Engine dies after it warms up?

Jaxom · 06-24-2009, 12:09 AM

A few weeks back I posted that I thought that because my transmission was going, that it was causing my truck to die occationally. After today I'm no longer sure.

Because the trans is on it's last legs, I basically only drive it locally for when I absolutly need to, such as going grocery shopping. Like today, I had to run to 3 different places all less then a mile from home. I made it from home to first stop, and then to second stop fine. But when I left the second stop on my way to the third, I started having troubles.

Particulars...

This is a 1988 S-10 ext cab with 2.8l 4x4. Over the last few months I've been doing some minor work on it. And so far I've replaced IAC, module, plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter.

When I left the second stop I was on a main...very busy...street, so I pulled off onto a side street. Truck was sputtter and eventually died. I coasted to the side of the road. Put it in park and the tried restarting it. Immediatly the check eninge light and check gauges lights came on. So I waited about 15 minutes, then tried it again. This time I got to go, but the check engine light stayed on.

I knew i wouldn't make it to my thirt stop, so I started heading home. Truck died once more when I pulled off the side street back onto a main one. Got going and then it died when I got to major intersection. It started to die almost immediatly, but luckily there's an O'riely's parts store on that corner and I coasted into their parking lot. I wanted to see if they could do an OBD I test, but they don't do those anymore... (sigh). But they could sell me a scanner for $25! (Heck with that, I'll use the sticky in here and a paperclip instead).

I did ask the guys there what they thought it might be. Main consenous is the fuel pump. One guy thought it might be the IAC, but I replaced that last year. Another guy thought it could be the ignition module (the one on firewall not the one inside the distrubuter), and a third guy thought it could be the coil.

Things I do know...

1)yes trans is going, but that wouldn't cause the check engine light to come on in park.

2)radioator leaks, but I don't start over heating unless I'm stuck in heavy traffic, which now I avoid because engine would die.

3)I can drive it short distances, but once engine is hot, that's when all hell breaks loose.

4)I don't think it's the coil, because once the engine cools down for a while, I can drive it again. I actually had to get to that third stop, it was the most important, since we didn't have any milk or eggs in the house. So after I let it sit for about 4 hours I drove it the 1/4 mile to the store and back. Didn't even so much as studder.

5) I don't think it's the ignition module. I wouldn't be able to start it, cool or hot.

That leaves the fuel pump, unless there's any other suggestions? Any other ideas...I really don't have the $ to be guessing around.

Jax

AHH AIR · 06-24-2009, 12:45 AM

jump your plug in for a scanner and see what flash codes come up that will help alot

Jaxom · 06-24-2009, 11:10 PM

Any other suggestions? In the middle of a bad heat wave. Prob won't work on the truck for a few days. Was hoping for ideas for other things to look out for.

CommanderKidUT · 06-24-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jaxom

Any other suggestions?

the scan tool will be the best bet, dude. autozone does it for free

AHH AIR · 06-24-2009, 11:22 PM

oh yea i forgot about them

Jaxom · 06-27-2009, 08:37 PM

I guess I'll hit them up this coming week. None of you tried the method in the sticky???

guitcarman1 · 07-08-2009, 02:05 AM

I have tried the method in the stickey....it does work. Only problem is those OBD I computers are dumb as shit. I've been driving around on a bad O2 sensor for almost a year and it still wont throw a code.

My two cents

layinlow88 · 07-08-2009, 03:16 AM

I'm not saying this is your case, but I have had a truck come in the shop with this same problem. I couldn't figure out what the problem was, even with the consult of other guys. Stumped us all. Believe it or not it was the Engine Coolant Temp sensor. Since this "reads" the engine and tells he computer to idle down and starts to read the O2's, it had a short and told the computer to idle down so far it would almost die. This is kind of a rare problem, but you could be one of the cases

06-24-2009, 12:09 AM	#1
Jaxom Registered User Age: 44 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 191 Location: User is: OffLine	Engine dies after it warms up? A few weeks back I posted that I thought that because my transmission was going, that it was causing my truck to die occationally. After today I'm no longer sure. Because the trans is on it's last legs, I basically only drive it locally for when I absolutly need to, such as going grocery shopping. Like today, I had to run to 3 different places all less then a mile from home. I made it from home to first stop, and then to second stop fine. But when I left the second stop on my way to the third, I started having troubles. Particulars... This is a 1988 S-10 ext cab with 2.8l 4x4. Over the last few months I've been doing some minor work on it. And so far I've replaced IAC, module, plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter. When I left the second stop I was on a main...very busy...street, so I pulled off onto a side street. Truck was sputtter and eventually died. I coasted to the side of the road. Put it in park and the tried restarting it. Immediatly the check eninge light and check gauges lights came on. So I waited about 15 minutes, then tried it again. This time I got to go, but the check engine light stayed on. I knew i wouldn't make it to my thirt stop, so I started heading home. Truck died once more when I pulled off the side street back onto a main one. Got going and then it died when I got to major intersection. It started to die almost immediatly, but luckily there's an O'riely's parts store on that corner and I coasted into their parking lot. I wanted to see if they could do an OBD I test, but they don't do those anymore... (sigh). But they could sell me a scanner for $25! (Heck with that, I'll use the sticky in here and a paperclip instead). I did ask the guys there what they thought it might be. Main consenous is the fuel pump. One guy thought it might be the IAC, but I replaced that last year. Another guy thought it could be the ignition module (the one on firewall not the one inside the distrubuter), and a third guy thought it could be the coil. Things I do know... 1)yes trans is going, but that wouldn't cause the check engine light to come on in park. 2)radioator leaks, but I don't start over heating unless I'm stuck in heavy traffic, which now I avoid because engine would die. 3)I can drive it short distances, but once engine is hot, that's when all hell breaks loose. 4)I don't think it's the coil, because once the engine cools down for a while, I can drive it again. I actually had to get to that third stop, it was the most important, since we didn't have any milk or eggs in the house. So after I let it sit for about 4 hours I drove it the 1/4 mile to the store and back. Didn't even so much as studder. 5) I don't think it's the ignition module. I wouldn't be able to start it, cool or hot. That leaves the fuel pump, unless there's any other suggestions? Any other ideas...I really don't have the $ to be guessing around. Jax
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06-24-2009, 12:45 AM	#2
AHH AIR Subsonic Kustomz Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 319 Location: watervliet, mi User is: OffLine	Re: Engine dies after it warms up? jump your plug in for a scanner and see what flash codes come up that will help alot
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06-24-2009, 11:10 PM	#3
Jaxom Registered User Age: 44 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 191 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Engine dies after it warms up? Any other suggestions? In the middle of a bad heat wave. Prob won't work on the truck for a few days. Was hoping for ideas for other things to look out for. Last edited by Jaxom : 06-24-2009 at 11:12 PM.
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06-24-2009, 11:13 PM	#4
CommanderKidUT Oh shit.... Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 33 Location: The Moon User is: OffLine	Re: Engine dies after it warms up? Quote: Originally Posted by Jaxom Any other suggestions? the scan tool will be the best bet, dude. autozone does it for free
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06-24-2009, 11:22 PM	#5
AHH AIR Subsonic Kustomz Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 319 Location: watervliet, mi User is: OffLine	Re: Engine dies after it warms up? oh yea i forgot about them
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06-27-2009, 08:37 PM	#6
Jaxom Registered User Age: 44 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 191 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Engine dies after it warms up? I guess I'll hit them up this coming week. None of you tried the method in the sticky???
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07-08-2009, 02:05 AM	#7
guitcarman1 Low and Slow Sono Age: 20 Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 67 Location: Glen Burnie User is: OffLine	Re: Engine dies after it warms up? I have tried the method in the stickey....it does work. Only problem is those OBD I computers are dumb as shit. I've been driving around on a bad O2 sensor for almost a year and it still wont throw a code. My two cents
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07-08-2009, 03:16 AM	#8
layinlow88 Certified Auto HVAC Tech Age: 20 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 7,473 Location: Camden, AR User is: OffLine	Re: Engine dies after it warms up? I'm not saying this is your case, but I have had a truck come in the shop with this same problem. I couldn't figure out what the problem was, even with the consult of other guys. Stumped us all. Believe it or not it was the Engine Coolant Temp sensor. Since this "reads" the engine and tells he computer to idle down and starts to read the O2's, it had a short and told the computer to idle down so far it would almost die. This is kind of a rare problem, but you could be one of the cases
	[Reply w/Quote]