Car I just bought died on the way home, what could the problem be?

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PerfectFinish1

New member
Hey everyone,



I just bought a 2000 Chevy Blazer 2dr at an auction this morning to resell. The car is in very dirty condition, quite possibly one of THE worst interiors posted on Autopia. Anyway, I was driving home, and I drove about 5 miles... everything was running perfectly. Smooth acceleration, handling, and decent amount of power. However, the car died right on my street. I was doing about 35, and gave it a bit of gas, and realized that the RPM didn't raise at all, it wouldn't go above idle. (Pressing the pedal did NOTHING). Then, a second later, the car stalled out.



It wouldn't start back up again, until about 5 minutes later. Then, it lasted about 20 seconds before stalling out again. Now it won't even crank over.



My friend checked some fuel pressure release, and there was pleanty of fuel in the car. We also checked, and the engine IS getting spark.



Any idea what can be wrong!? Thanks!
 
Sounds like a distributor to me...



Same thing happened to my '95 Altima. We then got a used one from the junk yard for $40 and that died after a few weeks. So we just settled and paid a lot more for a new one.
 
I think a 2000 vehicle would have a distributorless ignition, right?



I know you checked the spark, but I would check the plug wires again, just in case. I'd also check:



- fuel filter

- codes (is the engine in "limp mode"?)

- throttle body
 
It's the 6 cylinder vortec.... and does have a distributor-less system. My friend and I also reset the ECU, and that didn't change anything. I don't think it's a clogged fuel filter, since the line we checked the fuel from came after the fuel filter... the fuel shot out fine when the key was on the on position.



We're all clueless about what the problem could be... please keep the ideas comming!



Since it was bought from auction, people may have taken something off when looking at the car, hoping that it would start stalling and people wouldn't bid as high. We checked everything we saw, and everything looks in order... but I still have a suspicion that could be part of the problem.



I bought the car for about $3300 after taxes, and should easily be able to sell it for 1200ish profit... minus whatever the cost is to fix this problem :(
 
check the battery cables for severe corrosion and the other end of the ground cable. are the drive belts still intact? and does it have an aftermarket keyless entry/alarm if so check the valet switch.
 
let me get this straight



it cranks, has fuel and spark but will not start?



is there a check engine light on?

if so what code came up



if there are no codes or check engine light is NOT on check spark plugs for proper gap, maybey the timming belt but need more info, also if it has TBI (throttle body injection) there is a device on the throttle body that acts like a air bleed valve.... I'll explain; when your at an idle this device opens to allow air in to the system behind the throttle body plate to prevent stalling and closes or meters when the throttle is opened, this device is controlled by the computer and will have wires going to it ......some times you can "TAP" this device to get it working again Temporally





Good luck keep us posted

Rich
 
I'll second the checking of the battery cables. I was having an intermittent stalling problem on my car, racking my brain checking things, thought I had water in my gas, etc. Someone at work who knows nothing about cars asks about my battery or battery cables, to humor him, I check...and one of the cables was loose! I had major A/C service done (new compressor) a few months before and I guess they had disconnected the battery--I never thought to check that since I almost never let anyone touch my car.
 
We had similar problems with my wife's 2004 Pilot a few months ago. It would just stall for no reason, and it might start up sometimes and others it wouldn't. But if it started, it would usually run for quite a while. Come to find out, there was something faulty with the Immobilization device in the steering column that senses the key. The dealer had to replace the whole thing. I guess it would just all the sudden short out and decide we didn't have the right key in or something.



Anyway, not sure if a 2000 Blazer has an immobilizer on it, but just wanted to toss my $0.02.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into all of them. There is a check engine light, but it wont crank over at all and all of the dash lights are on. It would probalby go off if it actually started. I don't recall there being a check engine light after I got the car started for the second time.



A snow storm just hit, and I've been sick all day, so I didn't get a chance to look at the car today :-/
 
Try bridging the two contacts on the starter solenoid. If nothing happens, try jumping directly from the battery to the starter (bypassing ignition switch). If it still doesn't crank, you need to get your starter tested or replaced (assuming the battery has a full charge). Keep in mind that a starter uses a lot more power to crank the engine then the dash lights do, so the battery could be on it's last legs.



Also check all fuses and the OVP unit. Doesn't sound like the ignition system or the fuel system, because it simply isn't turning over.
 
PerfectFinish1 said:
Now it won't even crank over.



My friend checked some fuel pressure release, and there was pleanty of fuel in the car. We also checked, and the engine IS getting spark.
Click to expand...



Wait, how are you checking spark if the engine won't turn over?
 
Jack up the radiator cap and put a new vehicle under it, if the new vehicle doesn't start then the problem was the radiator cap. ;)
 
Try bridging the two contacts on the starter solenoid. If nothing happens, try jumping directly from the battery to the starter (bypassing ignition switch). If it still doesn't crank, you need to get your starter tested or replaced (assuming the battery has a full charge). Keep in mind that a starter uses a lot more power to crank the engine then the dash lights do, so the battery could be on it's last legs.
Click to expand...



Thats would I would guess. I would get the starter checked out, and maybe get new spark plug wires and plugs.
 
It's an automatic... I just got it towed to my mechanic yesterday. I didn't know a starter could go bad while the car was already driving and cause it to stall??



Ben Z - The engine does turn over, it just won't start... it sounds like it's ready to but never does.



LOL dftowel, I will just drive my del sol right under there and try it :-D
 
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