engine runs good, then dies.. then wont start

[kambonate]

hey guys i have done quite a bit of searching and really didnt come up with anything so i figured i would ask you.. my car will start and run just fine, then as i am driving along she will just die unexpectantly.. then i'll try to start it up, it just turns over.. then if i wait an hour it will fire right up and drive like nothing ever happend. it did this to me last week so i figured the fuel pump went out.because those are normally the symptoms. i didnt get any CEL'S. so i just went ahead and put a new fuel pump in.. i have checked vaccum lines, sensors, i have yet to check the fuses and wiring since the car is a 95' with 160,000 miles on it.., but i have no idea.. it just dies and i dont get anycheck engine lights.. so i figured its not crankwalk.. because the crank sensor would throw on the CEL. i am just stumped.. i even checked the crankshaft pully with a pry bar for any in-out and side to side movement.... so i am just stumped.. so any ideas or thoughts we be greatly appreciated.. thanks
~nate

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

Let's try to differentiate if it's fuel related or spark related. First run it till it dies. Immediately try to spray some flammable carb cleaner into the intake while cranking. If it tries to start, you have lost fuel since the carb spray is essentially fuel. That also means your spark is working. If it won't hit on the carb spray, you can safely assume it's probably ignition related. We can further break it down from there once you know which it is. Post your findings so we can take a look

Good Luck

 

[kambonate]

i will try that tomorrow.. so i should use carb cleaner or could i use starting fluid.or would the either be to harmfull on the engine? thanks
~nate

 

[PaulN]

Personally, and I don't intend to imply that what Old Mitsu is saying is wrong or incorrect, but in my personal experience everytime I used carb cleaner it tends to make my vehicles want to stall.

I like plain old starting fluid for these purposes. That's the first thing I grab for no start issues. (In fact I keep a can in my 89 Ranger. Twice since I've had it, I have had to use it to determine the cause of a no start situation) It can immediately tell you if it's a fuel or spark issue. If it starts, it's fuel. If not it's spark.

Good luck.

 

[kambonate]

well i drove it around the parking lot until it died so i could check for fuel or ignition. i pulled the intake filter off and sprayed starting fluid in their, and got nothing.. after that i pulled the spark plug boot off and hooked a spark tester in thier and got nothng.. i know i have fuel..so it leaves me with no spark... i am wondering if its the ignition coil.. i have replaced the plugs and wires.. so i am stoked.. any comment would be apreciated.. thanks.. ~nate

 

[kambonate]

hey guys i just replaced the ignition coil, we had some new ones at the shop, so i just put them in to see if that cured the problem. and then started it up and let it idle for a while then it just died..so is their any other thing. i could possibly do? i have already put new plugs, wires, ignition coils, and a new fuel pump in.. i think i need to take it to a mitsubishi mechanic l.. thanks
`nate

 

[GotTurbo11]

Sounds like you have a bad ECU. I've seen 2 DSMs with similar problems. Both turned out to be the ECU. Try another one from a similar car. See if it solves it.

 

[kambonate]

well i took it to a mitsubishi technician and he found out it was the crank sensor and then he said the balanced shaft belt broke.. so i am kind of mad because i had the timing belt service done about 15,000 miles ago.. all that stuff was new.. that goes to show dont use aftermarket timing belts and components.. i should have went with oem .. and as for the crank sensor, i had ask if it crank walked. he said no.. so iam kind of worried if i should be wasting 500 dollars on an old tired engine with 160000 miles on it which might grenade or crankwalk in the near future.. well thank you all for helping me out..,
~nate

 

[kambonate]

well guys i got my car back and it runs very well.. kind of strange it was the crank sensor.. i never got a code on my datalogger/pda code scanner for my car. but his 2000 dollar mac tool scanner picked it right up.. but anyway he fixed it and it runs great.. he put the crank sensor on, a new water pump on, (hopefully the old one will be warrantied w/ only 12,000 miles) balance shaft belt and then did a 27 point inspection on it that is about 1 1/2 pages long all for 567.00.. i was wondering if that was a really steep price.. what do you think? i know i would have been able to do the crank sensor myself but the balance shaft belt would have been a bit tricky.. i didnt think it was too bad of a price. but i could be wrong.. thanks any comment would be great..
Nate