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Author Topic: Engine shutting down while driving  (Read 40483 times)

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Offline Nightpath

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Engine shutting down while driving
« on: May 01, 2014, 02:37:36 AM »
So my Eagle is road legal and I've been enjoying it., t a.

Problem is after 15 km of driving or so the engine stalls out. It restarts without a problem every time.

I have a new solenoid and hei distributor in it,  engine seems to run fine then it either dies totally or becomes intermittent then dies.

Thoughts?  I'm leaning towards a bad coil in the HEI, or possilby a bad starter solenoid (don't think it's this).

Anyone have a few suggestions?
« Last Edit: May 01, 2014, 07:09:00 AM by Nightpath »

Offline doneagle

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2014, 09:34:57 AM »

         HI    This is off the wall but have you tried the gas filter ....that's what mine did ......not seeing how it does its hard to tell for me any way ..I like to see and hear what is going on ...........don
HI.....A BAD DAY WITH YOUR EAGLE IS BETTER THAN A GOOD DAY AT WORK ...A GOOD DAY WITH YOUR EAGLE IS PRICELESS

There are Eagles lovers and there are the uneducated and the best we can do
with them is try to EDUCATED them on the virtues of the BEUTEFULL cars that we drive   ...................don

Offline Nightpath

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2014, 10:52:45 AM »
Has a new gas filter.

The engine completely cuts out, not a sputter or anything. Merrily driving along then no response whatsoever.

Offline carnuck

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2014, 12:14:04 PM »
My previous wagon did that on right turns after warmed up. It turned out the thrust shim between the dist gear and housing fell apart, which allowed the shaft inside to rise above the pickup coil and kill the spark. Check the end play by pulling up and down on the rotor. I've had lots of Chevs do that too. It settles down after sitting a couple seconds and sparks like normal. First time drove me nuts. I took off the cap. Pushed down on the rotor and it fired up and drove till another long hill.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline BenM

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2014, 01:49:06 PM »
The ignition module may be going, and check for lose grounds.
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Offline Nightpath

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2014, 04:19:32 PM »
With the HEI there is no icm. Everything is in the HEI.

Has a new fuel filter as well.

Offline IowaEagle

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2014, 04:29:28 PM »
Suspect the Motorcraft Ignition module.  It gets warm and then it stops.
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Offline BenM

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2014, 05:24:47 PM »
The HEI has a small ICM inside, it's the same functionality as the Motorcraft module and you can functionally swap them. They have similar problems.

You can pick up one at the parts store so long as it has the same number of electrical connectors.

It will look similar to these:
NSS#47184

1987 AMC Eagle Sedan -- 1976 Pacer Coupe -- 1968 Pontiac Tempest Custom S -- 1940 Mercury (& a 2002 Jetta Turbodiesel, 5 spd., the Wife's Daily Driver)

Offline Nightpath

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #8 on: May 02, 2014, 03:47:18 PM »
Yup, the ICM is screwed. And coil.

Awesome.

Offline vangremlin

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2014, 05:18:09 PM »
What brand HEI distributor did you get?  Can you return it for a good one?
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Offline Nightpath

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2014, 08:52:06 PM »
One of the ones from Skip White. I've bought one before, and have recommended them, to the extent that I've seen a few over the past couple of years and never saw any issues.

Just luck of the draw I suppose. They are going to send out a ICM and coil to replace the faulty parts so I'm not too worried.

Offline carnuck

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2014, 09:02:21 PM »
Make sure the ignition coil has the ground strap! I fried 3 modules and a pickup coil before I noticed the one in my '82 C20 with 454 was missing it. The PO gave up on the truck because of it. That and the 10 mpg from the Edelbrock package.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline JayRamb

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #12 on: May 03, 2014, 09:46:10 PM »
After ALL kinds of trouble shooting, it was my ignition module. I bought an UPGRADED  on that had MORE ventilation on the back side with deeper air-pockets. Haven't had troubles since.
Jayson H.
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Offline Nightpath

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #13 on: June 26, 2014, 04:08:18 PM »
Swapped out the ICM, car has a few vacuum issues, but the :censored: still randomly stalls out at any point.

I'm starting to think it's electrical. Car dies, have to pull over and it starts up no problem, but it's like the :censored: thing just shits the bed. Getting pretty :censored: over it.

Offline mudkicker715

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Re: Engine shutting down while driving
« Reply #14 on: June 26, 2014, 06:22:19 PM »
I have had a fuseable link shut all power to the car off.



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