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Troubleshooting
/ Engine
Stalls on Steep Grade
Engine Stalls at Top of a Steep Hill (grade)
On long hills or steep grades the car engine is under extreme stress testing
all powertrain operating systems in the vehicle. These conditions can overload components
causing them to fail resulting in engine operation failure (engine stall). After
the car has cooled the engine will restart and run again until driven up a steep
hill, then the process starts over again and repeats. We have list some popular
problems and some more difficult diagnosis.
Troubleshooting
- A. Testing Fuel Pressure. A fuel pump
can fail with extreme use causing he engine to fail. Test for proper fuel pressure
with a
fuel pressure gauge. Connect the gauge to the test port on the fuel rail.
Fuel pressure reading's very depending on the system your in our vehicle, but
most throttle body injection cars (TBI) are between 13 psi and 17 psi. and most
(DPI) direct port injection systems are between 35 psi and 65 psi. To find out
your vehicle system fuel pressure consult a
repair manual. If low fuel pressure is present the fuel pump needs to be
replaced.
Test Fuel System Pressure Video
- B. Test for Weak Ignition Spark. An
ignition system
can fail under extreme conditions. A weak
ignition system can be a sign of a failing ignition component. Remove spark
plug wire and insert an extra spark plug into end of wire, attach spark plug
to engine ground then crank engine. You should observe blue spark between spark
plug gap and ground source. If a yellow spark is observed, your ignition coil
is weak and needs to be replaced. If your spark is not consistent you may need
a ignition module or crank angle sensor.
Test Ignition System Video
- C. Non-Adjusting Cam Lifters. The
camshaft lifter
or sometimes referred to a cam follower adjusts the valve lash or clearance
between the camshaft and the intake or exhaust valve. When the engine is under
extreme conditions the
exhaust valve
will expand. If the valve lifter does not adjust properly (do to neglected maintenance)
the lifter will hold the exhaust valve open casing the engine to loose compression
and stall. Once the valve cools it contracts the valve size allowing the cylinder
to regain compression. To repair this problem you must replace the camshaft lifters.
Troubleshooting
/ Engine
Stalls on Steep Grade
Check Manufacturer Specific
Engine
Stall Questions and Answers
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