sudden loss of power while driving

[Kingcof22]

i was driving about 70 mph and all of a sudden the car just stopped accelerating. I downshifted in order to get back into the power band and there was no power. my car just glided to a stop and died. I crank the car up and then the car dies right away. My check engine codes are "random cylinder misfire and cylinder 4 misfire." I know i have a small boost leak at the BOV and a possible one at the throttle body, could that cause the car to suddenly stop driving and accelerating?

 

[Gasolinebaptism]

Check all vacuum lines, and especially all couplers. If you have a big enough hole then yes, it will cause a no start.

 

[Kingcof22]

do you think i damaged my engine from having a blown coupler.. i wont be able to check out if its a coupler or not

 

[DeathdealerATX]

Sounds like a IC pipe blew off

 

[Kingcof22]

the pipes feel tight and secure

 

[Gasolinebaptism]

Spark? MPI Relay in tact? Fuel pump still working?

 

[Kingcof22]

Spark? MPI Relay in tact? Fuel pump still working?

what is mpi? i will be checking for spark and fuel pump tomorrow. but it seriously felt like i just stopped getting gas

 

[Bomalleygst]

Mine did that when i jumped timing. It felt like then engine had no power at all. Check your timing while your checkin the rest. Just a suggestion

 

[Kingcof22]

Mine did that when i jumped timing. It felt like then engine had no power at all. Check your timing while your checkin the rest. Just a suggestion

oh boy, i sure hope its not timing related

 

[Calan]

Start with the things that are most likely and the simplest to check first.

1. Electrical - blown fuse(s), dead short (look for burns or melted harness loom), alternator belt, loose connectors at sensors, battery connections, etc.

2. Airflow - missing couplers, vac lines off/torn, etc.

3. Timing - turn motor over by hand and listen for interference, put #1 at tdc and check timing mark alignments.

4. Fuel - turn on fuel pump with car off, and check (feel/listen) for fuel flow in the lines

5. Ignition - pull the plug wires one at a time and use an extra plug to ground and see if you have spark

If none of this easy stuff turns up anything, then you can start getting into more in-depth diagnostic testing.

Any other symptoms (such as dash lights on/off) would also help.

 

[tony070804]

MPI Relay is behind the right side panel of the console. Its a little brass colored metal box with 2 plugs there are actually pics on another post of it, just search MPI Relay. controls fuel pump and fuel injection. You also have a test port under the hood to check and see if the fuel pump works. Its located on the on the firewall just to the right of the battery. Its a small blue connector with a couple of others in the same area. Take a piece of wire with a male spade on one end and plug it into the blue connector, touch the other side to positive terminal on your battery, if the fuel pump is good you should be able to hear it.

 

[Gasolinebaptism]

There's also the relay mounted at the positive post of your battery. That relay box should say "MPI" on it. Check that.

 

[rubadubdub]

I had a similar problem and it turned out to just be the Motor Relay Fuse. If it is a fuse that went out check into what caused it to go out.

 

[Gasolinebaptism]

RFCI. (Request for Clarification of Information)
What's the status of the issue? What have you checked? What are your findings?

 

[dmaffo]

i was driving about 70 mph and all of a sudden the car just stopped accelerating. I downshifted in order to get back into the power band and there was no power. my car just glided to a stop and died. I crank the car up and then the car dies right away. My check engine codes are "random cylinder misfire and cylinder 4 misfire." I know i have a small boost leak at the BOV and a possible one at the throttle body, could that cause the car to suddenly stop driving and accelerating?

You have been given realy ideas as to what to do. Keep us all informed so that we may best help you. Looking after the "known" issue(s) will definetly get you going in the right direction.
Things like bad spark plugs, coils, or wires will cause car to behave really strange.
Let us know if you have boost leak tested and fixed your known issues and outcome.

 

[Kingcof22]

update, so the fuel pump is just clicking and not doing much. unable to remove the fuel pump, havent had time to check the mpi relay

 

[ktgurl87]

For giggles and grins... check your main engine fuse under the hood. Hubby had the same thing happen on the GST, and turns out the fuse blew. Didn't find out about the fuse until after a new fuel pump was purchased. Good times all around :\

 

[Kingcof22]

It got dark so my friend and i were unable to remove the fuel pump and hook it up to the battery to see if the fuel pump wasn't good. I will be checking the mpi relay later tomorrow. I want to thank everyone for all the useful suggestions

 

[Kingcof22]

I found out that the problem was caused by split wires to the fuel pump. I installed new wires and the car runs again. I am relieved that the car is now running and again, thank you to everyone that helped with advice.

 

[Calan]

Glad you found it, and thanks for updating your thread with what you found.