My Car Stopped Running Then Started Running Again

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I take had my 308 QV for 7 years and all of a sudden encountered a problem I can't effigy out.
While driving terminal night, with normal operating conditions and a cool ambient temperature of 64F, the automobile suddenly and without any warning 'died'. It literally felt as if someone had turned the engine off with the key, but all electrics were working normal (lights, blinkers, etc.). I tried to start the car several times (the engine cranked), but it just would not fire back up. After about 10 minutes on the side of the route, I tried once more and the motorcar fired right up. It ran completely fine for near 5 miles and so it happend again. Same matter. I waited again on the side of the road for about x minutes and managed to commencement information technology again and drive it home.
What could cause this?

It can but exist air, fuel or ignition, correct? Air is for sure not the issue.

Fuel: I first idea that it could be some course of vapor lock, but that wouldn't explain its sudden nature after 7 years of driving this car without whatsoever issues. Also, when attempting to start the engine (without success) immediately after the problem occurs, I can hear the fuel combust/rumble in the exhaust system, which makes me think that the fuel supply is fine and just passes the mixture on into the exhaust manifold when trying to offset it. That would too eliminate a chock-full fuel filter. The car runs fine over again later on ten minutes or so. The only thing I noticed when information technology happened the 2d time, was that information technology happened right after I pushed the throttle deeper than earlier. This could also just be a coincidence, because the cable merely moves the throttle plate and should not close off the engine.

Ignition: If it was the ignition, so what would crusade the intermittent nature and why would it fix itself after ten minutes? It does not make sense. Could information technology exist a failing relay? If and so, why would the problem be intermittent?

Needless to say that I take been thinking near this all nighttime. My car fired right upwardly this morn and runs smoothly. This is highly frustrating because I don't know how to diagnose a car which runs fine,, fifty-fifty though it can all of a sudden cut out at any given moment.

Hopefully someone on this forum has experienced the same outcome and can assist me figure this out. Thank you guys in advance.
Rossa Subscribed Owner

Have the original fuse blocks? Bank check the fuel pump fuse. It's probably dark-brown showing signs of high current draw and contact may exist poor. Adjacent instance of this, you tin temporarily jumper it with tin foil & see if information technology starts.
Check the fuel pump. My intermittent fuel pump manifested itself as the hot-beginning problem
I have the birdman fuse blocks and the fuse is ok. I have the hot start problem for a fee years, simply it always fires on the 3rd try when hot. I did not connect this issue to the 'sudden cut out' I experienced yesterday. I volition bank check the fuel pump, but how tin i tell if at that place is an issue? The auto and pump run fine correct at present. Could it be the relay?
This happened to me 2 years ago.
It was a bad connexion in the fuse panel to the fuel pump circuit.

Look VERY closely here first. All I needed was to tighten the connection on the spade connector.
Cheers for pointing me in the direction. I checked the connections in the fuse panel and cleaned the spade connector, merely in case. I removed the fuel pump relay and i tin can hear something rattle inside when I shake information technology. I will supercede information technology and see if the problem reoccurs.
My car would merely close off driving down the route. I could restart information technology while I was all the same on the move. Information technology got worse and worse.
Strange because it was either running admittedly perfectly - or it was merely off. No stumbling or backfiring, zilch. Just off. And and so information technology would beginning correct support and run tip superlative as if nothing had happened . I flatbedded it to my guy in Atlanta and he called me the next day. All he had to do was crimp the spade connector. Information technology was loose and moving around.

Sounds similar our symptoms are exactly the same.
Silver Subscribed

Mine was shutting off completely as if I had pulled the central out, at random times. Sometimes going downward the highway, sometimes driving downwards the city streets. Yous could never predict when it was going to happen.
It ended upward being a bad basis wire.
I volition bank check all the grounds, just in example. I take already crimped the spade connector and ordered a new relay just in case. Thank you for your suggestions.
Rossa Subscribed Owner
Silver Subscribed

Nov three, 2003

1,607

Ohio

Full Proper name:

Dave Meredith

Sounds like mayhap some iffy contacts inside the ignition switch?
While running, attempt wiggling the key about and see if there is whatever mischief.
Silvery Subscribed

For what information technology'south worth, mine did this well-nigh exclusively after twenty or more minutes of driving. It ran perfectly fine when information technology was cold.
I finally realized that something in the auto was wrongly heating up, which led me to start checking every associated electrical connection I could detect.
Silver Subscribed

I bet its your ECU unit of measurement(due south)... i or both of them is probably going out. Y'all tin can pull them out to have them tested.
I just want to thanks guys. My 82 just started to spiral upward equally you described.
I had sit on the side of the road for 15 minutes than it would start as if nothing was wrong.
I found that the fuse was loose.
Fingers crossed that it was the ready. And then far so proficient
Marking
Well, here we get again. I idea I had fixed the outcome by checking the connectors (including the ones under the passenger floor) and by replacing some of the relays. Machine ran fine today for almost 30 minutes and.... of a sudden died. I would non first up until 3 minutes later. Information technology ran totally fine for about fifteen seconds and .... same thing. It died just equally I tried to drive on again. All other electric functions are fine. Waited 15 minutes and it ran for iii miles. Totally normal.. again suddenly died completely. It is only the engine and zilch else.
A few things I noticed:
- It seems to be occur when I shift gears or correct after I get off the throttle. Could be a coincidence.
- I also find a hissing sound when I remove the fuel cap. Hard to tell if it is an over pressure or a vacuum. What I do know is that air either streams in or fuel vapor streams out of the tank. Is it normal for a 308 to develop pressure in the tank? I have driven my automobile for 8 years and noticed it before when I would refuel. Never thought anything of information technology and conspicuously the car ran fine for viii years.
- Could this be acquired past a bad fuel filter? I would think that a bad fuel filter would non cause an "instant shut off" after thirty minute of normal driving without whatever other issues.
- Could information technology be the fuel pump going bad? Merely once more, why would the fuel pump of a sudden quit and only after about one-half an hour of driving?

This is driving me crazy. I guess the question is: What makes a 308 engine suddenly die after most half an hour of totally normal performance without whatsoever signs of trouble at all. Purring smoothly like a kitten and so..... zip

Thanks guys in advance for any pointers.
Wouldn't kill the whole motor. They do not quit in unison.
Very mutual set of symptoms for 2 things. When those fuel pumps go bad they go intermittent. As well the TDC and RPM sensors practise that. When the temperature changes the winding circuit opens and closes randomly. You have a TDC sensor for both sides so it isn't those merely it could be the RPM sensor since it feeds both banks. The only way to test is to remove it, connect it to an ohm meter and lightly bang information technology on a hard surface. If the continuity comes and goes it is bad.
Silvery Subscribed Possessor

Check the electrical connections on the fuel pump. Look for dust/muddied connections. Do you have a lift? If so run into if wiggling the fuel pump wires while running causes the engine to stop. Could be a kink that has acquired a wire to exist broken. When the engine is cold, the connexion is made but when hot, things expand and the connection may expand plenty to break the continuity. Only some thoughts.
I approximate I'll get-go with the fuel pump connections (I have checked all connections inside the driver's compartment, just have not nevertheless gone under the auto to the fuel pump itself. Unfortunately I no longer have a elevator. I used to take one, which was very helpful when I replaced the clutch. We moved to another state and our new home has no room for a lift. Anyway, I start at that place and volition too remove and test the RPM sensor. Sounds similar a perfect "lock downwardly" project. While I'm under at that place, I might as well change the fuel filter likewise.
Rossa Subscribed Owner

IMHO: order 3 replacement sensors & supercede them while your in there. Yours are old. I dont know how to check the fuel pump, but per Rifledriver - I suffered from the intermittent and it took several mechanics & shops to pinpoint the problem.
My hearing used to exist adept enough I could hear them. That was a long time ago.
Thank yous for the advice! I volition probably do that even if they are fine. Information technology won't hurt to replace them.
Before y'all do whatever piece of work, endeavour a drive with the fuel filler cap removed and see if at that place is any change in the symptoms...
Should have just 'liked' just what a great post : - ).
Owner

Normal with a partially filled tank. part of the evap arrangement.