Moparts
Car stalls, then restarts
Posted By: tcat446
Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 07:03 PM
My 73 Cuda 318 will run strong and for no apparent reason stall while driving. If I pull over it will restart and is fine.
Could this be a bad ballast resistor? It is the 4 prong ceramic one on the fire wall. Could it be a bad coil? Replaced the electronic controller a few years back when it did it and that wasn't it. Needed the orange box on it anyway. What do ya think??
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 09:57 PM
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Could this be a bad ballast resistor? What do ya think??
Not the ballast. This is a tough one. This is at speed & not while idling? Cruising or WOT?
Posted By: rbmopar
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 10:04 PM
I have a similar mopar that exhibited those symptoms a few years ago, except one time it would not restart. I replaced the coil and it has been good ever since. Good luck.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 10:24 PM
First determine if it's spark or fuel problem. Use a timing light on one of the spark plug wires when it stalls and crank with a remote starter or get someone to crank the motor and watch for flash from the timing light.(thanks 1 Wild RT) If you have no flash then start swapping parts if it's electric which I kinda doubt, I'm betting it's fuel especially this time of year .
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 10:42 PM
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Could this be a bad ballast resistor? What do ya think??
Not the ballast. This is a tough one. This is at speed & not while idling? Cruising or WOT?
Driving right down the road at 55 MPH. Once at about 20 MPH pulling a hill out the end of the driveway.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 10:44 PM
Quote:
First determine if it's spark or fuel problem. Use a timing light on one of the spark plug wires when it stalls and crank with a remote starter or get someone to crank the motor and watch for flash from the timing light.(thanks 1 Wild RT) If you have no flash then start swapping parts if it's electric which I kinda doubt, I'm betting it's fuel especially this time of year .
When I try to restart its within a few seconds. So by the time I put a light on it, it most likely would have shown spark anyway. On the way to get it inspected today it cut in and out 3 or 4 times. No spitting or sputtering. Just like I shut the key on and off. I think its electrical.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:01 PM
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First determine if it's spark or fuel problem. Use a timing light on one of the spark plug wires when it stalls and crank with a remote starter or get someone to crank the motor and watch for flash from the timing light.(thanks 1 Wild RT) If you have no flash then start swapping parts if it's electric which I kinda doubt, I'm betting it's fuel especially this time of year .
When I try to restart its within a few seconds. So by the time I put a light on it, it most likely would have shown spark anyway. On the way to get it inspected today it cut in and out 3 or 4 times. No spitting or sputtering. Just like I shut the key on and off. I think its electrical.
Got to be sure one way or the other before you can fix it. 
Got a fuel filter in front of the fuel pump?
Mine did it earlier this summer and I swore it was electrical because mine did it just like yours, like someone flipped a switch.
I replaced the ballast the first time it happened because I had one with me along with a ECU and voltage reg.(because it was easiest without any tools in a parking lot) It fired right up and I thought cool it fixed it, oh well I guess 20 years isn't bad for one to last?
Then it did it again the next day when it was real hot out.
After more dicking with it, it was fuel related and not electric, if only I would have looked closer the first time.
My problem was the short piece of hose between the sending unit and fuel line, it was kinked and over half way collasped restricking my mechanical pump of fuel. My problems happened on a 95 degree day which we have had quite a few. If it didn't get hot I bet I would not notice until it started to leak and then the pump won't pump at all.
I also think the inside of my rubber fuel line was coming apart, it was about 12 years old and needed to be replaced.
I was so sure I fixed it I loaded it on a trailer and drove the thing in North Dakota, Sacamento and Wendover NV in real high temps and it ran flawless. Even at real hi speeds on the bonneville salt. 
But I got to be honest, the wife didn't want to go on the first few drives with me for fear of it quiting on me someplace strange out of town, her loss. lol That's my story. 
Posted By: Theorio1025
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:05 PM
have you checked the fusible link on the starter relay?
Posted By: zrxkawboy
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:08 PM
My car did the same thing last year, and it was the ECU (MP orange box, installed in about '94 or '95). Also on the "suspect" list is the pickup coil.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:12 PM
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have you checked the fusible link on the starter relay?
No, but now that you mention it, I will.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:12 PM
My car would run flawless for like 10-15 minutes in these 90+ degree days, I let it idle in the driveway with a timing light and remote starter switch attached. As soon as it stalled after a good 15 or more minutes I spun the motor over with the remote and squeezed the timing light trigger, oh sh!t flash but no fire! It's fuel!!
you might try it like that to help figure it out.
Again that was advise from 1 Wild RT and it sure helped me.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:13 PM
Quote:
My car did the same thing last year, and it was the ECU (MP orange box, installed in about '94 or '95). Also on the "suspect" list is the pickup coil.
Already replaced that and it still does it.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:14 PM
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My car would run flawless for like 10-15 minutes in these 90+ degree days, I let it idle in the driveway with a timing light and remote starter switch attached. As soon as it stalled after a good 15 or more minutes I spun the motor over with the remote and squezzed the timing light triger, oh sh!t flash but no fire! It's fuel!! you might try it like that to help figure it out.
Again that was advise from 1 Wild RT and it sure helped me.
Will check it out. Thanks.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:15 PM
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have you checked the fusible link on the starter relay?
No, but now that you mention it, I will.
Wouldn't the fusable link kill the whole car if it went bad? 
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:19 PM
Ohm the pickup coil, should be between 300-550 ohms. Easy to do with no tools except the multimeter. You should check it hot and cold, it's easy to trouble shoot imo.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/23/12 11:21 PM
Just now noticed oil coming out of the coil where the high tension wire connects.
Posted By: RawnDart
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 12:01 AM
The coil could be the problem, you can check with an ohm meter. Also check the connector where the ignition switch plugs into the dash harness on the steering column.
I was having the exact same issue as you, and I found the pin burned on the red wire.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 12:24 AM
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Wouldn't the fusable link kill the whole car if it went bad?
Not saying it's the FL but at speed the alt would still feed everything in thru its side of the bulkhead EDIT I would tighten the screw in the coil tower & with it cutting out clean I'm thinking electrical. I'd seperate the bulkhead halves & clean the male terminals with a small metal bristle brush & clean the female halves with a spare male brass terminal (NAPA 725147). You've replaced the pickup you've replaced the ECU & though orange boxes are problematic it did not fix the problem at the time. That leaves the coil & though I hate shotgunning parts at a problem it'd be nice if you could swap a coil off of another car for a quick test. You have more than 1 Mopar right 
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 12:33 AM
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Wouldn't the fusable link kill the whole car if it went bad?
Not saying it's the FL but at speed the alt would still feed everything in thru its side of the bulkhead
FL?? Field Lead? More of a mechanic than an electrician. Lol.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 12:34 AM
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Ohm the pickup coil, should be between 300-550 ohms. Easy to do with no tools except the multimeter. You should check it hot and cold, it's easy to trouble shoot imo.
The pickup coil measures .295 at slightly above room temp.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 12:36 AM
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The coil could be the problem, you can check with an ohm meter. Also check the connector where the ignition switch plugs into the dash harness on the steering column.
I was having the exact same issue as you, and I found the pin burned on the red wire.
very good point/suggestion. 
Also check the firewall connectors making sure there plugged in right.
20 plus years ago I soldered the big red wire togeather under the steering coluum, end of that problem. I cut a zip tie off to get these pictures and pulled up some shrink wrap so you can make out the red wire.
with a bigger peice of shrink wrap around it and I zip tie it to the coluum.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 12:41 AM
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FL?? Field Lead?
Fusible Link.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 12:49 AM
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The coil could be the problem, you can check with an ohm meter. Also check the connector where the ignition switch plugs into the dash harness on the steering column.
I was having the exact same issue as you, and I found the pin burned on the red wire.
That checks out ok too. Just like new.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 12:52 AM
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Quote:
Ohm the pickup coil, should be between 300-550 ohms. Easy to do with no tools except the multimeter. You should check it hot and cold, it's easy to trouble shoot imo.
The pickup coil measures .295 at slightly above room temp.
Factory service manual says it should be between 350-550, all 4 that I have checked and ran have checked at 335 ohms and the cars runs well.
I think your good at 295 ohms? 
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 12:53 AM
I appreciate all that work. Thank you. I looked real good and all looks well inside and out of the connections.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 01:02 AM
Is there a measurement I can get on ohming out both sides of the ballast resistor?
Posted By: Pacnorthcuda
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 01:04 AM
Have you checked/cleaned/tightened the bulkhead electrical connection for the ignition feed?
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 01:16 AM
Yes.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 02:03 AM
Anyone know what the coil should ohm out at on both readings? Terminal and terminal to high tension?
Posted By: RawnDart
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 02:10 AM
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very good point/suggestion.
Also check the firewall connectors making sure there plugged in right.
20 plus years ago I soldered the big red wire togeather under the steering coluum, end of that problem. I cut a zip tie off to get these pictures and pulled up some shrink wrap so you can make out the red wire.
This is what I found:
I cut the connector out and used some male/female spade connectors and heat shrink to make it a good connection, and the problem went away.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/24/12 02:25 AM
Didn't see anything like that on mine. All looks good and clean no burning. I took the coil off because it was leaking oil. Its been on since I bought it in 1987 and the oil is leaking so I am going to replace it. If its not it, I probably need to replace anyway.
Can anyone tell me where the wires go. Lost track of which go where. Ya, I know, should of marked them had a buddy over and was doing 3 things at one time and forgot what the heck was where. Guess I'm getting old.
I had 4 wires 2 on each coil terminal post. One I believe is a tach wire. This is what I have:
approx. 12 ga. grey
approx 14 ga. blk/yel stripe
approx 12 ga. brown
approx 16 ga. brn.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 07/25/12 12:53 AM
OK, Blk/Yel is (-) Brn. is (+) and the grey is (-) for the tach.
Ordered a new coil today. Ballast ohmed out good at 5 on the top and 1.5 on the bottom. Found some bare wires that possibly touched the intake manifold too. Re rapped the wiring harness there too. We will see. All other wires on engine, connections on firewall and under dash and steering column looked good. Thank everyone.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 08/03/12 02:22 PM
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My car did the same thing last year, and it was the ECU (MP orange box, installed in about '94 or '95). Also on the "suspect" list is the pickup coil.
Just to let everyone know who helped I got it fixed. I wound up replacing the orange electronic control box. I just put an orange one on about 4-5 years ago and didn't even drive it one year. Probably don't have 2000 miles on it.
I replaced the ballast resistor, the coil, - (because it was the wrong ohms for the car and was leaking oil), the distributor pickup coil, (actually a whole other distributor) and checked the fusible link with all the wiring connections on the fire wall and the steering column too.
I called the Mopar Performance tech line and spoke to an older gentleman and he said that the coil is suppose to read between the to terminals 0.75 - 0.81 ohms. Mine was 1.5 ohms. Although this will work it puts an extra load on either the ballast resistor or the ECU box can't remember which he said now. But, that's a very good possibility for the electrical problems and eating ballast resistors for lunch all the time.
When you go to replace a coil see what the spec on the coil is and then go with that spec. Just wanted to let everyone know encase someone else may have this problem.
I bought my box from Jegs because they are running Mopars now and I will support them now over Summit. Nothing against Summit, just want to help my fellow Mopar drivers.
Thanks to all. Jeff.
Posted By: FASTBACK340
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 08/04/12 11:10 AM
FWIW: I just had a similar experience with my car. It would just shut off...like turning off the ignition. Which it was.
You didn't mention (or I didn't read...) what ignition your running, but I had some corrosion build-up on the pick up & star wheel in my distributor that closed off the air gap. I cleaned the parts and all is fine. I'm running an MSD Pro Billet and from what I've read on their forum, this is an acknowledged problem. Don't rule it out with your set-up.
Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 08/04/12 04:13 PM
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FWIW: I just had a similar experience with my car. It would just shut off...like turning off the ignition. Which it was.
You didn't mention (or I didn't read...) what ignition your running, but I had some corrosion build-up on the pick up & star wheel in my distributor that closed off the air gap. I cleaned the parts and all is fine. I'm running an MSD Pro Billet and from what I've read on their forum, this is an acknowledged problem. Don't rule it out with your set-up.
I'm running all stock ignition except for Mallory Coil and Mopar's orange electronic control box.
I changed the whole distributor out eliminating anything in the distributor including the pick up coil and reluctor clearances inside.
Posted By: stumpy
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 08/04/12 04:58 PM
Orange box is notorious for being junk. A stock box is better than the orange ones.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 08/04/12 05:25 PM
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Orange box is notorious for being junk. A stock box is better than the orange ones.
I recently had some "shutting off" issues which were fuel related not spark. But when I was chasing my tail looking for spark problems I tested every ECM which I had accumulated over the years. I have six of them and they all checked out good, as I drove each one for at least a day or even three before I put the next one in. I have been running a MP "chrome" one like for 10 years?
Anyway I think this last stock box that I tested is better than my "chrome" box.
I tested the car out in Nevada at 4500 ft and it ran great at hi speeds for miles at a time in hot weather with this box/ECM. The car idles better with this box also. Pretty much a acid test.
So I'm keeping this stock box in the car. My 
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Posted By: tcat446
Re: Car stalls, then restarts - 08/04/12 08:13 PM
I too noticed a difference in idle characteristics. Thought that was in my head, guess not. I am keeping the stocker in the glove compartment just encase.