I'm having a problem with my car stalling. When i first go to start the car up, it'll sit there and idle for a long time. But once i get out on the road, only for a minute, the car will start stumbling on itself and eventually die. I bought a new battery thinking that maybe the alternator was running the car and once i started on the road the alternator couldn;t power it all up. Do you think it could possibly be my alternator? Once the car dies i try to start it back up and it doesn't start up. It'll turn over until the battery dies....but just wont start. The theft system light is on solid, no blinking or anything. If someone may have any suggestions or a possible answer to this, lpease do share. Thanks for your time!
Brian
NEW SIG COMING SOON FOR 07'!!!
Okay I can tell you a few things and help you out.
Buying the battery was a waste of money, batterys will not allow the car to start, alternators fail, by you having to jump the car everytime you need to start it up.
You keep cranking it till the battery dies, is really bad for the starter, #1 your overheating it, #2, your lessing the life of your new battery by killing it all the time.
You say it is stumbling, does it act like it not getting fuel, does it jerk, and dash lights on besides theft system? Theft system will cause a no start altogether, actually some GMs it runs for a second than dies, and repeats that process, anyways.
It only stumbles for a minute than is fine, does it do this on every start up, or just cold start ups.
Have you done any diagnostic work, check fuel pressure at idle, and say 2000RPM, have you ever had a tune up done to the car, have you had any work done recently?
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Hey, thanks for the feedback.
I dont continuously crank the car until the battery dies. I'm saying after cranking it, then leaving it alone and cranking it, and doing this repeatedly, the battery died.
Before i tell you my Mods, understand that the car ran perfectly before i left to Iraq. I came home for R&R....ran fine. Then i come home for good this time, and the car does this....
Only after left alone for quite some time, the car WILL crank. If it cranks, i can let it idle forever, but once i drive it a few houses down the street the car will begin sputtering and trying it's best to stay alive, but it won't...not by itself. I have to give it some gas, and it'll will pop and sputter and spit black smoke out. So i limped it home, and turned it off.
So, it's hard to get started after the first initial crank, but once it's started it will idle forever, but once i drive it down the street, it falls ontop of itself, and tries to die....
What could this be???
I also just changed out the crank sensor....still no better.
Mods;
GM Supercharger (not boosting at all, waiting to get tuned)
Custom Catback exhaust
Thats all my engine mods....as it stands....got more, but waiting to get the car running first.
Thanks
NEW SIG COMING SOON FOR 07'!!!
If its black smoke, its running way to rich.
This could be a ton of things I'm thinking could cause this. I would recommend you bring it to a shop so they can use a scan tool. It will be cheaper than tossing parts at it.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
I have to agree with Rob S. I would say it is an ignition related problem but your best bet is to take it in and get it fixed right the first time.
"It will be cheaper than tossing parts at it."
BTW, Thanks for your great work in Iraq, from a fellow veteran.
Regards,
Fred Larracuente
Guaynabo, PR USA
Hey, Thanks for the comment about Iraq.....thats always appreciated.
Another thing, alot of dealerships around her dont like to work on my car for the soul fact that "My car has been modified TOO much". Thats what the GM dealership told me. When they see that i have no air bags and my battery is in the trunk, they get all scared to work on it. I think i'm just going to toy around with it until i just get really pissed off at it.
Then i'll get a new car or actually get someone to fix it.
Thanks again!
NEW SIG COMING SOON FOR 07'!!!
