Car died on the freeway and would not even crank, now it runs fine

[Travis_k]

It was pretty hot today, and I was driving on the freeway at about 65 mph, and the engine died, and would not turn over when I turned the key. After about 20 minutes I tried it again and it started and ran fine, so I decided to try to get it off the freeway, but it did the same thing after about 1/4 mile. After I had the car towed home, now it runs fine. Any ideas of what could be wrong? I checked the compression and it is fine, the alternator seems to be working (13.5 volts and the battery with the car idling). Any ideas of what could have happened? I have also had problems with the engine cutting out for a second occasionaly, and I have not been able to figure out what caused that either.

[xtrempickup]

bad hep? on its way out maybe

[puppet]

Bad coil or connections to it?

[Travis_k]

Hmm, I recently replaced the HEP with a junkyard one and it has worked fine so far. The coil could possibly be bad, but why would that make the starter not turn the engine over until it cooled off?

[puppet]

Oh .... I thought you had crank but no start.
I'm gonna guess bad GND now.

[Travis_k]

So what should i try to see if it fixes it? This car has made me mad enough if it does it again I amlost want to just leave it there.

[PTT]

Travis,
You live in my brothers home town! What make and model is it? On your starting problem....have you checked to see if the problem has set a code?

[Travis_k]

Its an 85 shelby charher. It did not set a code, that was the first thing I checked when it died, and now it is running fine, but Im sure as soon as I try to drive it on the freeway when its hot out it will do the same thing again.

[looneytuner]

Bad hep, plus starter gone bad because of no heat shield. BOTH will fail with heat. Both will/may work when cooled down.

the following is just my weird thoughts on how to check it.
Drive around and park at home before it dies. Let it sit for 15 minutes to heat soak and try starting. If it doesn't crank, the starter is bad.
As far as the hep, you could try some freeze dry used in electronics to chill components when it fails.

[Travis_k]

The starter has a heat shield, but it has been a constant problem the whole time i had the car (the car sat for years before I got it becasue the starter was dead, i replaced the battery cable, replaced the solenoid with a new one that lasted a year, then just recently put a new starter in). Do the newer starters use a permanant magnet rather than the field coil like the old ones? If so I may try a newer starter (if they will fit).

[markrochesterrc]

can you hear the fuel pump prime?

I used to have an 87 celebrity loong ago, and it would do the same thing you are describing, the mechanics were klusterconfuzed and just blamed it on fuel vapor lock...

[cm961]

Could be a bad relay / other electrical problem.

[Travis_k]

Im guessing that exactly what the problem is. I drove it today, and once it gets warm (not hot, just normal operating temperature, the starter will barely turn the engine over. But, if its an intermitant problem, how do I fix it? Im going to try replacing the starter, and im going to try a new power moduel to see if it helps, since i can get one for cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cm961 Could be a bad relay / other electrical problem.

[Travis_k]

I am going to go tomorrow and get a newer starter from the junkyard (one from a 2.5) and try that and see if it helps, and also try replacing the power module. I have another HEP i can try, but I cant see how they would really go bad becasue they are so simple. Does anyone have any suggestions about where to start looking for problems in the wiring harness?

[Travis_k]

Still looking for ideas. I dont really know what to do, becasue I either need to get this fixed or find another car soon, and I cant afford another car right now.