Stalls while driving

Tiny
AZEJNATI
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 BUICK TERRAZA
  • 159,000 MILES
It stalls while driving. Out of the blue everything is normal, then boom it stalls. There are no engine light codes. Except once it came up PO601. Someone said it may be the pcm. Also the cruise control wont hold it shuts off when I try to turn it on. Its when the car will stall right after that. Please help as I'm not sure whats happening.
Thursday, April 14th, 2016 AT 2:33 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
This code P0601 may be the source f your problem it is a short, open or high resistance it may be a bad tcm or pcm or shorted wires. That may be why it stalls and your cruise control doesn't work. Unfortunately a mechanic will have to look at this because if tcm or pcm is bad he will have to install it and set security for one and program the other.
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Thursday, April 14th, 2016 AT 3:40 PM
Tiny
AZEJNATI
  • MEMBER
  • 32 POSTS
So you think pcm is bad? I can order a refurbished one which they can reprogram from my vin number. Do you think its the problem? It only happens after driving for over 30 min. Also the battery voltage indicator shows the bettery volt goes down from 14V to 12.9 V slowly I can see it drop. Please advice as the dealer wants over 1000$. And I dont want to pay this much. The refurbished pcm its only 120$ and I can just install it myself. Waiting your pro responce thanks.
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Thursday, April 14th, 2016 AT 8:51 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
You can install the pcm yourself but your car won't start because the security hasn't been installed. A pro has to do that. Try a garage they can be fixed for half of dealer cost. But until it is checked for what I originally listed it may not be the pcm it may what I said it was. Don't start changing unnecessary parts because you think that is what wrong and don't believe someone at the parts store they just sell parts not fix them
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Friday, April 15th, 2016 AT 6:43 AM
Tiny
AZEJNATI
  • MEMBER
  • 32 POSTS
I get what your saying. But the problem is that only the dealers here do that, I have checked with a lot of mechanics and they don't do those.
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Friday, April 15th, 2016 AT 7:22 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
I can only give advice on what the problem is not what is available where you live. Like I said it still may not be the pcm it can also be tcm and or a short.
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Friday, April 15th, 2016 AT 7:23 AM
Tiny
AZEJNATI
  • MEMBER
  • 32 POSTS
Hi.I have taken the van in 3 different places and they cant find anything wrong with why it stalls. The only thing its the PCM, they are saying it needs to be changed. My worry is. How can I take off the plugs without braking anything.I looked at it and they are stuck well in there, do I prye them whith a screw driver?
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Saturday, April 30th, 2016 AT 3:45 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Okay I checked and that is the memory in the pcm is no good causing the problem so you'll need another pcm.
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Saturday, April 30th, 2016 AT 4:20 PM
Tiny
AZEJNATI
  • MEMBER
  • 32 POSTS
Great. So is there a easy way to take the plugs out I dont want to brake something on the plugs they are very snug. Do I just pull them out?
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Saturday, April 30th, 2016 AT 4:47 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
There may be a clamp style that will loosened them from the ecm you pull on large tab and it releases
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Sunday, May 1st, 2016 AT 8:12 AM
Tiny
AZEJNATI
  • MEMBER
  • 32 POSTS
Hi there. After replacing the pcm. The antitheft light is off. I did the intervals every 12 min with a 5 sec swich off in between. Still the car does not start. There is no cranking it. It dosent start.I did the reprograming 2 times and no start. Not sure why its not starting. Please any advice? Am worried
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Friday, May 6th, 2016 AT 5:32 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,710 POSTS
Hi AZEJNATI,

Is the security light flashing now when you try to crank it over?
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Saturday, May 7th, 2016 AT 7:27 AM

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