Engine dies while driving

[drak0]

Hey all,


Question. I have a 97 V6 VSII and on the way back from Townsville a few weeks ago, E10 fuel was put in my tank by some genius at a BP station. When I bought the car in September '08 I had no issues other than having to replace my alternator. Worked fine. Anyway, once this fuel was put in... my car ran fine for about 200km. Then out of nowhere it just dies with no warning and no struggle. Had to pull over and wait ten minutes before I could move the car. If I planted my foot in park to rev it, it wouldn't rev unless I waited about ten minutes. I'd get going again and at a random times it would do the same thing all the way home to Brisbane. When it dies, electrically the car is fine. Stereo, lights etc work good. The car had a new engine/gearbox/aircon put in 12,000km ago by the previous owner. When we got to Tin Can Bay at my grandparents place, my father and I fitted a new fuel filter, and as he said, the old one was full of crap. This was say a week before Christmas. Worked fine til a few days ago on the way through the range outside Toowoomba. Wondering what the problem might be? Fuel tank got some stuff in it that needs to come out? I've heard also the CAS could be an issue but I doubt it in this instance as the other threads I've seen aren't E10 induced.


Anyone willing to shed some light on my predicament would be highly appreciated and thanked in advance.

[hako]

I'd check if the new fuel filter is blocked. I always use the cheapest fuel which is usually E10 and have never had any problems so I really think you are going down the wrong path if you blame the E10 fuel - first thing I'd do is check for error codes: Checking error codes VR/VS (Revised)
Good Luck.

[drak0]

I'd check if the new fuel filter is blocked. I always use the cheapest fuel which is usually E10 and have never had any problems so I really think you are going down the wrong path if you blame the E10 fuel - first thing I'd do is check for error codes: Checking error codes VR/VS (Revised)
Good Luck.

Yeah, I had a chat with dad and he told me the same thing, check the new fuel filter to see if it's blocked. Then while I was checking out this forum last night I noticed the post on checking for error codes. Will do those two things and post my results.

[2001_VXSS]

hey man you've got the same problem that i just got rid of. ok here is wot was wrong with mine.
did the same as yours, engine stops but electrical still fine. do you have an immoboliser?

If your car doesnt have an immoboliser than dont bother reading more. lol

if so put a pressure guage on your fuel line just before fuel guage under bonnet and when car stops check pressure.. im pretty sure that you will have no pressure and you have to wait for it to re-pressurise before you can go. i had the same problem.

if this is your case then keep reading.

the result of this was my immoboliser... if it is your fuel pressure dropping out.

this is something to try.
1) on drivers side pull out the kick panel and panel that runs down side of car covering wires..
2) Un-rap the wires and find the "fuel" wire and trace it til another wire connects into it. (which should be about in line with the drivers seat)
3) cut out that wire, cos it is your immoboliser and join the fuel line back together.

the car should run without that wire connected to the fuel line, if it doesnt then connect back together and i would suggest getting a new immoboliser. (like i did)

if you need anymore help just yell out
cheers
Patrick

[Harvs82]

I'd be looking at the CAS first up, and then maybe checking out the coil packs themselves. The DFI module could also be playing up, as it is linked with all of the above items.

Failing that, maybe your fuel pump is on the way out?

[2001_VXSS]

if it is ur fuel pump. next time the car stops and if u have someone with u. get someone to lay under car and hit the petrol tank rite in the centre really hard while u crank the engine. if the car starts from that then ur fuel pump is on its way out otherwise there is nothing wrong with.

[drak0]

cheers for the replies guys, i will get right on to it. i did a fault code check, got 12 six times so its all good. when it dies, and i try to start my car straight up, it starts, but it idles a bit rough as if it is gonna just stall. if i wait with the engine off, start it and rev it a bit to make sure its good to go, it goes fine for an indeterminable amount of time.

[2001_VXSS]

yea same as wot i had mate.. the idling rough is cos there isnt much fuel in lines just running on little bit and when u rev it u push more fuel into lines which fixes then problem. easiest thing to do first is put a pressure guage on your fuel line before the fuel pressure guage and when she stops check the pressure.
hope that helps

[pursuit_special]

definetly the immobilzer i have had that problem twice with two different VS's!!! such a common ****ing problem.

[pursuit_special]

oh ****ing stars i wanna say ****!!!

[vs wagon 3800]

yer i would check the CAS...my vs was cuting out at random times with no warning...at first it hapened once every now and than so i never really worried about it but then it got worse cuting out 4-5 times per day so i got it checked by my local holden dealer and it was found to be the CAS... i got it fixed and it hasnt cut out since and that was about 6 months ago it cost me $210 to fix it

[SkyAir]

Mate had the same problem, car would just completely die... Turned out to be the CAS aswell, he got it fixed up for $120....

Took going into be checked out 4 times, aswell as some major work done on the car before the mechanics were able to figure out what it was...