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This has happened to me a couple times, most recently today but it hasnt done it in a while.
Twice its happened while going to the gas station and slowing from 45 to a righthand turn. Today it died right as i started turning, and i believe the last couple times its been during the same sequence. What should i do?
Firstly check all mechanicals aren't hitting any loose wiring etc other than that It could very well be a vacuum leak (my first thought)... Also check the Idle Air Controller is working and make sure the power steering pump isn't putting to much strain on the engine (it may need replacing).
Just a question, is your battery tied down? I ran without mine tied down for a bit, eventually ended up pulling a wire loose and I lost my ground. :P
I would make a right turn, it would die, I would make a left turn and be ok. lol
Either the IAC is bad or the single wire that goes to the pump came unplugged. Does your idle raise when you turn on the AC.
I actually just thought it might be my battery, it's tied down but the terminals are pretty coroded, I need to replace them.
It does raise the idle with the AC on, but where is this wire and controller so I can check it? How can I check that the power steering pump isn't putting too much of a drain on the engine?
This dying is such a rare occurrence that I've never checked for a cause before.
With the car idling sitting still, turn the wheel all the way in both directions, hold the full turn in each direction for about 5s, this will put a full load on the PS system. If your car is still running, you are probably ok with the IAC. The other thing to check is the PS switch for the IAC.
IAC is on the Throttle Body.
http://www.stealth316.com/2-isc-iac.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KibYz21IMA0
DSM's are identical to ours.
If the idle raises with the AC on then the IAC is fine. Like Blindmist said while turning the whell sitting still the idle should raise as well. If it doesnt then the wire at the PS pump probably fell off.
Ah ok thanks guys, i have noticed recently that my revs only sometimes raise when i turn whereas before they always did. I'll check to see if that wires fallen off after class.
Yeah, pretty much all the info I gave you with the PS, IAC, and battery should help you get this solved. I HAVE FAITH IN YOU!!
K tried the PS pump test and it raised the idle and kept running, so the problem isn't there. I also check the battery and the terminals are still tight, but really corroded. So do need to replace them, but idk if that corrosion can cause this. The IAC must be working too cus the idle raises with the AC on, so any more thoughts?
How exactly does it stall, does it sputter out or shut shut off like you shut off the ignition switch ?
Shuts off like i turned the key, just wam, dead.
But the rpm's are already low because im decelerating for the turn and they just seem to miss the idle point.
Just so you know... your battery does not run the car once it's on: the alternator does. It's not the battery cables.
Your IAC may be getting dirty, still working but not responding fast enough. You may want to clean it.
Have you ever tried to run your VR4 without the battery? My old Optima Red top failed a while back and although I got a jumpstart the car wouldn't run and I had to trailer it home. The car kept bucking whenever the ABS system tried to run. I actually found a paragraph in the manual that recommends unplugging the ABS ECU in the event of a very low battery because the ABS system initialization has a very high current draw that the alternator can't support on its own. The VR4 won't run without the battery unless the ABS is disabled.Quote:
Originally Posted by x2xtreme360
The battery absorbs surges when it's connected, so it's not recommended to run without it... but yes, the car will run without the battery. The alternator supplies power to the vehicle when the engine is running.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimvr4
Alternator can't supply enough current unless ABS is disabled.Quote:
Originally Posted by x2xtreme360
I'll check on the IAC, see if it's dirty but probably this weekend as I've got some other parts to put on too.
I am just referring to my past experience. My car would act as if I had turned the key when I would make a right turn. I would hop out, go mess with the ground wire, and fire it up until the next right turn. When you start messing with electrical, anything can happen. Just ask a VW mechanic. LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by x2xtreme360
The IAC is very simple to test (although my last one that failed tested fine...BUT it would only fail when the car was WARM, and I only tested it off the car (COLD)). It's just a series of resistance measurements.
If I would have picked up on the "warm" thing (I think Steve 92ES mentioned it), I would have tested it while beating on it with a heat gun....
If you need me to send you the section of the manual for testing it, just holler :)
Bob.
What he says is the truth though. A test you can use, though some don't recommend it, to see if the alternator is working is to start the car and unplug the cable from the battery. The car should stay running. If it shuts off, then the alternator isn't charging.Quote:
Originally Posted by blindmist
The battery is only for starting the car, and absorbing sudden draws.
I agree it will RUN but it absolutely won't DRIVE unless the ABS is disabled. Runs like a bucking bronco as the ABS keeps pulling the voltage down.Quote:
Originally Posted by stealthee
If you dont have ABS then thats not an issue. ;) Thankfully I do NOT have ABS.
I KNEW you were going to say that :) Trust me, it was really WEIRD trying to drive on a dead battery with ABS trying to turn on.
ive seen this problem in the shop a couple of times, both times it was a wire grounding out the system. In these cases it was the the o2 sensor wire rubbing on the steering rack. On hard right turns it would just shut down.
was this ever fixed?
No not yet, I didn't get around to it because the part i ordered hasn't come in yet and I was going to do both at the same time.
But it happens so infrequently I don't think I'll know if it's fixed for a long time.
Just a thought, but are you sure you aren't low on gas when this happens? I can remember plenty of times where I was almost out and took a turn and the car shut off until I straightened out, then from having it in gear, it would start again.
My fuel light was on but I had already taken a sharper turn out of my neighborhood just before. But that does make me think, since its happened twice in the same spot, which is while slowing from 45 and on a downslope, low fuel might be the cause.
I think we may have solved this :)
hahahahahahahahaha sorry had to laugh.... After all it did take three pages to get it figured (if it was low fuel)...
I was just sitting here at 1am smoking the bed time bowl to get to sleep, and I had the highdea that it could be low fuel. I am notorious for running out of fuel. If you know me personally, you have probably bailed me out a time or two. lol. I ran my stock FP out of gas probably 30 times and it was still going strong when I took it out and put the Walbro in.Quote:
Originally Posted by reallyxxxxxxloud
Also, I want to know why when I make left turns it dies on low fuel, the pump is on the pass side.
The pump sucks from a little bowl shaped area designed to keep some fuel there when you run it super low.Quote:
Originally Posted by blindmist
Definitely a fuel related problem, I was going to say fuel filter.