positron

My car has started shutting down. If I get in it and drive here and park or drive there and back and park I'm fine. But if I drive the car for what seems like an extended period ot time, 30 minutes or more or until it hits a certain temp, it shuts off. I flashed the ECU a couple of hours ago and it did not throw any codes. I've got a new starter, alternator and plugs etc. so my ignition system seems to be working just fine. Any ideas on what else I should start looking at? Before the car shuts down I can hear what sounds like a rattle coming from the engine.

Biggamehit

iTrader: (2)

are u seeing any smoke or smelling any thing?

positron

No smoke no smells, it's not overheating or leaking rad fluid.

KFL

Sounds like maybe a dying fuel pump..working harder at extended periods. You can test it check fsm..quick way. remove fuse/ff hose/fuse/crank stream pump is good, trickles-bad. But a slightly working pump give the symptoms you stated works for a while then kicks out. At least you can rule out the fuel pump by running tests on it. I think if u have a multimeter u can just pop fuel pump cover off and test a few wires/contacts.

Compression test would be a safe bet to rule out engine internals.

positron

I think it may be a fuel problem. Last night when I went to work and stopped the car, I started it back up and the same thing happened, it cranked but wouldn't start until I stomped on the gas and then it maintained an erratic idle. Normally it idles at 1000rpm, always, but it would jump from 1100-1300 and back. I also don't hear the pump noise from the back when I put the key in and turn it to ignition. Could I have a bad pump like you say? I went to the parts store today and got a new filter and some injector cleaner, I may need to get a pump too but I'll definitely test it and see if that's the problem...thanks! I also checked the pump fuse and it's fine but still no priming noise.

KFL

Yeah it could be..like I said I know 1 guy had a s13. Car ran then died while moving on the road. Towed home..pulled off fuel filter hose..cranked trickle trickle..no stream of gas. Replaced pump then was fine after that.Same deal with 2 other s13s. Liked you said key in ingnition you can hear the pump hum. Your idle is a tad high though at 1k..should be at most 700-800..probably iac dirty..should try adjusting that later after fixing main driving issue. If it is shot best to do fuel pump replacement with a low amount of gas in tank. Also you need to buy fuel pump, sock(filter), seal. Check the fsm though if u have a multimeter..I was glancing at it looking for fuel injector tests.

positron

Well, I finally figured out why my car has been dying on me during driving. I put a new fuel pump in today thinking that would fix my problem. I finished installing the pump. I could hear it prime when I turned the ignition, my old pump was not priming. I started the car and ran it for 10 minutes then turned it off and started it again and nothing. I was pissed. Not because I bought a new fuel pump, I really needed a new one anyway. I was mad because I thought I had solved my problem but to no avail. I got under the hood and started checking everything. I went to the ignition coil and checked it...nothing. Then I pulled the distributor cap and started pulling spark plug wires. I got to the middle spark plug wire and found this to my amazement

The wire was pushed back, turned on it's side and it had some blue residue built up around it and so did the distibutor cap where it was plugged.

It was obvious that this wire hadn't been plugged into the distro for quite some time. I immediately realized that this was my problem! I cleaned it up, straightened the wire and plugged it in. My car fired up time after time. My problem has been fixed. What a dumb@$$! yes!