Questions and Answers

Grand AM Stalls While Driving Q. Hello, I have recently encountered a problem with my 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. 2.5 liter engine, manual transmission, FWD, no auto anything on it, Fuel Injected. In the two years I have replaced, alternator, fuel injectors and sensors, fuel filter, drive belt, and a few other parts that age will dictate. No significant problems up till now.

When starting the car and driving for short distances I do not have a problem, the car starts fine and runs well, however if I drive for a period of time, the car will stall while driving. The car turns over, but will not start unless I let it set for a while usually 10 minutes or so. Then the car starts and I am on my way again. No lights come on for check engine, it just simply stalls, it is as though when the engine warms up it is not getting gas or something.

Last night when it did it again, I was driving, it stalled, I downshifted into second gear and popped the clutch to see if it would start again, and it kind of coughed and did for a minute then it stalled again. I pulled along side the street, sat for a few minutes, the car started. The temperature is staying within normal limits. But it appears the only time I have this problem is when the engine runs for a while.

I am a single mother, with one income, and would kind of like to know approximately what might be the problem and the worse case $$ and the best case $$.

Thank you for your time.
Annita

A. You really need to find out what is missing when it shuts off. Fuel or spark. Pull a plug wire off and put a small screwdriver into the plug wire boot. Hold it near a good ground about ½ inch in distance. Have someone crank the engine over while you look for a spark jumping from the screwdriver to ground.

My guess is it is not. It probably needs an ignition module. This would also require a new crank sensor while it's out of the engine. A module from GM is over $200.00, the sensor about $30.00. Don't use aftermarket module! I have had nothing but trouble with them.