Any Resolutions For 2016?

[Maricar19]

FOR 2016, I resolve to avoid things that make me fat like weight scale, mirrors and pictures...

 

[FogSailing]

Refrain from losing money in my TSP account; oh, lose the weight gained after my surgery, and reduce my golf score by 5 strokes

I know...Impossible

FS

 

[alevin]

Will try it, UQ. Problem at this point is not that it won't restart, but that it won't keep running. Besides the tugs, it sometimes dies, sometimes in mid-slow motion, like pulling into a parking space or going around a corner slow, sometimes a sweeping offramp from the interstate at 45mph. I restart it while it's still in motion, to keep control, sortof, when in traffic, but I'm avoiding the 45 mph big sweeping curve offramp side of town at this point, don't want to go through that again, happened 3x on that curve that day. now I take the more direct straight slanting offramps where I can maintain some speed going straight, or else I take the slowboat back roads between work and home.

 

[userque]

Here's another while we're still playing armchair mechanic.

This may not work on all vehicles.

When it's quiet, turn your ignition all the way ON, but not to the point it cranks the engine. Kill the radio and A/C first--anything that makes noise.

Listen for a low moan (lasting up to 10 seconds). That should be the fuel pump priming. This just confirms that you can hear it and that this applies to your vehicle.

So,

The next time it stops and won't start, and before you hammer the tank; repeat the test to see if you can hear the pump. That'll give you a clue if you can; or a clue if you can't.

 

[userque]

Misfiring tends to cause more of a vibration or shake or rattle or roll or shimmy in the engine;

whereas those 'tugs' will be smooth [and quiet--no firing on any cylinders, and possibly no moan from the fuel pump--] in a fuel delivery problem.

 

[alevin]

Hey Annie, I had an old 73 Chevy Impala years ago that had spark plug and wire problems, the start of my learning curve on cartalk. I'll have mechanic take a look and do global replace on those too, but the way it's acting, some days it only tugs a little, maybe a couple times, other days, it just doesn't want to stop doing what it's doing, same general routes to and from work, and around town. I'm still thinking it's fuel pump related, but the shade tree one-man shop mechanic I have faith in, I bet he figures it out, with or without my helpful hints on what to look at. but he'll get the helpful hints from me anyways. Just got to get through this week what with having to do some out of town travel a couple days, get pu in the shop next week sometime if all goes well. And then on to car hunting for the next set of 4 wheels.

 

[DreamboatAnnie]

Also could be spark plug wires. You might have one or several that are damaged or not well connected to the plugs. Kind of like a water hose with a hole, and wire(s) are leaking electricity so plug does not get the electricity needed and thus causes the misfire. It could be that wire damage is so slight that when wires move enough it leaks enough electricity, due to normal car vibration or even turning, to cause random misfire. Over time they should degrade further to cause more random misfire and eventual consisten misfire. A good mechanic can test each one, but you might just want to replace them all or give it a full tune up with plugs and wires replaced.

Others on site can correct me on this, but I think that is how it works. Best wishes Alevin!

 

[alevin]

Sweet...I like to hear that! Now I know where to turn when I need some automotive/speed-modifications advice

Also, while I'm here

After we last spoke, I remembered an incident where a relative's car stopped. He called another relative who was a mechanic. Based on their conversation, the mechanic suggested he tap on the fuel tank with a hammer. Car started. (Fuel pump problem.)

Just something quick to try if you get stranded somewhere and don't mind a little dirt.

Excellent suggestion, UQ. I'll have to keep the hammer in the pu from now on, until I get situation resolved. And yes, of course I have a hammer! :cheesy: And no, I absolutely don't mind a little dirt or crawling around if that's what it takes to get things running again if I get stuck on side of the road. if I minded a little dirt, I wouldn't have trained and worked in a handful of related natural resource professions for past 30-odd years. :laugh: And nnuut, I also have a few wrenches and have used them too. :smile:

 

[nnuut]

:laugh:

 

[userque]

Yay Annie! ty. I will ask him to do that when I get it in the shop. UQ, hope you notice I'm not the only non-manly type who thinks and talks vehicles around here :wink:. There are other non-manly types in my circle of acquaintances who talk vehicle-language as well, one of them is even a local stock-car racer.

Sweet...I like to hear that! Now I know where to turn when I need some automotive/speed-modifications advice

Also, while I'm here

After we last spoke, I remembered an incident where a relative's car stopped. He called another relative who was a mechanic. Based on their conversation, the mechanic suggested he tap on the fuel tank with a hammer. Car started. (Fuel pump problem.)

Just something quick to try if you get stranded somewhere and don't mind a little dirt.

 

[alevin]

Suggest lowest cost/easiest first. Replace fuel pump relay under hood in electrical box first. Then try Fuel pressure regulator. Best wishes!

Yay Annie! ty. I will ask him to do that when I get it in the shop. UQ, hope you notice I'm not the only non-manly type who thinks and talks vehicles around here :wink:. There are other non-manly types in my circle of acquaintances who talk vehicle-language as well, one of them is even a local stock-car racer.

 

[DreamboatAnnie]

Oooh, you are good, cuz. If that was the only time it was happening, I'd be dancing at the diagnosis, no such luck, it bopped a little coming through town from grocery store today with half-tank of gas on the gauge. just a couple tiny tugs though. small hesitations while in motion, driving straight down the street. kinda like a fish testing the bait on the end of the line. but I still kinda think its the fuel pump, will watch to see if happens more when low on gas. not sure at the moment.

Suggest lowest cost/easiest first. Replace fuel pump relay under hood in electrical box first. Then try Fuel pressure regulator. Best wishes!

 

[userque]

Oooh, you are good, cuz. If that was the only time it was happening, I'd be dancing at the diagnosis, no such luck, it bopped a little coming through town from grocery store today with half-tank of gas on the gauge. just a couple tiny tugs though. small hesitations while in motion, driving straight down the street. kinda like a fish testing the bait on the end of the line. but I still kinda think its the fuel pump, will watch to see if happens more when low on gas. not sure at the moment.

Yeah...I'd bet fuel pump as well.

 

[alevin]

Poor Clementine. :nuts:

Ok, burro, how about you resolve to never give up on not talking about them. or find a substitute, kinda like you did with smoking. You managed that, you can manage this too. never give up trying. :ban:

 

[burrocrat]

omg you got to be kidding me!!?? and here i just swore a resolution to not talk about them!!!

 

[alevin]

Oooh, you are good, cuz. If that was the only time it was happening, I'd be dancing at the diagnosis, no such luck, it bopped a little coming through town from grocery store today with half-tank of gas on the gauge. just a couple tiny tugs though. small hesitations while in motion, driving straight down the street. kinda like a fish testing the bait on the end of the line. but I still kinda think its the fuel pump, will watch to see if happens more when low on gas. not sure at the moment.

 

[userque]

And rightfully so, b. Bet that gal's hand smarted awhile too, whoever she was. Never pictured you being a slow learner tho, so it surely wouldn't ever happen again.

And UQ, funny you should mention the electrical. I bought the vehicle with a spliced wire already present, never gave problems for several years, never gave it any thought. When it started acting up driving around town, I spent (wasted) many days dealing with a shop down the road from me, with the mechanics trying to diagnose, relying solely on codes-no diagnosis, over and over and over again. One of the mechanics even mentioned the spliced wire to me, I said I knew about it, he never tested it for possibility.

In despair, I asked around and got a line on another guy, 1-man shop, cash-only business. In half hour day1, he found and replaced the spliced wire, took it for test drive and the fuel pump went out on the test drive minutes after he fixed the wire. So yes, there may be a wire loose somewhere, but it could also be the fuel pump. or both, or something else still. I'm thinking of making an appt with the 1-man shop week after next, if it's a loose wire, he'll find it for sure. He's good, just kind of out of the way.

Good, keep us posted!

While I'm here:

In addition to vibration, thermal cycles can also cause bad connections to open/close. Many fuel pumps are cooled by the gasoline in the tank. They can run hotter when low on fuel. This can cause intermittent failures if the pump is on the way out, especially when braking, accelerating, or cornering (all cause the low fuel volume to swish away from the pump, increasing it's temperature...depending upon vehicle design, of course)

 

[alevin]

you're good cuz, good. the last time i said those things to a gal i got slapped.

And rightfully so, b. Bet that gal's hand smarted awhile too, whoever she was. Never pictured you being a slow learner tho, so it surely wouldn't ever happen again.

And UQ, funny you should mention the electrical. I bought the vehicle with a spliced wire already present, never gave problems for several years, never gave it any thought. When it started acting up driving around town, I spent (wasted) many days dealing with a shop down the road from me, with the mechanics trying to diagnose, relying solely on codes-no diagnosis, over and over and over again. One of the mechanics even mentioned the spliced wire to me, I said I knew about it, he never tested it for possibility.

In despair, I asked around and got a line on another guy, 1-man shop, cash-only business. In half hour day1, he found and replaced the spliced wire, took it for test drive and the fuel pump went out on the test drive minutes after he fixed the wire. So yes, there may be a wire loose somewhere, but it could also be the fuel pump. or both, or something else still. I'm thinking of making an appt with the 1-man shop week after next, if it's a loose wire, he'll find it for sure. He's good, just kind of out of the way.

 

[userque]

you're good cuz, good. the last time i said those things to a gal i got slapped.

LOL. Thought I was talking to a manly grease monkey. :smile:

 

[burrocrat]

Yeah, tough one. My two cents follows.

You didn't say "vibration." That's another possibility.

Sounds like a bad connection (obviously); wiring or solder joint. Sensors and the computer are included in those, but I'd hope that if it were a sensor, it'd throw up a code.

I'd probably try to recreate the problem first by (1) jiggling any wiring harness you can easily access under the hood and dash, or (2) causing vibrations near the ones you don't (by banging nearby with your hand or something else).

If it works, it could cause the problem to appear intermittently, or hopefully "permanently." Either way, you'll then have a clue.

Good luck

you're good cuz, good. the last time i said those things to a gal i got slapped.