Shuts off while driving

Eh. Try JA3AY26A1YU008779 stupid copy and paste picked up the 1 as an L.9th character error. Sigh. LOL

Odd, this link works okay for the VIN:

https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder/Decoder

Same for Kelly Blue Book. Weird.

Wrong post.

Hi Joe,
Back to the 2000 Mirage. I'm not sure if I covered it or not, but the crank sensor is installed.
Not too bad of a job overall, but not something I'd do every day, LOL.
I should have spent a little more time on it and given the timing belt a good look over, but from what I could see of it, it looked fair enough. No cracking or signs of stress in it.
Guess the 1.5L has a camshaft sensor in the distributor. So, some posts have mentioned, and the 1.8L is outside on the head. I certainly cannot find one on this thing.
Anyway, I drove it to the hardware store the other day to get a 15mm deep well socket for that Sport Trac center bearing nuts and it seems to run okay. Little rough yet in the idle but suspect issues with the TPS or ICV. Holes in the gas tank seem to be holding this round as well. I didn't braze them up but used the Permatex putty and then the 2-part JB Weld covering all that mess of putty, LOL. So far so good, no leaks.
On the other issue of the gas gauge, I had changed that float unit twice and just gone done fussing with it again a few minutes ago. I pulled it back out of the tank and hooked it up and it read fuel levels fine. From low to almost full. So, I put it back in the tank. What I did differently is not tighten it up real tight, but just snug enough to seal the gasket to the tank.
And it is reading fine now. Perhaps one can over tighten the 3 nuts that hold it in, and it causes some sort of binding action? Mystery to me right now but shall see how it works out as I drive it around some.
I needed to order a fuel filter for it, as I cannot find the one, I had put it in a safe place I guess, LOL. Over time, I have changed the plugs, wires, injectors, and installed a new distributor as well. Need to buy another timing light too. Sigh.
Hopefully I can resolve the rough idle issue and get it back to somewhat of a smooth idle again. It isn't bad until you turn on the AC and put it in gear, and it is like the ICV isn't adjusting it correctly. Anyway. Thought I'd share the latest on it.
Later on, and enjoy the holiday weekend,
Terry

Thanks Joe will check it all out. As a note, I have changed the IAC and cleaned the throttle body out, but perhaps I still have an issue with the throttle body. It would be like the IAC gets stuck and doesn't want to adjust in and out. I noticed it has a little tiny motor on it to sew the valve in and out as it works, or at least that is what I suspect. Perhaps I just need to replace the throttle body now. It has over 100,000 on it.
One step at a time, LOL.
Later on,
Terry

Well, I don't remember right off, but I did fuss with it. Perhaps I might order a new one and start over in that area. After of course checking some things out on it.
I find it very interesting you mention the steering. LOL Talking with my local mech. Dann, whom has been in contact before with that Sport Trac and the reverse issue. Anyway I was showing him how the idle would change by turning the wheel and even pumping the brake pedal would alter the idle speed. Hum. Vacuum leak.I pulled the hose off the vacuum brake master cylinder and pumped it down to see if it was holding vacuum and it appear to hold okay, but I thought it was bad at one time. Guess since it held zero vacuum it is okay. The brakes work fine. Perhaps I'll get a hold of Dann again and see if he still has his smoke unit to help chase down vacuum leaks.
Terry

I meant to add to all that. And I may have mentioned sometime ago. But several years ago I changed the expansion valve in this car. That was a major pain, but anyway. At the same time I installed a new condenser. Long story short, I had replaced the condenser before the expansion valve. Okay. And upon charging the system. Got distracted some and talking with my buddy at the moment. We over charged the thing and blew the hose off the new condenser. Busted the bolt right off it that held the high pressure line. LOL. We had Fresno all over the place. Sometime after that, the instrument panel fogged up and couldn't see the odometer or trip indicator anymore. Plastic issue. Along with it messed up the cable to the fresh air cable on the AC box. So. Now with all that in mind. All my electrical connections under the dash were exposed as well. I put in another instrument cluster unit but have had issues with the gas gauge since.I changed the gas gauge again, but leads back around to the float level perhaps? Anyway, there may be some electrical issues. I have even changed the ECM (computer) out once but it made no difference in things.
Matched part numbers etc. So it was the correct computer and no programing is required on this model if you match numbers up. So says the Internet. LOL. I do notice that the gas gauge is not one that snaps into position quickly, and it takes it times to get to the position it would be at for the amount of gas in the tank. If that makes sense. Normally you put the key in and all the gauges snap into position. Not this one and the gas gauge. So. Back to electrical perhaps? It does work mind you, but just not snappy like.
Terry

Ah, honestly, not sure what basics I would check. The manuals are fairly vague on some of this area. I just got a timing light the other day, so I can finally check my timing. It has been good for several years, even after installing a new distributor a few years ago now.
I lined things up with marks I made, but had to guesstimate with the new distributor since I couldn't mark it. But positioned as close as I could with the other markings, I scribed in the old one. Didn't miss or anything and seem to run okay.
I have a new IAC, TPS, and this time new gaskets. I'm going to pull the throttle body one more time and put the new stuff on. The TPS setting is a guess, but I think I seen in the manuals something about voltage, or ohm setting it.
I also got a new idle adjust screw. Being it is plastic. The one in the throttle body now, if I can find it. Lol, may be an issue. Again, several years ago I pulled the throttle body and cleaned it with carb cleaner and later found that isn't a good idea well too late of that one.
Perhaps the idle screw is damaged, don't know yet.
Funny, I'm on a mission to fix this thing. I've spent too much time fussing with it to give up on it now. New control arms, got the gas tank back in finally and no leaks still to date. Saying that quietly. Don't want it to hear me, lol.
Any tips you might provide on the IAC an TPS would be helpful.
Thanks Joe.
Terry

Hey Joe,

Finally fussed with that Mirage some more. Installed new IAC - TPS and SAS Adjusting screw, and fuel filter. That fuel filter is a bugger to work with to say the least. Bottom fitting is a flare fitting and top is a banjo fitting. Getting the flare just right took a few tries till it wouldn't leak. LOL Little fine tuning yet to do, but I am going to need another adjusting sew - I was adjusting on it and now I cannot get it to turn again for some reason. Minor details I'm sure since it is all plastic anyway.
Even after all that was installed it continued to run rough. It is firing on all four, but just rough. So I thought about it and starting unplugging the injectors as it was running. Mind you it had not thrown any codes out at all. But I came to cylinder 3 and unplugged the injector and it made no difference in idle, while the other 3 did make a difference. Ah Ha.I had my old original injectors still so I plugged in one of them and could feel it clicking. Okay. Today I replace injector 3 and things smoothed right out. Little rough with AC on and in gear, but again think that is some fine tuning yet with TPS and Idle Screw perhaps. Going to order some new injectors again for giggles.
Later on Joe
Terry