a bad crank position sensor? If so, is it possible to confirm this without taking the sensor out?

I would appriciate some suggestions so I can decide whether it is worth keeping this thing. Thanks.

[GTP Dad]

Three possibilities. One Crank Position Sensor, second ignition module, third overheating fuel pump. You really can't check the cps and depending on the engine should be fairly easy to change. The ignition module can overheat or may be cracked causing a similar problem and finally fuel pumps can overheat when the start going bad and can cause the fuel to shut off when it gets hot. When the pump cools off the car will start.

The next time it happens, spray some starting fluid into the throttle body and crank it. If it starts it is the fuel pump. If not the problem is in the ignition system.

[thedarkeye]

Hello again,

Thanks for the tips, turns out the problem was my fuel pump.

So I replaced the pump yesterday and I think I have everything put together right. When I turn the ignition on I can hear the pump run for a couple seconds like normal, but I am not getting any pressure at the fuel rail. Obviously, the engine won't start. Is there anything special that I need to do to prime the system?

Like I said, I think I put everything together properly. The only think I can think of that might be wrong is the two wires that go to the pump. If those where on backwards would the pump turn on at all? The other wires seem ok, because my fuel guage is working. The new pump had a slightly different wiring harness and the connector was not labeled for +/-. The instructions where useless, so that is the reason I am concerned about the wires being backwards.

[maxwedge]

Yeh the pump will run, backwards.

[thedarkeye]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Yeh the pump will run, backwards.

Fantastic! Now I get to drop my tank again!