I have a 94 buick century that is in overall decent shape, but the engine cuts out randomly on it. I really don't want to afford the $120 an hour for the dealer to diagnose the problem. I think its the crank sensor or coil pack, there is no pattern to it. Has anyone seen this, or know whats possibly wrong?
It runs strong when its not stalling, but its really starting to annoy me.
Well, you got a lot of mielage on it. Not very detailed as far as the problem. Does it stall while just idling/foot aff the accelerator? If so, maybe you need a new IAC or the throttlebody needs cleaning or you need a tune up. These are good cars, you just have to take care of them!
Firstly, you need to have your trouble codes read. If you have an Autozone nearby, they will do it for free. If not, go to www.a-body.net, ask a question there and somebody will give you directions on how to check your codes, then will help you decipher them and help you determine what part of the car is causing problems.
It just stall's, I can be going 120 km/h down the highway, or idling in traffic, there's no pattern to it. Sometimes it starts right back up, other times it takes a minute or two to get going, when it does that it wants to start, but just chokes out, but will eventually start up and keep going.
It dosnt set codes, or else id fix it... No check engine light comes on when it happens. Wires, plugs, fuel pump, fuel filter, all the top end gaskets have been done, took the throttle body off and cleaned it the best I could (not that it was dirty). I have the ODB and ODB computers and there is nothing that sticks out, I have put the computer on and driven it down the road and everything operates normally, its very hard to pin point anything when it does happen with the computer on it...
I am convinced it's the crank sensor... I just wish it would die completely or set a code...
Ignitor unit (the solid state component that produces the spark)?
I just unloaded my 94 Century, It was a big money pit. It seems like every month something went out. Even after spending 900$ to get the AC fixed, it still wasn't right. I replaced it with a 04 Camry. From now it's Toyota or Honda for me.
I have a Century as well and just about 3 months ago I had the same stalling problem. Turned out it was my injectors. 1 was about shot and 2 others were going out.
-Tom.
Your fuel pump maybe causing your car to stall. Take it to a garage and ask them if they can test your fuel pressure if its before 40 you got a bad fuel pump.
A plastic baffle in the gas tank came loose in mine and would block the intake, causing the engine to stall without warning.
The mechanic said if the tank gets smacked somehow it's more likely to come loose than on its own. Not a common failure, but it does happen. Replacing the tank is the fix.
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