Ok so I was at a red light and my car was not in gear and my feet were off the pedals so it was idling. Then suddenly it just stopped running. I have no idea how but it stopped. I tried starting it back up and it kinda did but it shut down quickly and I did that about 4 or 5 times and it did the same thing but It finally started. So I drove it for about 5 mins and it didnt quite stop, but I felt my car jerking like a noobie learning how to drive stick for the first time. And when it did it, my RPM's went to 0. But It started itself back up somehow without me turning the key.

From the time it initially stopped running when I was at the red light, It took me about 20 or so minutes to get home. However, it actually stopped again while I was driving. So I just put it in neutral and I coasted into a mitsubishi dealer that was nearby and thank god it was near my house. But some of the guys there took a look at my car but they told me that it might be a fuel delivery problem, but that doesnt sound right because my tank was just filled a few hours before this happened and I have NEVER had a fuel problem in the whole 1 year I been driving my car. But from the dealer, I was able to get it running again and after it doing that jerking a few times, I actually got it in my driveway where it ironically stopped running just as I pulled the ebrake to park.

So. I am absolutly clueless as to what the hell the problem could be. Fresh tank of gas, battery is just fine, Has nothing to do with my driving ability although theres nothing wrong with that. Oil was changed about 2 weeks ago and my radiator fluid is fine and the temp gauge has been reading normal. I checked my grounding cables and those are fine. It doesnt sound like 1 particular cylider is not running like if the plug went bad.

The ONLY thing that has come to my mind is my autometer tach. I heard that when you install a tach it disrupts the distributer outputs or whatever which causes the needles on both the autometer and stock cluster tach to go nuts. I also heard that eventually, it causes engine trouble but the person that told me that wasnt too sure on that so Im not sure about that either. But it is a thought.

I have a GSR engine swap and its been running excellent since the time I got my license ( 1 year ago ). And I am really lost with this. So if anyone knows what the problem could be and if you know how it can be fixed or really any info at all please let me know id greatly appreciate it. If you need more info let me know.

 

sounds like an ignitor problem check the distributer try to swap it out with a friend if possible good luck

 

That's the worst. I've had the same problem twice now. I replaced my distributor with a new one and tonight it still died on me. When I was driving on the freeway my rpm's were bouncing around and my car started sputtering.

 

any other ideas?

 

interesting. it seems my grounding cable was loose. however, I have 2 grounding cables on my engine. 1 that goes from the valve cover to the front grounding point. And another that goes from the tranny to another grounding point... Bother are pretty thick gauge wire and the one that goes to the valve cover, was the one that was loose.

When I checked it, it could move freely when you twist it but it seemed to kinda stick to the valve cover because there was some kind of grease or oil in the cable bracket and the washer that goes with it and also where they touch the valve cover. Seemed like black grease or something. But anyways, The bolt that screws that down had some how stripped the threads on the valve cover..

So my question is, could that loose grounding cable on the valve cover be the cause of whats been going on? Or would the ground just have gone through the tranny box wire even if you took the valve cover wire off?

 

A bad ground could cause the car not to start up period - someone correct me if I'm wrong. I would run that same ground to another bolt on the valve cover. Clean the cable/bolt so they are not greasy and the surface area also. You can also run an extra ground if you want - it won't harm the car.

I would also try swapping out the dizzy with one that works to rule out dizzy/cap/rotor/iginitor/coil possibilities. Try taken of the cap on the dizzy to make sure that the rotor is attached it bolted down - a loose one can cause this problem also.

I doubt it could be some sort of cylinder problem but if you want to rule that out you can just pull the spark plug wires when you do get the car running and if you hear a sudden drop in rpm's when doing this you are fine - just stick in the plug again.

As far as fuel delivery - if you have some sort of aftermarket pump you could hear it when you turn the ignition open. My walbro makes a very distinguishable sound so you could hear it prime.

Good Day,
RH.

 

ah ok. Yeah I drove it to a shop just now and it drove just fine. But im having them check it all out just incase. It was probably the ground cable. But Im not sure.

I just hope its not the distributor because im sellin my car and that would be shitty to have to replace that.