hi please any ideas guys much appreciated.Open to all sujjestions simple or technical

[gavincommodore]

I have a 89 vn commodore which has these exact same problems. I filled up with fuel then 30 minutes later it cut out in slow moving traffic. A guy came over and poured water ion the crank angle sensor and it started again but not for long.
I left the car over the long weekend and when i went back monday it started fine. I drove it to a mechanics who later called that day and said he couldnt get it to cut out however he said it was probably the crank angle sensor so he replaced it and all seemed fine. It is highly fustrating, i got a crank angle sensor replace for $300! i now know that is far to much.

WHen driving home tonight 1 week later i filled up with fuel $50 worth and then 5 minutes later the car cut out in slow moving traffic again. i left it for 5 minuttes it startes and then cuts out to the point where it wont satrt at all. If i go back tommorow i am fairly sure the car will start however i dont know how long it will last.


Obviously the crank angle sensor didnt fix it , i am leaning towards maybe some crap in the fuel somewhere? seems strange it happens on a full tank.

Your help would be truely appreciated, am close to pulling my hair out right now!

[Zeussy]

MAYBE try the coil packs, if you can swap them out with another set for a bit?

My mate had a VT doing similar things and it turned out to be the module under the coils playing up when it got hot.

If you can get it to cut out and not start, see if its got spark, if not then its definately electrical.

[justincredible]

try filling up from somewhere else (i reccomend shell or BP if ur having issues, the rest of the time any independent servo will do). If you have condensation in ya fuel (hence water) you will have problems. I don't think the crank angle sensor would cause the car to stop running, I think it is more likely to stop the car from starting if your trying to start it from hot. maybe check coolant, VNs have an issue with overheating.
the other thing you could do is take it to a decent but not so busy mechanic and leave your car there for a couple of days. My friend had to do that with her car which also had a similar problem (although her car was fixed when the crank angle sensor was changed).

[Tim Smtih]

Yeah i would lean towards the fuel system. Filter change, injectors cleaned/checked etc. Fuses all in good working order?

[Cheap6]

A fuel system fault will usually cause a stumble first as distinct from a clean stall more usually associated with an ignition failure. It's sometimes difficult to tell if it cuts while driving rather than stationary at idle though.

Any fault codes?

The suggestion of the DFI sounds reasonable.

Maybe ECM.

Maybe an aftermarket alarm with a kill function.

Loose wiring connection => wiggle test while running to see if the stall can be triggered.

[Jamie-b]

My "Sujjestion" is to take an English class...

[Ace_VP]

My missus V6 Pajero was doing this, ran fine cold by played up hot. I replaced the ignition module and the coil pack, all good since. As mentioned above wait till it does it again and check for a spark.

I would have thought that if it was dirty fuel it would do it all the time or run like crap when it is running.

[Tim Smtih]

My "Sujjestion" is to take an English class...

This post brought to you by Captain Obvious. HE'S MY HERO!!!11

[justincredible]

it could be several things and I am not saying any of the ideas are wrong but with the fuel...here is my thinking. Oil (petrol) and water(condensation) don't mix. This would not cause a problem if they stayed unmixed. when ur driving though, the petrol would mix with anything else in the tank. If by chance there are any impurities or any water droplets, they would go through the fuel system and when they are meant to spark, you will find your car will easily stall. Reason for problem in slow moving traffic, less fuel and therefore more sensitive to any impurities. faster moving means more fuel and higher chance on igniting fuel despite the impurities.

[Cheap6]

Possibly. Perhaps especially with E10. One check is to pump some fuel into a glass container and see what, if anything, is in the fuel. Draining the fuel filter into the glass container is an alternative. (Might as well replace the filter with a new one have gone to the trouble of removing it.)

[mitchy_vn]

My "Sujjestion" is to take an English class...

you kno wah he means .. hrmm

[KnobMuffin]

You need to do a through visual inspection. I would concentrate on the wiring, I would go to the point of unplugging connecters and looking for rust. Make sure you got a good connection to the battery and that the wires are in good condition. Take the cover off the passenger side kickpanel and check all the wiring is in good condition going to the computer. Have you also done your basic maintenance?