Car Problem

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SuperShouden

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SuperShouden
Alright, so I own a 1992 Pontiac Sunbird SE. (Got it from my mother who got it from her mother. Only three owners including me.) And whenever I get off the freeway and slow down to stop or turn, the engine dies. And the best way I've found to get it going ('cause if you just start it and try putting it in gear it dies) is to get it rolling in neutral with a foot on the accelerator, and drop it in gear.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the fuel system. Like a bad fuel pump or something. What do you all think? Can you give some advice and tips?
 
Last edited:
Change out fuel filter first ; cheaper and easier than replacing the pump. Look at the pump if that doesn't work.


M
 
///M-Spec
Change out fuel filter first ; cheaper and easier than replacing the pump. Look at the pump if that doesn't work.

M
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's a good start. It sounds like it is starving for fuel under load. How many miles and what kind of maintenance has it enjoyed?
 
I know it's over 90,000 miles and my mother gave the engine an overhaul before handing it over to me. I'll definitely check out the fuel filter first.
 
SuperShouden
I'm thinking it has something to do with the fuel system. Like a bad fuel pump or something. What do you all think? Can you give some advice and tips?
Click to expand...

A bad fuel pump or fuel delivery problem would manifest itself 100% of the time and accelerating would be rather difficult...you have an issue when the car returns to idle.

Does the engine idle when not in gear? How does it run when its cold (1st startup of the day) and how does it idle after a 30min drive? Does the engine surge before it dies? Does it stumble a bit or does it feel like it just turns off?

Honestly; you can have anything from a weak alternator (poor voltage at lower RPMs) to a tired engine. Take the car in someplace to be diagnosed or use a paper clip to see if the car has any codes. Google OBD1 & paperclip to get instructions to get the CIL to flash and re-google whatever codes you get.
 
Starts up fine and when it dies it mainly just sputters like it's having trouble getting fuel. And it idles fine when not in gear. After it dies it tends to die when going from Neutral or park to drive or reverse. I've had it diagnosed as my mother has and no one can tell us the reason. I'm thinking, maybe if I the fuel/water separator might be going away. But, again, if water were getting it to the fuel, it would sputter out more often, wouldn't it?
 
Our '95 Camry did the same thing, and it was the PCV Valve. We'd get off the highway, or have been traveling at a constant rate for some time (55+ MPH), and then come to a short stop, or slow down below 30 MPH, and it would stumble and die.

I'd check that. It seems like the most reasonable thing to change.
 

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