Still having electrical problems....

[JohnnyLightning86]

Well spring looks like it is coming early and I am itching to drive my Daytona again. But I am still having issues with it dying when I come to a stop. This seems to happen more when the weather is cooler or cold. A few weeks ago we had some warm weather (70+ degrees) for a few days, and I drove the car to the store, and it did not act up at all.

What is really odd is when it dies, I can here something clicking a few times that sounds like it is coming from the injectors. Now the car usually starts right back up again and I am on my way.

Another odd issue, is sometimes when it dies and does not restart, I can unplug the connector to the power module, plug it back in, and it will start up again and run just fine.

Now I still have not had a chance to check speed sensor, but I just find it hard to believe that could be the problem as it has not been that long since I replaced the sensor with a new one. Sometimes when the engine is cold and I first start it, it will idle a little rough and die. But once it warms up, it runs beautifully.

Any ideas, because these electrical problems are really getting annoying?

[minimopar]

Any codes? Auto or manual? Does it die more when you engine brake?

[JohnnyLightning86]

No codes. Auto. Basically only dies when I come to complete a stop.

[85lebaront2]

You might have to open the throttle valve a little. I have had two different vehicles that had this problem. I set the throttle so that the IAC was almost closed on a warm engine with no loads. If your car is a pre 88 T1, the iac may either be bad or sticking. The early system used a reversable motor to work a rotary valve through a planetary gear set. T2 and 88 up T1s use a stepper motor operated pintle valve, which can also stick. If either one is sticking it can cause the car to die at stops.
Bill Vose
1985 LeBaron Mark Cross convertible 2.2L TurboII
1986 Turismo 2.2 (race car)
1989 Grand Caravan 3.0L (for sale)
1993 Grand Caravan 3.3L

[JohnnyLightning86]

Since I had an opportunity this weekend to work on the car, I managed to find one problem with it - the insulation on the wires to the Charge Temp sensor right at the connector had become brittle and broken off allowing the two exposed wires to touch or arc. So I replaced the connector. I also adjusted the throttle valve and brought the idle up some. Drove it around town several times yesterday after that without it dying a single time and ran like a champ.

BUT THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, it started up cold and ran beautifully until I got off the hwy and made it to the 3rd red light where it died again. Then it was very difficult to start. A couple of times it started, then would cut out, backfire, and act like it was flooded. Tachometer was going crazy. I finally got it started again and it ran just fine after that the rest of the way in to work.

Before I found the problem with the wires to CTS connector, I had this same problem a few tiems. But it usually started up again, cut out and backfired some, and bellowed black smoke out of the tailpipe for a bit before it would seem to clear up and run fine. So I am guessing the two problems are unrelated unless the CTS itself was damaged from the exposed wires. Almost forgot to mention that I ran the codes when I got to work and got nothing.

Any ideas now?

[JohnnyLightning86]

I drove the car at lunch today. Car started up, ran for a bit, then died. I can hear clicking coming from the injectors or more on the passenger side of the engine bay. I can also hear the fuel pump clicking off and on when this happens. It did this a few times yesterday, so I checked the wires at the fuel pump and they seem to be fine. After I started it the second time, it ran fine all the way to the store and back without a glitch. This is really getting frustrating. I plan to switch out the computer tonight to see if it might be something with that.

[minimopar]

Does the clicking happen even after the engine has stopped turning? If so, either the LM is getting garbage on the HEP ignition reference signal (black connector) or the ignition feed is intermittent. Do you ever see it start flashing codes at you after this happens? Could also be a ground, of course.

[JohnnyLightning86]

Hey Russ,
The clicking does occur after the engine stops, but it only does it a few times and then it quits. I will check the HEPA connections again. I drove the car again today, but did not have a lick of trouble - ran beautifully the whole time. Adjusting the throttle valve does seem to have cleared up the problem of it dying when I come to a stop. So I am encouraged that it is getting better. But I keep my fingers crossed of the other problem of dying and having difficulty getting it to start again every time I come to stop and have to wait on a red light.

Thanks,
Mike

[JohnnyLightning86]

Drove the car into work again today. Ran like a champ and did not die on me at all. Intermittent electrical problems are such a PITA.

[JohnnyLightning86]

I may have finally found the problem with it dying and being difficult to restart - may have been some crossed wires from the last splice I had to do for the connector at the Power Module. There are two black wires on the same connector. I used male/female plugs so I switched them out yesterday. Drove the car today and this has been the best it has run in probably a year. Especially since Chris Robertson (stratman) came over Saturday, hooked up the diagnostic tool and found my timing advanced 2 degrees, which we reset.

But now it's getting a code 15 which has to do with the speed sensor. I found the unit that mounts into the tranny to be a little loose on Sunday, so I tightened it, cleared the codes, checked it again today and it's still getting the code 15.

Now what?

[minimopar]

Bad sensor or gunked-up connector on the sensor.

[JohnnyLightning86]

Well, the electrical gremlin is back. Now the engine will start right up, run for a bit and then dies and is difficult to restart. It usually starts up, then cuts out, backfires, and the idle is all over the place and then dies again. Then the clicking starts and I can hear the fuel pump clicking on/off with it. To get it started, I have to leave the key in the on position, open the hood, unplug one of the connectors to the power module, and then plug it back in. When I do that, I hear the AIM on the TB turn. Start the car again, and it runs fine after that.

It's like something is not resetting and it only happens when the car is driven and has enough time to completely cool off. I have replaced the HEPA, checked and rechecked the wires and connectors, and switched out the PM. The only thing left is the computer. A couple of weeks ago when Chris hooked up the diagnostic tool, it did not show any other problems at the time.

This situation is driving me crazy.

[minimopar]

Hmmm...I am starting to suspect the power module. Next time try disconnecting the HEP when the clicking is going on. If they doesn't change it, try grabbing harnesses and shaking them around. If that doesn't help, try a spare PM.

[JohnnyLightning86]

That's just it Russ, I have changed out the PM, and I have also messed with the harnesses while the car is and is not running. I have not been able to get any repsonse from the harnesses or wires anywhere by fiddling with them. Whatever it is, you can hear clicking coming from the the PM, the Injectors, and the Fuel Pump. They all click in unison. That's why I am beginning to suspect the computer - it only occurs when it dies and the engine is cold. Then when I unplug that one side of the PM and plug it back in, something is getting reset. It's like a code is getting set in the computer module and does not reset when the engine is shut off. Or a code is set the first time it is started after the engine is cold, but can't reset until the power supply is interrupted. If it was the PM, then what would the odds be of this same problem occurring on 3 different PM's.

But I will try the PM again just to make sure.

Thanks for all your responses Russ. I intend to resolve this problem one way or another.

[ludwig340]

Has it acted like this as long as you've had the car?