Little automobile enigma

[AdmRose]

Here is a car problem I have that I'm hoping some of you can help me with. My car today decided to just die in the middle of a street while stopped at a traffic light. It won't restart now. Last time this happened, the car started fine the next morning. Any ideas?

[LAWCobra]

fuel filter?
does it crank?

[Cougar68]

Make/Model/Year of the car?

[john9001]

go to your dealer, have them pull the trouble code, that will give you a starting point to find the problem, welcome to the 21st century.

as damiler said to benz, "we got spark,we got gas,auto oughta run"

[capt. apathy]

can't tell nothing without make modle year.

a couple reasons off the top of my head.
cps(crank position sensor)
fuel filter
fuel pump
spark control module (or whatever your model is calling the circuts controlling the coil and distributor)

or any combination of crap involving the computer and it's sensors

[AdmRose]

Originally posted by LAWCobra
fuel filter?
does it crank?

It cranks, but won't start.

Originally posted by Cougar68
Make/Model/Year of the car?

1999 Pontiac Grand Am

Originally posted by john9001
go to your dealer, have them pull the trouble code, that will give you a starting point to find the problem, welcome to the 21st century.

as damiler said to benz, "we got spark,we got gas,auto oughta run"

Last time I did that, they charged me $45 for the effort.

[LAWCobra]

I would bet fuel filter if it has never been changed.
If its that computer crap then I dont know what to say but what has already been said.

They will have to read the codes at the dealer.

[Habu]

I had that problem once it was a cracked distributor cap. Moisture got under it.

I have had diesals for years now. Do they still have distributors in those cars or is it a module now? If it is the distributor take the cap off and clean it well check the spark at the cap when you crank by pulling off the ht lead and gapping it to the metal of the engine. If it sparks then suspect the cap. If no spark then trace back from there.

Of course that car was a 1988 Peugot 504 which was about a simple a car to work on mechanically as they come.

[Saurdaukar]

Could be something as simple as battery charge or alternator.

Could also be something slightly more serious.

If the car has a history of doing this and 'getting better in the morning' take it to a shop.

Cars dont 'get better' they need to be fixed.  Best to do it now instead of wait until it dies at the worst possible time.

[zmeg]

It's your fuel pump.

[Capt. Pork]

Saurdaukar stole its soul. Ask for it back.

[Holden McGroin]

1. Where are you from?

2. How to you spell your name? With an E on the end?

3. What do you do for a living?

4. What color is your car?

5. Can you mimic the sound your car makes?

6. Does this happen more when the gas tank is half empty or when it is half full?

7. Let's ask my brother....

[doobs]

its the coil housing known to get moisture in it, bet thats it, if it is change the spark plug boots and housing. BTW I work for A GM Dealer. notorious in 2.3. Not completely sure if the still uised 2.3 in 99. If ya want you can email me the last 8 digits of your vin and I can look for bulletins at work tommorrow.   Also if your check engine light has not come on a scan tool will be worthless. unless u know how to use a tech 2 and grab a snapshot when stall occurs.

Lastly if ya have a 125 trans and it stalls coming to a light its the TCC solenoid in trans.  parts in Gm would be a 8689901 for 4 cyl and a 8689902 for 6 cyl. with a 8678169 side cover gasket.

[capt. apathy]

a lot of parts stores will loan you a reader, or rent them for very little.

alos try pulling a plug wire and see if you are getting spark.
if you are then unhook your fuel line at the injector rail and crank it for a second to see if you're getting fuel.

[rpm]

Go to the parts store and buy a Chilton's or Haynes manual for your car. They cost about $20. It will tell you how to get and read the codes without a reader and tell you how to fix the problem yourself. Usually it's something minor that you can do with basic tools.