WTF??

[Turbodefrost]

Yesterday I left my house and after about five minutes it just died as I was drving down the road. The engine shut off, all electronics turned off, powersteering, everything gone. I coast to a stop nearly in tears wondering what's wrong with my baby, and try to restart it. it turns over but will not start. I tried this for about five minutes and nothing. Finally after a few more minutes, it started then died like it wasn't getting feul or something. I had half a tank left so that wasn't the problem. Then it started again and died. The third time it started it seemed fine so i drove it around for a while and it ran like nothing was wrong. The next day, today, the same exact thing happened at about the same time while i was getting on the freeway. This time it started right back up again and had no problems for half an hour. Does anyone know what could be causing this? My car had been sitting in the rain for the day before each time it happened, so maybe that had something to do with it. Any advice would be much appreciated. Sorry for the lenghty topic.

[El Presidente]

#1 Possible causes: Bad fuel pump, clogged fuel filter, bad alt/batt.

[mmzcee]

I'm pretty sure its your alternator dying...

[iantosca]

I had similar problem, i think. If your car sounds like it's turning on, but then the engine just shuts off try this solution:

I would have the car in park and right when the engine turned over i would put my foot on the gas, before it shut off. See, with my problem I could still rev the engine. I reved it hard a couple of times and the rpm's starting sticking. And the problem was solved.

The mechanic just gave me a new fuel filter and spark plugs and the problem hasn't been back since.

Good Luck.

P.S. My car had also been sitting in the rain before this happened.

[Deloriant]

Turbo...your car....*sniffle*.....*cries*...

[DeefNDorf]

Hmm..Some ppl have the same prob when they pressure wash their car...water gets in the comp....so if you left it in the rain..could be the same prob..seal the comp and it should be fixed....

[Turbodefrost]

thanks for all the input guys, i think it may be my alternator, i've had signs of it going out for quite some time. I'll get my mechanic to look at it. i just hope it's not too expensive!!

[bigred318]

hey since you live about 10 min away from me you should Pm and get my number if you want i just had the SAME thing happen to me, and hey my car is a 94 and the same color too, weird.... but yeah it was my alt, same exact things happening, take your alt out and take it to shucks on the guide they will bench test it for free and tell yuou if you need a new one, if you do go to automotive parts of state street and buy it there call in ahead of time and with the exxhange of your old one itll be 160$ you might need a new belt too, but call me i can cruise up andhelp you take yours off it can be a pain!

David

[abemcclellan]

yeah i would go with the alternator or just a bad voltage regulator.

[Turbodefrost]

Well I figured out what the problem is. I recently installed cold air intake and when looking at the air filter from underneath the car, i realized that it is directly infront of my tire, with nothing inbetween. So whenever it rains, my tire spits all kinds of water right into the air filter. Nothing that a little duct tape can't fix.

[Eggrolled211]

:P If water is splashing onto your filter? I don't ducted tape will solve it? + are you sure thats the problem? change all your sparks,make sure battery terminal is secured down with no corrosion etc. next alternator then fuel pump...if these solve it..thats good, if not then you just did some required maintence on it all is good......personally i dont think water splashing on filter is the problem...hey good luck have fun.......