Thread: Car died 3 times today, Grr..

The first time the engine shut off while I was driving was this morning to work. I pulled over, turned everything off, primed, started the car, it took a little longer than normal. I did notice a strong burned oil though. It drove fine to work after that.

I had a new PCV valve in my car so I replace that at the jobsite after my car cooled off. I was thinking it might be related to that for it has probably never been changed. It was really dirty, some metal particles clumped up on it? But I did wiggle it and it still rattled inside. Replaced anyway.

After work I drove to my cousins place to borrow a 150a fuse for my car, after leaving his place the car did the same thing half a mile after leaving his house. It made me think of the fuel pump instantly, but I do not know. After that, it died at a stop sign another half a mile away.. Started again, a little longer than normal, strong used oil smell. Drives fine after that. Made it home safely through town.

I did not get a chance to scan the car just yet but I will try tomorrow.
What are some things should I check out?

I thought I finally got my car to drive normal and smoothly. Guess not lol

Possible crank sensor?

Lol, I was thinking the exact same idea while I was taking a shower. I hear they are pretty common for these cars and mine has not gone out yet.. or did it? I know there is a How To write up on it, But I think its a PITA to replace?

From Billboost37's write up.

Hand tools method:
Loosen lug nuts
Jack and support the passenger side of the car.
Remove the tension from the belt(s) and let them sit there.
Remove the passengerside wheel (stock is 19mm)
Remove the plastic splash shield that keeps you from seeing the harmonic balancer. (trim pop tool and sometimes phillips screwdriver)
Remove the flexplate inspection cover.
Hold flex with a pair of vice grips
With a 24mm socket, remove the harmonic balancer bolt.
Using an HB/steering wheel puller find the correct pieces to pull the balancer because the bolt hole area can be quite long. It requires the short rod and pulling piece in my kit. Along with three bolts M6 x 1.00 and 70-75mm in length. Check that you have these bolts before trying this procedure. 1/4 by 20 bolts will work in a pinch.
Pull the balancer off and set it aside

What is an HB? Is that for Harmonic Balancer? And where can I get one of these pullers? Will a pulley puller work for this?

I just did mine, the hardest part is the Harmonic Balancer. Took me like half an hour with an impact wrentch set. But totally doable.

My symptoms were shakey RPMs at cruise control speeds of 60+ ran the code and it was the CPS

You want to just get a HB (Harmonic Balancer) Puller from like you local parts store almost all f them have em but you will need the M6 x 1.00 and 70-75mm in length bolts cause the bolts that come in most kits wont work. Three bucks at Home Depot should take care of it.

Cool beans, I have a little fluttering in the RPMs at cruising speeds as well. How long did it take for you to do everything?

Well I had an impact wrench set and I read over Bills write up pretty good, the longest part honestly was the HB Bolt. That thing is a PITA! No joke if you have never removed one youtube it. I had to resort to the redneck version which many will not agree with and normally I would agree with them as well but I just wanted to get it off.

I impacted the hell out of that bolt but it didnt budge, used the red neck version and that thing was free in a2 seconds. No harm no foul. Overall the job took me an hour due to trouble shooting the HB bolt but had I just done the cheap method the job would have only taken like just over half an hour.

Originally Posted by h0wl0ngcanitbe

Well I had an impact wrench set and I read over Bills write up pretty good, the longest part honestly was the HB Bolt. That thing is a PITA! No joke if you have never removed one youtube it. I had to resort to the redneck version which many will not agree with and normally I would agree with them as well but I just wanted to get it off.

I impacted the hell out of that bolt but it didnt budge, used the red neck version and that thing was free in a2 seconds. No harm no foul. Overall the job took me an hour due to trouble shooting the HB bolt but had I just done the cheap method the job would have only taken like just over half an hour.

Cool, Thanks for the tips. Sounds like it should go semi smooth. Seems to never work like that for me though lol.

Wait a minute, you did this??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_-FsVvNr40

Ya I hear ya man, is the car throwing a SES light? Im assuming it is and your gonna scan it. If ya got any questions let me know I literally just did this less then a month ago or so.

heh and watch this for th "Redneck Version" Once again I am not a big supporter for this but it worked for me, just make sure to pull your plug wires and if you feel the need kill the fuel line.

Removing a harmonic balancer bolt on a Buick 3800 V6 - YouTube

I assume redneck is the old...ratchet held still and starter cranked method? I had to do it once too. Went well, but the potential for personal injury is pretty high.

I'd see this as two potential issues.

One.. Fuel pump resistor is starting to go bad.
Two.. CKPS

Since it keeps starting up right after, I'd say it's likely the crank sensor. However w/o proper testing..or code reading (if you are actually lucky enough to get a code), it's a shot in the dark on either.

My fuel pump resistor is bypassed right now. It was giving me similar problems as I am witnessing now. Bent the 85 tab out, been like that for 16 months now.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

I assume redneck is the old...ratchet held still and starter cranked method? I had to do it once too. Went well, but the potential for personal injury is pretty high.

I'd see this as two potential issues.

One.. Fuel pump resistor is starting to go bad.
Two.. CKPS

Since it keeps starting up right after, I'd say it's likely the crank sensor. However w/o proper testing..or code reading (if you are actually lucky enough to get a code), it's a shot in the dark on either.

Agreed there is a high chance of ish goin wrong when implementing this method. Just be very aware when you do it. Any update yet, or get that code scanned?

Sorry no update just yet. The car is at home in my garage. I had to go 300 miles away from home to go fishing. Just left the harbor a few hours ago. We have 16k lbs of Sablefish (Black Cod) to fish out. 6+ lb fish sells at $9 per pound.

Oki doki, managed to get that 24mm nut off with ease, I did the redneck method and it worked on the first try. but now with the bolts that I bought from lowes, M6 X 1.00 and 75mm long. These bolts are way too long to to hold the HB puller in place, unless I am doing it wrong. And the heads of the bolts are just a tad to small. Damn. And I dont have any washers that will work. Ill have to pick this up back on Monday. I dont understand why these bolts arent working, I suppose there isnt enough thread on them, there about and inch of thread only, maybe a little less.

Hrmm they worked fine for me, I did have to use washers to keep them from slipping through the HB puller. Bill has a pretty good sticky on servicing the HB id stick to that. The purpose of the special set of bolts you got was to keep the HB puller stationary while you thread the the main "center bolt" into the center of the HB puller and thread until it applies pressure and eventually pulls the HB right off. The bolts should just thread right in?

Alright, I have finally completed this job yesterday. The M6 x 1.00 by 75mm bolts are the ones I used and they worked good with a washer. This job was a lot easier than expected, anyone can do it. Thanks to everyone that helped, my car is running good, for meow.