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Question
I have a 1996 Sedan DeVille with the 32 valve North Star engine. It has developed an intermittent problem of shutting off. I might drive it for several days with no problem then the next time it will die for no apparent reason. Once I'm stopped and try to start it again, it may start or may not. If it doesn't start, it can sit a few minutes and then it will. A local mechanic has checked it out and is suspect of the fuel pump, but is not sure. Can you tell me what may be happening.
Curtis
Hello,
Intermittent problems are impossible to fix. Mechanics commonly diagnose fuel pumps for stalling, but they seem to forget one thing about the fuel delivery system, the fuel filter! its unbelievable that the fuel pump is always their first guess.
If you think that the problem is fuel, change the filter first. The factory recommends changing every 60,000 miles and that depends on the quality of gas you are getting and thanks to the EPA!
No matter what, you will need to change it and it is cheaper than changing the pump.
It has been my experience that fuel pumps don't cause intermittent stalling. It's either good or bad. Now, a fuel pump can lose pressure and cause power problems, but this is a constant problem.
You could have a secondary ignition problem related to the coil.
In reality, this problem will be impossible to fix unless it can be replicated.
A tech can;can't diagnose this problem without a tech driving down the road without a tech II scanner plugged into your OBD II port under the driver's side of the dash. The tech doing this may be able to find the problem. If your mechanic does not have a tech II scanner, he will cost you hundreds, maybe thousands and not be able to fix the car. He is guessing and he should have thought about the filter first,
You don't have to go to the dealer and the larger service centers have the right diagnostic equipment.
Change the filter and see if it fixes the problem. Who knows, maybe it is a fuel pump, but you cannot afford to guess.
Good luck!
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
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Rob Painter
Expertise
Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?
Experience
Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.
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