Towed Home....

[Pat]

Sitting at the stop lite during a shopping trip, this AM, when the car started sputtering and then died. Attempts to restrart were unsuccessful. I was in a barracaded turn lane so I got out to inform the line rapidly forming behind me.

A very beautiful woman, impeccably dressed and coffed in the SUV immediately behind me, got out, smiled and said "I'll get these people to help push you". She did, they did, I'm home after a quick and painless tow.

Wow, I was impressed.

Regards.

Oh yea, it's prolly the fuel pump (or fuse) as there is no "clunk" when you turn the key. Plenty of gas in the tank.

[O's Fan Rich]

Shame, Pat....

any pics of the Damsel in your distress?

[LIGHTNIN1]

Hope it is something simple and cheap with the car. About the woman on a white horse, did you get a phone number?

[Mr. Man]

Geez Pat you'll do anything to meet a pretty girl.:bows::bows:

[Pat]

After eating a sumptuous supper prepared by my lovely wife I went to the car and pulled/reseated the fuel pump relay and both fuses associated with the fuel system.

Turned the key and heard the welcome sound of the pump priming. The car started immediately.

Do I live right or what? Nope, I'm going to look this gift horse in the mouth and stay close to home for a few days driving the car just up and down the street.

No clue as to what caused this. Fuel filter was just changed a few thousand miles ago.

Just came off an 800+ mile trip with no issues. Filled up at my usual station, tank down to 1/4 now. No smell of gas in the engine bay.

Any one have a similar experience?

The fuel pump was changed this summer maybe a shorted wire that cleared in the moving of the car on the tow truck?

Regards,

[DEFYANT]

Did you recently hit a ditch in the roadway? I've seen that happen before. A good hit will trip the fuel safty shut off.

[Pat]

Don't recall hitting anything but then pot holes are a way of life here.

I'll go recycle the switch in case it's kinda hung up.

Regards,

[Phrog_gunner]

One day I came out and my car wouldn't start (the fuel pump wasn't coming on)....I TS it down to the FP Driver Module and replaced it, a few days later, same thing (no fuel pump). This time it was the fuel pump itself. So I think sticking close to home for a few days might not be a bad idea, especially if you have another vehicle to drive.

[O's Fan Rich]

I don't know guy's..... I'm seeing NOTHING about the woman in Pat's posts....

I find that suspicious.....

[Pat]

Defyant may have hit the nail on the head. I went to recycle the fuel cut off switch and it didn't click or do anything. The red button seemed stuck. That can't be right. I'll check the wife's GM when she gets home later tonight.

[SpartaPerformance]

I think your car wanted to meet that woman, or maybe her truck?! :D

[Pat]

Defyant may have hit the nail on the head. I went to recycle the fuel cut off switch and it didn't click or do anything. The red button seemed stuck. That can't be right. I'll check the wife's GM when she gets home later tonight.


After comparing the two cars I find that my fuel cut off switch was not tripped.

The car started right up this morning and idled till it warmed up. I shut it down then and checked for codes with my XCal-2. None thrown.

I don't trust the car anymore. If I can't find a conclusive fix then it has to go. I am not going to be stuck miles from home with such a modified car that no dealer will work on it.

I am going to drive it up and down the block for a while for a few days and see what happens, that way I don't have far to push it and the car's suspension gets some action in and out of driveways.

If it's the fuel pump driver module then it should rear it's ugly head again as Phrog Gunner suggests.f

If all OK I may take it to my favorite car shop "Car's Etc" have them pull the fuel pump assembly and check it over.

Thanks for listening,

Pat

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Is your car boosted? If so I will trade you my very reliable, non boosted black Marauder and take that pesky unreliable car off your hands!

Good luck getting it fixed

[RacerX]

The switch will be depressed if it hasn't tripped. It won't have any give. I would pull the fuse and relays, take some 200 grit sandpaper and very gently brighten all the contacts. My 2cts...

[Pat]

Is your car boosted? If so I will trade you my very reliable, non boosted black Marauder and take that pesky unreliable car off your hands!

Good luck getting it fixed

Believe me it's an offer I will seriously consider. Yes my car has a Novi centrifical S/C Kit (39lbs injectors, GT-40 fuel pump) makes 10lbs boost, 4:10 gears, PI 3500 stall convertor, Zex 50 shot and dyno tuned.

I'm going the fuel pump installion check route, and the swap out of the FP driver module first. Then we can talk. I have 80K miles, mixed driving, little strip action, not much WOT action either.

Regards,

[Phrog_gunner]

If all OK I may take it to my favorite car shop "Car's Etc" have them pull the fuel pump assembly and check it over.

If you are going to have it pulled, you might as well just replace the pump and/or sending unit assy. If I remember correctly, the labor was about twice what the pump costs. There's not much they can tell by looking at the pump anyway. The only thing I know of to do to check the pump is to see how much juice it is pulling and that can be done without pulling the assy out of the tank. Hopefully one of the electrical experts like RF Overlord or someone else can chime in if I missed anything. :beer:

[Bluerauder]

I don't know guy's..... I'm seeing NOTHING about the woman in Pat's posts....

I find that suspicious.....
Me too. He brings it up about a beautiful, impeccably dressed and coiffed woman and then spends the rest of his time talking about fuel pumps. ;)

[Mr. Man]

You eat to many crawdads you start seein' things

[Pat]

If you are going to have it pulled, you might as well just replace the pump and/or sending unit assy. If I remember correctly, the labor was about twice what the pump costs. There's not much they can tell by looking at the pump anyway. The only thing I know of to do to check the pump is to see how much juice it is pulling and that can be done without pulling the assy out of the tank. Hopefully one of the electrical experts like RF Overlord or someone else can chime in if I missed anything. :beer:

The pump was replaced this past summer and the fuel pressure was checked at idle and under load, all OK then.

The FP Driver module has not been replaced, I would like to locate it, somewhere in the trunk right? I've seen a picture of it, a flat square module about 1/2' " thick and two to three inches square. But where exactly is it located?

Thanks,

[Phrog_gunner]

It is below the fuel pump cutoff switch on the left side in the trunk. It is behind the carpet so you will have to remove one panel and fold down another to get to it. It will take you about 3 minutes to get to it.

I got one out of the bone yard for all of $6.

[Pat]

I happened upon other threads where folks experieced this unexplained engine shut down and two additional problem areas were mentioned. For 03 300A's there were a couple of wire bundle chaffing problems. Fixed for 04's I believe.

Second, the Idle air valve may carbon up and shut the motor down.

An additional piece of info that relates to my problem was that I mentioned I didn't hear the "thunk" of the fuel pump when I turned the key. Wes Chain related to me that if fuel pressure hasn't bled off you may not hear the pump priming.

So, for me it's clean the Idle air valve thingy on the side of the throttle body dealie.
BTW, I haven't had another episode since being towed home. The car has been on the hignway's and byway's for a week or better.

Regards,

Pat