2000 Lesabre Limited stalls when warmed up. No warning & no codes.

[clee100]

Thank you in advance. I have a 2000 Lesabre Limited and it runs like a dream except after about 30-40 minutes of driving it, with no warning, no dash lights, no engine sputtering or back fire, will simply stall. All the dash lights go off and the power steering goes out. When I coast to a stop and place in park it starts up fine but when I accelerate just a little it will stall again and again until I limp it back home and let it sit overnight. As long as I don't drive it for more than 30-40 minutes I'm good. This has happened maybe five or six different days. I live in Florida where's it's super flat so no hills to speak of and it idles smooth otherwise. Been to the mechanic several times but can't reproduce the problem and the computer returns no codes. Thinking it was a stuck trans solenoid I kept it in first gear after a stall but it stalled anyway. I don't think it's vapor lock because it starts up every time. I'm at a complete loss and my mechanic thinks I'm crazy. Any help would be appreciated.

I've had the fuel filter and battery replaced already but didn't help.

I'm not sure if this is related but it wouldn't start one day. Starter worked fine but engine did not fire. It, however, started up perfectly the next day (when my mechanic friend came to check it out of course) and hasn't happened since. That day my friend tested the fuel pressure and sparks and hooked it up to his computer and everything was perfect.

 

[Merkava_4]

When you say "stall," do you mean the engine completely shuts off?

 

[clee100]

Hey, Merkava! Yeah, it completely shuts off like someone flipped a switch. No warning and no sputtering.

 

[planenut_2000]

Typically an open highway stall is an ignition related. usually a ignition module.
After it quits, check for spark immediately. Scan for codes first and see if you have any crankshaft position sensor codes

 

[clee100]

Thanks for the advice, planenut_2000. I will do my best to check for sparks and crankshaft sensor codes next time it happens. Also, when you refer to the "ignition module", do you mean specifically the ignition control module, coil, switch, relay, or all of these collectively? (learning as I go, please forgive my ignorance) Thanks.

 

[planenut_2000]

Just the ignition control module. It's the part that the coils are attached to.

 

[clee100]

I tested my coils and control module. All of them are perfect. I even borrowed my friends auto scanner and reproduced the problem with it connected and it didn't return anything unusual. So I took it in for a proper diagnostic where they were able to reproduce the problem (which made me so freggin happy) and ran some tests. This is what they said. It could be one of three things (from most common to least common): the crankshaft sensor, the computer, or my keyfob. He ruled out the keyfob by shaking the ignition console. Most likely culprit is the crankshaft sensor and is being replaced as I type this. I'll report my findings when I get the car back and test it.

 

[clee100]

Ok. replaced the crank shaft sensor and it ran beautifully for a couple of days until I stalled out on the way back from giving back the auto scanner I borrowed (go figure). Anyway I noticed that it started to idle slightly rougher than the day I got it back from the shop and it later stalled with the same symptoms originally described. I suppose the ecm is next. This car is sucking the life [and money] out of me.

 

[Dizzy45]

Hey did you ever figure out this problem

 

[imidazol97]

This short thread is 12 years old.

I suggest starting a new thread of your own with your car description and the symptoms you're getting.