Stalling..3 time tow

[biggboy]

Any help would be great!! here's my problem. 2000 alero, 63K miles, V-6, really haven't had any problems with it (lucky me) until now. Cars runs great, then all of a sudden the car will spit and sputter and go dead. Sometimes it will restart and go a little ways then other times it will only start after 30-40 minutes. No codes or anything. Fuel pressure seems to be Ok. The tow truck driver ran it through a computer and the car indicated no problems, then he went under the hood. he got me to turn it over while he pulled wires and test somethings. He told me it was my ign control mod. Well I replaced this after about 15 minutes of driving,,spit sputter, dead. tried to restart but never stayed running. Seems like a fuel problem. Replaced fuel filter, still dying, The local GM dealer said that since no codes are giving, all they could do is replace items like me. I'm looking towards the crank sensor or fuel pump.. I have to be at work Sunday so I only have 2 days to get it fixed. Any guesses to which one it might be? everytime it stalls, I can turn the key on and hear the fuel pump running for about 5 seconds then cut off. I guess it's reaching the desired pressure. Thanks for any help!!

[TRSTACIE]

Originally Posted by biggboy

Any help would be great!! here's my problem. 2000 alero, 63K miles, V-6, really haven't had any problems with it (lucky me) until now. Cars runs great, then all of a sudden the car will spit and sputter and go dead. Sometimes it will restart and go a little ways then other times it will only start after 30-40 minutes. No codes or anything. Fuel pressure seems to be Ok. The tow truck driver ran it through a computer and the car indicated no problems, then he went under the hood. he got me to turn it over while he pulled wires and test somethings. He told me it was my ign control mod. Well I replaced this after about 15 minutes of driving,,spit sputter, dead. tried to restart but never stayed running. Seems like a fuel problem. Replaced fuel filter, still dying, The local GM dealer said that since no codes are giving, all they could do is replace items like me. I'm looking towards the crank sensor or fuel pump.. I have to be at work Sunday so I only have 2 days to get it fixed. Any guesses to which one it might be? everytime it stalls, I can turn the key on and hear the fuel pump running for about 5 seconds then cut off. I guess it's reaching the desired pressure. Thanks for any help!!

Its the fuel pump. Its about a $500 job if you go to a mechanic. The pump alone is about $250. Good luck and let me know if everything works out.

Stacie

[biggboy]

Thanks, I can replace it myself..just hate the fact that it has a full tank of gas.. When I turn the key on is the fuel pump suppose to run constantly or cut off after a few seconds?

[xeroinfinity]

I wouldnt replace the fuel pump just yet.
First check the fuel pressure, should be 41-47 psi with the key "ON" engine off.

If that checks out, I'd replace the plug & wires if they are old.
But it could also be your IAC's faulty, or a vacum leak at the intake.

and Welcome to AF.

[biggboy]

Wouldn't the car run bad with a vaccum leak all the time? I can let it sit for a few days and then drive it for about 3 days before it starts stalling again.Fuel pressure is good, I was told that the pump could be heating up and cutting off..everytime a fuel pump went out with me in other auto's the car just quit. It just drives so good and then it acts like it runs out of gas and stalls..sometimes it cranks and runs fine again,sometimes it don't. I'm just trying to get close to the problem so I can spend less money. I have a limited amount of funds...don't we all.. I replaced the Ig COntrol Mod.,I just didn't want to replace parts until I found it. SO if I have the correct fuel pressure at the fuel rail, the pumps good?No chance of it heating uplike I was told? Thank all of you for your help!!I hope I learn something with this problem so that I can help a future member!

[xeroinfinity]

When it dies and wont start,
do you have a full tank ?
or less then half a tank of gas ?

What I'm getting at , is when you have a fuller tank the pressure and fuel keeps the pump cool allowing a weak pump to run.
When the tank gets low , the pump works harder causing it to heat up and slowly die.

Check the FP when its crapped out, and maybe that'll point one way or the other.
Pumps not cheap and not realy easy putting in.

[biggboy]

To be honest, I can have a full tank, half tank or just on empty and I get the same results. I can let it run in the yard for hours and it will keep running, drive around town for hours, but as soon as I start up a hill, dead..Seems like when the motor gets under a load is when it happens.. gonna do allot of checking tomorrow on the engine. I still welcome any advice..thanks

[biggboy]

New update:

Checked the fuel pressure:
50 lbs with key in the run position, engine off
48 lbs with engine running

I'm gonna try and drive it to work tomorrow, I'm starting to rule out the fuel pump because when the car stalls I can still here to fuel pump running when I turn my key on, but if it dies I have the tool to check the pressure now. I changed the ICM but I took my old one to the parts house and it checked out fine and since I have a new one on there and the car is still stalling, I'm ruling that out also. I plan to replace the crankshaft sensor sometime tomorrow. If I'm guessing right, it's on the back side of the motor, and extends inside the motor, right? I looked on the harm. balancer and all around and I could not find one. They offered two types, I got the one without wires.If this doesn't work, I was told it's a 90% chance the computer was shot...how correct would that be?