SPONSORED LINKS

1996 Pontiac Grand Prix After many repairs ! Engine dies w

Tiny
96GRANDPRIX
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 207,600 MILES
1996 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.1 Liter - V6 4 - door.
Here's a list of all the repairs done in the past year, and still the car "DIES" as we're driving it? It is so frustrating to say the least, and if we could afford a new car- then we would buy one.

1.) Alternator - Aug.21st. 2008
2.) Fuel Pump & Fiter - Oct.21st. 2008
3.) AC Delco spark plugs - Aug. 15th, 2008
4.) Ignition Control Module - July 28th, 2009
5.) AC Delco spark plug wires -July 28th, 2009
6.) Throttle Position Sensor - Aug. 1st, 2009
7.) PCV Valve (Fram) - Aug. 1st, 2009
8.) MAP Sensor (Brand new) -Aug. 5th, 2009
9.) ECT (Eng. Coolant Press.) Sensor -Aug. 12th.2009
10.) Crank Position Sensor - Aug. 12th, 2009

****The MAF(Mass Airflow Sensor) - has been cleaned really well. Also the K & N Air Filter is clean and properly oiled. The Battery is a 635 Amp and is less than a year old.(SEARS). So I'm asking for someone to please help my wife and I, it's our only car, and when drives it alone I really worry.

I realize there could be many different things wrong? But we do take very good care our car. Thank you so much for all your help, we don't know what we would do without your help and guidance. THANK U
SPONSORED LINKS
Friday, August 14th, 2009 AT 5:06 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Hello,

Ok, first can you give a little more detail on the car dying. Like how far can you drive it before it dies. What does it do just before dying. Does it get to nornal operating temp? Give as much detail as you can.

Also is the engine light on? If so have you had the codes pulled if did what are they. If not and if you can go by your local auto parts store and have them pull codes and post them here.

Mark

.
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, August 14th, 2009 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
I'm with Mark, need some details.

Couple other probes that might help.

When it stalls, does it restart right away?
Does the engine crank?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Friday, August 14th, 2009 AT 8:19 PM
Tiny
96GRANDPRIX
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Our 96 Pontiac Grand Prix will "Stall" at any given time, it's intermittent, it's sporatic. EXAMPLE: my wife will be going to work in the morning, car has not been driven all night. So she'll start the car - put it in drive and within a few hundred feet? It will stall.(Cold Start) Yet other times we'll both be in the car, and it'll just stall in mid-traffic(city traffic.)

For the past year - since August of 2008 after a Auto repair shop replaced the Upper & Lower Intake Manifold Gaskets, 6 new AC Delco platinum spark plugs, New Blower motor for the A/C system, new Thermostat, New Alternator, Power Steering pressure line, and new Accelerator cable. Plus a New 635 AMP Battery from Sears.

***What does the car do before dying? - Nothing it'll just die(Stall), even at normal operating temperature. We've tried to pull codes, a friend of mine who works for the City of Modesto as a mechanic - has a "Code Reader" - but no codes showed up. The "Service Engine soon" light is not on, so as you can see it's very frustrating.

ORIGINALLY - One year ago in August of 2008, we had taken the car to the Repair Shop, because our car had a bad " LEAK " thus - the repair on the Upper and Lower Manifold gaskets. But my wife and I also wanted to get other things fixed while it was at the shop. Then in October of 2008 we were still having problems, so we started with replacing the Fuel Pump, and the Fuel Filter- we thought that would help? - But it didn't. Then on December 6th, 2008 - we needed to go "SMOG OUR CAR " and it failed.(First time ever.)

Dec. 22nd. 2008 - We had Spee Dee Oil & Tune-up - replace (1) Oxygen sensor.
One (1) EGR gasket and (1) throttle body gasket.
Replaced : fan motor for the Radiator.(Driver's side.)

****There's been a lot of work done on this Pontiac of ours, it's our only car ! - So it's been a very stressful year. My wife and I can't afford to take on a new car, or even a newer used car, UNLESS the payments were $150.00 dollars per month.

So we are forced to just keep fixing our 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix SE - it already has 207,600 miles on it. We bought it in 1998 used - and we just WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG? Thank you so much for your help.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, August 15th, 2009 AT 2:13 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
IT can be a heck of an ordeal, I know.

So to make sure I understand you, the car stalls without warning, no dash lights come on. I t happens regardless of engine temperature.

Does it immediatly restart? Or does the engine crank but not start?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 16th, 2009 AT 7:01 PM
Tiny
96GRANDPRIX
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
First of all guys : THANK YOU SO MUCH ! For all your help, my wife and I really do appreciate it. All you guys are under appreciated, and all of you do a hell of a job.

****OKAY- about our Pontiac Grand Prix : YES ! Our car stalls without warning? - And it happens whether the car has been sitting all night, or out doing errands. Here : let me give you guys two scenerios that happened a few days ago.

Thu. 8-13-09 @ 7:20 a.M. - My wife was going to work, the car had not been used all night. She got in, she started the car right up - and put it in drive. Didn't even get a few hundred feet ! When suddenly the car "DIES ! " And the Oil and Battery lights go on? (Just changed the oil - Aug. 1st 2009 >>> Battery is a 635 AMP from Sears, 1 yr. Old.)

Sat. 8-15-2009 @ 8:45 p.M. - My wife and I went to BEST BUY to look around, once we're done - we came out got in the car, it started on the second try - and I put it in drive. We literally drove about a hundred feet, and the car "DIES!" - ONCE AGAIN the Oil and Battery lights came on? - Weird. I put it "Park" AND it started right up, - didn't see the lights anymore.

Usually I can't take the car past 60 m.P.H because then the car begins to "Stumble" or "Surge" - so then I just slow it down to 45 m.P.H. WE NEVER take it out on the highway, becuase I don't trust it, and because I don't want anything bad to happen to us.

****Those are the two lastest times the car has Died (Stalled), - so I sure hope these new details help you guys figure out what could be wrong.

**** I just went to Kragen's Auto and bought a brand new : " Fuel Pressure Regulator" - the one that's in there is the original one. And I did some research and thought it wouldn't hurt to replace it.
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 17th, 2009 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Ok, your friend with the code reader, can you find out if he can monitor the sensors with it. If so ask him if he would take a ride with you with it hooked up and monitor the MAF. I've seen it once or twice with that year vehicle not neccessarilly that make were it didn't give a code because it was more of an intermintant problem than a total failure.

Mark

.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 17th, 2009 AT 11:16 PM
Tiny
96GRANDPRIX
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
1996 Pontiac Grand Prix SE - stalls / Dies while driving, and it's happened three (3) times now. It does start back up every time, sometimes on the first try - others on the second.

The MAF sensor has been checked & cleaned.

Thu. Aug.13th, 2009 - Car died w/ wife driving it.

Sat. Aug. 15th, 2009 - Car died with both of us.

Thu. Aug. 20th, 2009 - Car died on my wife in heavy traffic - heard her scream over the cell phone.

**** Each time the car dies, the Oil and Battery warning lights come on? - The car always starts up again though. I have a fuel pressure regulator that will be installed soon. WHY IS MY CAR DYING.

Thank you for your help.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, August 21st, 2009 AT 5:18 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
If the fuel pressure is too high, then I would agree on the regulator. You need to be able to identify what is happening when it stalls. Having a fuel pressure gauge hooked up and taped to the windsheild will allow you to monitor the fuel pressure to see if it is dropping low before it stalls. Would be good to know what the pressure is to begin with as well. Possibly a weak fuel pump.

I know you changed the crank sensor, but did the old one test bad? HAve had some brands of electrical components be bad right out of the box.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 AT 7:14 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Stall While Driving Content

Is it Safe to Drive Check Engine Light?
VIDEO
Is it Safe to Drive Check Engine Light?
Instructional repair video
Engine Stalls While Driving
GUIDE
Engine Stalls While Driving
An engine that stalls while driving and then starts back up again, either immediately or after a short time is different from an engine that just wont start or if the...
VIEW MORE

Sponsored links