car dying randomly
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,315
From: NY...what a bad place for a nice car
Re: car dying randomly
************1993-1997 F-body ignition switch. The actual switch is remotely located on the lower part of the steering column, under the dashboard. The most noted and tell-tale symptom I have seen regarding switch failure is that the the gauge cluster goes dead. When it goes dead, the engine dies as well. This is because the ignition switch also powers a section of the pcm necessary for engine function, plus the fuel pump and some other things. What usually happens is that the switch contacts become worn out or burnt up and make intermittent or no connection. When mine was dying, it even cut off a couple times while driving.************
^^thanks to shoebox
try ur ignition switch,......u siad no dashlights car dies
^^thanks to shoebox
try ur ignition switch,......u siad no dashlights car dies
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 956
From: Winston Salem, NC
Re: car dying randomly
hmm I'll have to check that, although it seems to be indicating the gauges go dead and I distinctly remember the tach working just fine when mine dies. I'll confirm that tomorrow however...thanks!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 956
From: Winston Salem, NC
Re: car dying randomly
update: did the coil continuity test on Shoeboxes site - coil passed just fine. Took all the grounds/connections apart at the coil/ICM bracket and cleaned them up, still having problems. Its taking a while to restart now, to the point that sometimes it will not start for up to 10 seconds at a time. Gauge cluster does not go dead when this happens, and if I close the throttle when it dies, it backfires when it starts back up (this is while driving, car in gear) which leads me to believe it is getting fuel. ANy more ideas of stuff I can check? I still haven't found a procedure for checking the ICM. I assume the coil continuity test does not always determine if the coil is going bad or not, especially in an intermittant type of situation like this..? Thanks for any more help anyone can provide...
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 956
From: Winston Salem, NC
Re: car dying randomly
well, it finally died for good - I stuck a screwdriver in the spark plug socket and had someone crank the car - no spark (hope thats a good test), did the same to the coil wire to the opti - no spark. If thats a valid test it sounds like the coil or ICM is dead - can anyone PLEASE recommend a good way to test these parts? Thanks!
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fpete1992
General 1967-2002 F-Body Tech
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Dec 11, 2014 03:51 PM