Random Intermittent Death

[eaglefreek]

I've been having the same issue with my 87, Ella. I was on the freeway the other day and it quit. Like the key turning off. I'm going to be replacing the ECM unit. I have a NEW coil, 8mm wires, and the list goes on. I upgraded the distrib. cap last year with the Ford version. It is just like turning the key off. I had this happen 3 times now. It starts up again, but acts like it won't  start. Embarrasing when it happens.

Mine was doing the same exact thing. Previuosly, I had replaced the factory AMC ICM with a new parts store ICM  thinking it was causing a stalling issue
but it turned out my 6 month old  Petronix coil went bad. Fast forward 6 months and I was having serious stalling issues like you described. I would be driving and it was like I turned the key off. Sometimes it would start right up but other times I would have to wait several minutes before it would restart. One time I was taking a coworker to work and he had to help me push it through a busy intersection. Talk about embarrassing. I teplaced the ICM with a MSD box and I'm quite satisfied.

[JayRamb]

Very interesting about the Petronix coil. That's what I put in. I wonder if the coil is getting hot and  or failing. I'll have to start with that. I didn't have the problem before I put the Petronix coil in it.

[DaemonForce]

Something worth thinking about: This random dying happened to me three times recently. Yesterday as I was going uphill to a stop at the freeway exit and twice a few hours ago as the needle on my fuel gauge met the halfway mark. I know there's no dirt in my tank but is it possible that something is clogging the pickup tube when I have half a tank left? I have a malfunctioning sending unit that makes the gauge go erratic every time the center of gravity shifts a little bit.

[mudkicker715]

It should have a pickup sock on it, so no.

[eaglefreek]

Something worth thinking about: This random dying happened to me three times recently. Yesterday as I was going uphill to a stop at the freeway exit and twice a few hours ago as the needle on my fuel gauge met the halfway mark. I know there's no dirt in my tank but is it possible that something is clogging the pickup tube when I have half a tank left? I have a malfunctioning sending unit that makes the gauge go erratic every time the center of gravity shifts a little bit.

I thought it may be fuel tank related when mine was doing the same thing. I was considering dropping the tank to see if there was a hole in the pick up tube. However it did it on a full tank and that confirmed that wasn't the case. If you think that is your problem, get an inline fuel pressure gauge. When it stalls, pop the hood and check the fuel pressure gauge.

[DaemonForce]

Went out tonight and noticed a trend that has happened across the past month. My Eagle always goes through a very hard stall a few minutes after refueling. I can expect it to happen within 5 minutes of refueling. Does anyone else experience this?

[carnuck]

Sounds like the charcoal cannister has a crack in it, allowing raw fuel to dump in and flood the carb.

[DaemonForce]

Sounds like the charcoal cannister has a crack in it, allowing raw fuel to dump in and flood the carb.

If it's dumping fuel into the carb, why do I have to stomp the gas pedal several times just to get the engine to come back to life? It's like I have a lack of fuel pressure going to the carb. I'll look for an inline pressure meter. Car stalled out on a snow bank earlier today but it was an easy restart. I'm still on the fence about the ICM but I have a few extras to test that. I just need to locate the ECM at this point.

[carguy87]

You have to stomp the pedal to allow enough air into the engine to mix with the fuel properly.

[GRONK]

How fast do you all need Motorcraft conversions?

[DaemonForce]

Wait, my pedal is operating the AIR mixture? That's the most inefficient garbage ever. Screw the Weber, I'm going to a straight Carter carb. Also, it seems I have more parts to grab at Pick-n-pull. I changed my ignition module and the car hasn't died since then so I'm hoping for the best.

[marty]

I have had a version of this w my 86 Eagle, but it only occurs when the temp is below freezing.  I have done the ECM Test bypass but all else is stock.  My stalling is intermittent and will usually only occur after the first start of the day.  I drive about 12 mi on freeway (get on about a mi from home) and it will usually occur after the first few miles on the road and while cruising at 6o mph (has occured as far as 10 mi down the road).  Suddenly the engine is just dead...shift into N, will restart while coasting (almost always on the first try) and be just fine the rest of the day.  A little unnerving not knowing when, or if, it may cut out although I can deal with it fairly well now.  Any thoughts.   

[jim]

I have had a version of this w my 86 Eagle, but it only occurs when the temp is below freezing.  I have done the ECM Test bypass but all else is stock.  My stalling is intermittent and will usually only occur after the first start of the day.  I drive about 12 mi on freeway (get on about a mi from home) and it will usually occur after the first few miles on the road and while cruising at 6o mph (has occured as far as 10 mi down the road).  Suddenly the engine is just dead...shift into N, will restart while coasting (almost always on the first try) and be just fine the rest of the day.  A little unnerving not knowing when, or if, it may cut out although I can deal with it fairly well now.  Any thoughts.   

When both of mine did that replacing the ignition module fixed it.  Looks like it may have worked for DaemonForce, as well.

[txjeeptx]

I did GRONK's MC2100 conversion on an Eagle that I bought a while back just to do a quick mechanical resto and sell. In fact, that Eagle was once owned by Marty. I really liked the night and day change in performance by doing this one simple conversion. That car has moved on to another happy owner. Anyone with stalling issues with a stock carter carb, if you don't have to worry about passing a smog sniffer inspection, do the conversion instead of rebuilding the carter.

[eaglebeek]

I have had a version of this w my 86 Eagle, but it only occurs when the temp is below freezing.  I have done the ECM Test bypass but all else is stock.  My stalling is intermittent and will usually only occur after the first start of the day.  I drive about 12 mi on freeway (get on about a mi from home) and it will usually occur after the first few miles on the road and while cruising at 6o mph (has occured as far as 10 mi down the road).  Suddenly the engine is just dead...shift into N, will restart while coasting (almost always on the first try) and be just fine the rest of the day.  A little unnerving not knowing when, or if, it may cut out although I can deal with it fairly well now.  Any thoughts.   

When both of mine did that replacing the ignition module fixed it.  Looks like it may have worked for DaemonForce, as well.

Don't forget the pickup inside the distributor....