Engine Shutting off while driving.

[PeterCip]

So, lately I have been having the problem of the engine shutting off on me while driving, and some other issues with hesitation, timing going awry, etc..
It seems that the engine loses all power, and shuts off completely, for about half a second, and then returns to normal. It happens at totally random times, and seems to come and go in waves.


I have monitored the fuel system and it appears that i am spiking rich when this happens, leading me to believe that it is an issue with timing, and now with my megasquirt. Also, i have noticed periods of detonation, as if the ECU gets confused for moments.

I was wondering what others have done to remedy the problem? Has it been the crank and reference sensors? ECU?
Any help would be appreciated, and i know this I have seen posts regarding the same sort of issue; I just can't find them for the life of me.

Thanks in Advance,
Pete

[asubimmer]

I wish i knew how to help you...that really stinks...goodluck with fixing it.

are you vaccume hoses good?

[PeterCip]

I wish i knew how to help you...that really stinks...goodluck with fixing it.

are you vaccume hoses good?

Car runs on a map sensor, so vacuum leaks would make little difference.

[Brew]

Try unplugging the 02 sensor?

I'd also look at the crank sensor and tps sensor.

[PeterCip]

Try unplugging the 02 sensor?

I'd also look at the crank sensor and tps sensor.

Car runs on megasquirt fuel system, and uses a wideband O2, and a e36TPS.

[Brew]

Car runs on megasquirt fuel system, and uses a wideband O2, and a e36TPS.

Yikes. I had this same problem with my old m20 and was never able to track it down.
I'd say its definitely an electrical issue. I've gotta get to work, but I'll ask around and see if anyone else has run into this problem.

[calypso]

Happened to me too on my M40. And in SA we dont have 02 sensors. I took out the ECU cleaned it up and that seemed to help it for a while. But otherwise i never seemed to be able to fix it. The only other possible thing that I could have tried is to completely replace the ECU.

[PeterCip]

Happened to me too on my M40. And in SA we dont have 02 sensors. I took out the ECU cleaned it up and that seemed to help it for a while. But otherwise i never seemed to be able to fix it. The only other possible thing that I could have tried is to completely replace the ECU.

I'm thinking either the ECU, and or the sensors.. i'll have to check there resistances, connections.. if the sensors are fine, then i am thinking that either the ECU is bad, or the spark interupt coming from the boost timing retard.

[PeterCip]

Ok, so here is an old file, where i could find a section of jumping RPM. I would have to assume this is where i would feel the loss of power... or "Cutting out".

Now the fuel system is compensating for the loss.. and logging it correctly, so I would make the assumption that the trigger signal, and the signal from the coil, are being interupted by something. Could this be a bad sensor? ECU? noise? loose wire?
Any ideas what to check/test for next?

Thanks,
pete