Car stalls intermittently while driving

Tiny
THOMMO73
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 HOLDEN ASTRA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 215,000 MILES
Starts and drives fine. It takes anywhere from fifteen minutes to two hours and the car shuts down, normally while coasting along but sometimes when stopped at lights. Still cranks over and tachometer shows movement. Crank sensor is new. Fuel pump is new. Thermostat and top and bottom hoses are new. Oil, ATF and coolant are fresh. Seems to have fuel pressure at rail when stalled. Doesn’t sound like injectors are opening when cranked. Evap solenoid is ticking audibly. Starts again after thirty or forty minutes, or, remove and replace negative battery terminal and it starts immediately. Have tried replacing fuel and ecu relays, but still the same. Also, I made a bracket and mounted the ECU off the engine block, still stalling though. Worried about taking it to Holden as it may not fault when they’ve got it. No codes/lights are coming up on dash. Check engine lights flickers a few times when stalled, but only when you turn the key on. Please help, it’s my daughters car and we bought it for her, but it needs to be reliable. My wife wants to get rid of it but it otherwise runs well, and I’ve invested hours into it.
Saturday, March 23rd, 2019 AT 4:42 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,254 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

First, this vehicle isn't offered in the US, so my technical information is very limited. What you need to do is when the engine stalls and won't restart, specifically check fuel pressure and check if there is spark to the plugs. I am going to provide a few links that discuss this type of a condition and how to check the most common causes. Additionally, I will provide links that show how to check for fuel pressure and to check for spark. If there is no spark, I suspect there is a problem with the new crank sensor. If there is no injector pulse, it could be related to a bad cam sensor. Take a look through these.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-stalls

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-fuel-injector

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

One last thought. When it stalls and won't restart, see if it starts for a couple seconds using starting fluid. If it does, then it is a fuel related issue. If it doesn't, then it is ignition related. At least that will help reduce possibilities.

Here are a few links that you may or may not need. Just adding them in case:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Also, check to see if there is an ignition relay in the relay box. It may be failing.

Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe
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Saturday, March 23rd, 2019 AT 9:27 PM
Tiny
THOMMO THOMAS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Thanks Joe. Yes, I’ve sprayed into the throttle body and it fires while stalled. I’ll have to take some time to look through all of those links. I have installed a different app on my phone and found a couple of stored codes, U2105 and P1895. I believe one is reference the auto transmission, I had noticed when you select gears sometimes all the lights come on, in the centre console. I checked the linkage at the transmission and found the bush completely gone and it bounces on top of the pin when selecting. I’ll address this first I guess, and see if this sorts the code out. There are two relays in the box that I can see, I think one is fuel pump and the other is ecu etc. I’ve changed them both but still stalls. I’ll let you know how I get on. I believe it’s the same as a Vauxhall or Opel Astra, no US version though, possibly South America.
Thanks again, Thommo.
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Sunday, March 24th, 2019 AT 2:29 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,254 POSTS
Welcome back:

I have to be honest, if it won't start after stalling, but does when you use starting fluid, the problem is fuel related. Check the fuel pressure when this happens and I would also check for an injector pulse. It seems something is shutting down the fuel supply.

I'm sorry I don't have more specific info on this. However, feel free to ask any question you have. Between the two of us, we should be able to figure it out.

I did a bit more research. The code U2105 indicates a loss of communication with the engine control system. Has anyone been working on wiring around the ECM/PCM? Check to make sure the wiring harness is in good condition, free of corrosion, and none of the pins are pushed in or damaged.

Take care,
Joe
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Sunday, March 24th, 2019 AT 6:37 PM

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