I've got a customer's car here ('93) that's randomly shutting off for a few to several seconds whenever it does occur. It's completely and totally random and can happen 5 seconds after starting the car or 15 minutes after. It's also exclusive to the amount of gas in the tank, whether or not the car is cold or warmed up, as well as whether or not it is or isn't in motion (idling in a parking lot). I am not sure where it could be coming from but I could swear it's electrical in nature. Symptomatically, it mirrors what would occur is spark were to be shut off on all four plugs all at once.



I've tried to run the datalogger on the Haltech (E6X) while it's occuring and the Haltech remains online, still reading engine trigger (RPM) as well as injecting fuel which I can smell out the exhaust. The datalogger doesn't catch a thing so I believe the problem is external to the EFI system in as much as the power going to the ECU and the injectors.



As far as it shutting off, it will stay shut off for a few seconds and will crank as if there is no spark. While cranking on the starter, after a few seconds, the oil pressure gauge will come back to life and spring up to 60-80psi from zero instantly at the exact same time the engine starts to sputter to life.



By this time, the motor is usually flooded and has to be run at mid-RPM for several seconds to clean it all up.



Any ideas?



B

 

this has happenned to me before, the contact to the the fuse box in the engine bay was loose and certain vibrations will make them lose contact. hmmm what else... this happenned to me when my alternator was not making enough voltage at idle (10.8-11.2) and as the car idled it drained the battery until the car just sputters and died.....



it would have enough juice to start up but not enough to keep the car running. hopefully that helps you out.



make sure the grounds are all good

 

all the major power and ground connections, also give a look in the fender at the wheel liner on the driver's side see if the harness is screwed up there

 

yeah a couple of things too look at



if you reused any part of the stock engine harness, the cas wires go open when they get hot. basically car will stut down when it gets hot, but runs fine when cold



if its lowered they have a tendancy to rip into the main harness, it runs above the splash sheilds in the fenderwells. it can cause all kinds or wierd lights, and no starts and stuff, lots of wires run in there



could it be a battery/charging system thing?

 

the igniter maybe?

 

its cursed

 

haha. It's an FD.

 

That or there are reminants of an aftermarket alarm system that wasn't properly removed or is malfunctioning. What about turbo timmer? does he have a turbo timmer? Did you try to disable or remove the turbo timmer?