2.5L runs for a bit, then stalls

micali · #1 01-18-2007, 08:54 PM

I have a 90 grand am with 219,000 miles on it. 2.5L throttle body injected. I've done a lot to keep this junker of a car on the road but don't think you all need to read about that. Don't believe it has anything to do with this issue.

Recently the car started acting up. I would be driving it and it would jerk hard, kinda stall for a brief second and then go on like nothing happened. Now it is doing it more frequently. This time it would jerk hard then nothing, about a minute later it would start to stall, I could give it gas and it would rev up and smoke came out the tail pipe until it smoothed out, then it would act ok for sec and then it would act like it had no throttle and then stall. I could start it back up, drive for about 20' and then it would stall agian. Then it would just crank and crank. If I let it sit for about 10 min it would start up and go but only for about 1/2 a mile then start all over agian.
This morning it did this and I left it to sit for about 3 hours, fix'd the pcv valve and it started up. I drove it to work let it sit for another 4 hours did fine for about 4 miles and it started all over agian.

I've never changed the timing belt and will drive it to the salvage yard before doing that. I had the crank sensor replaced about 50,000 miles ago. at the same time another sensor was replaced that controled the idle, something about a cold weather sensor. It made the car rev really high for no reason. It has a newer fuel pump on it. I've put about 100,000 miles on the fuel filter.
Before all this the check engine light came on and it was for the EGR valve, this was over 80,000 miles ago. Never replaced it.

What do you think would be causing this?

xeroinfinity · #2 01-18-2007, 09:47 PM

I'd start by changing the fuel filter and EGR.
Cleaning the EGR tube.ports will help also.

this could be why its stalling, but 220k miles and it could be anything.

micali · #3 01-20-2007, 01:58 PM

i noticed that it acts up when the motor gets warm. When it's cold it drives fine. What could cause this to happen?

xeroinfinity · #4 01-20-2007, 04:11 PM

that sounds like your crank position sensor.

heres a link to some test procedures you can perform to see if it is the CPS.

hope that helps!

micali · #5 01-29-2007, 06:57 PM

do you know where the CPS is located?

xeroinfinity · #6 01-29-2007, 09:48 PM

the cps is down behind the fly wheel/harmonic balancer.
bolted to the oil pan I believe, heres a shaby pic of the connector.

and heres a link that has generic test procedures.

I'd also check your engine grounds.

micali · #7 02-01-2007, 06:15 PM

what exactly does the EGR do? Could I just clean it?

xeroinfinity · #8 02-01-2007, 08:33 PM

the EGR is an emissions system component which reburns exhaust gases. Its port that it sets on can be cleaned out if its filled with carbon. But the EGR its self can not realy be cleaned.

micali · #9 02-02-2007, 05:30 PM

can it be tested?

xeroinfinity · #10 02-03-2007, 12:09 AM

About everything can be tested

Have you repalced the ingnition coils or module?
Those and good plugs & wires might help.

micali · #11 02-06-2007, 06:26 PM

1990 Pontiac grand am 2.5
This has the power pack, which one would it have? module or ignition coil
If I remove the power pack what kind of problems will I run into? autozone says that the Crankshaft Position Sensor is located in front of the coil pack bolted to the engine. I see 4 bolts that hold the PP to the engine.

micali · #12 02-09-2007, 06:46 PM

anyone?

xeroinfinity · #13 02-09-2007, 08:15 PM

Sorry bout that delay, the 4 bolts hold the coil packs on.
This should be module ignition also.

And that sounds about right on the CPS.
Didnt I post a link for all this ????

micali · #14 02-10-2007, 03:10 PM

you did but it was showing the CPS near the front of the engine and that is not where this one is located. I do thank you for your help. I was just wondering if I would have any probs with removing the pack replacing the cps and putting it back on.

xeroinfinity · #15 02-10-2007, 09:32 PM

the coil pack will be no problem.

the CPS on the other hand can be a pita!
If the reluctor ring is mounted on the crankshaft(so that as the crankshaft rotates the magnetic sensor is triggered by notches in the reluctor ring) it wont be bad.
If they are attached to the crank pully then they may need adjusting... I dont know off hand what those would be either.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD