Ok, what the hell is wrong with my car?

[MR 325]

You can spray a can on that boot and not find the huge tears along the wires at the bottom.Mine was fine on top. Fell to pieces when I took it off.They are supposed to be replaced as a part of regular maintanance.They are cheap. The hoses are too.

Don't worry, I've owned a lot of these cars and I know the boot can fail. Mine is just fine.

[Rocla]

So you have 1 position sensor mounted on front of the engine?

Check that the covers for the sensor wire are on place and wires can't get in touch with water pump or crank pulley.

That's a common problem, pulley grinds the insulation of the wire and as the engine moves/fan moves air, the wires move and if they toúch metal, the ecu can't get the RPM/TDC info and stops firing until the signal returns,

[bddog]

I thought you said any advice was welcome.Why would I worry about your car when I have five of my own.
My ford pick up acted the same way a few years back.
I replaced three coils til I realized the ballast resister was bad.A lot of electronic ignition cars place the resistor inside the distributor. Some put them inline -it looks like a fuse link. Might have sliped by ya in the swap.The next time your car stalls, open the hood and feel the coil. If it is real hot , you know thats. the problem. They will run on twelve volts for awhile, but eventualy the coil will fry.

[SchnellerVert]

I suspect the fuel pump also. You have the two pump system correct with a fuel stabilizer in it also. Those valves ten to get filled with junk and restrict fuel flow. It's after the fuel filter.

[bddog]

I just assumed he had already eliminated that as a source of his problem. As a rule, you always check fuel first.

[Mike325]

My mom's 99 accord would do this exact thing for a few months. I changed her spark plugs and the problem went away. Even if your plugs are new, I would try some different ones and make sure that they are gapped correctly.

[MR 325]

I suspect the fuel pump also. You have the two pump system correct with a fuel stabilizer in it also. Those valves ten to get filled with junk and restrict fuel flow. It's after the fuel filter.

Although this really doesn't seem like a fuel pump problem [because it's so random] I will look in to that aswell because I do have a noisy pump. It's been noisy since I bought the car.

PS: Yes I do have the 2 pump system although my filter is located in the engine bay. :)

[SchnellerVert]

Forgot that car started life as an Eta correct?

[MR 325]

Forgot that car started life as an Eta correct?

Yup.

[browntown]

I think Rocla mentioned it, but I'd check the crank reference sensor (rpm sensor, impule sensor) or the TPS

Not that I have any experience on the I engine, but I'm having similar drivability problems on my volvo, and going through the sensors one by one. It's a pain.

[AdamF 88iS]

I doubt it's the fuel pump. Fuel issues will cause the car to stumble out then die as the fuel pressure bleeds down. A sudden cut means the ignition is being cut off.

I'd check the crank sensor and relays. Main relay, OBC code relay...

[MR 325]

I doubt it's the fuel pump. Fuel issues will cause the car to stumble out then die as the fuel pressure bleeds down. A sudden cut means the ignition is being cut off.

I'd check the crank sensor and relays. Main relay, OBC code relay...

Ya, I'm thinking the crank sensor is the next thing to try. I should have at least one extra used one laying around so maybe I'll swap it out. Picking up some new relays couldn't hurt either.

Maybe you can come fix it for me! :) haha

[RobertK]

Always good to have some extra fuel pump and main relays on hand when you have more than one E30.

After reading the entire thread my money goes on a dying CPS, bad main relay, or a short in the ignition. (I've had cars where the contact in the key ignition went bad and caused similar problems.)

If the engine sputters off when it dies then I would look more into the fuel pumps.

[MR 325]

And an update... Swapped the crank position sensor and all 3 main relays off another motor and the car runs exactly the same still.

[AdamF 88iS]

And an update... Swapped the crank position sensor and all 3 main relays off another motor and the car runs exactly the same still.

Does teh car have OBC?