What else to check for when engine wont stay running

Tiny
GMORRILL
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
  • 156,000 MILES
I have a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 not supercharged and 157,000 miles that wont stay running. It starts but then stops.I have replaced the ignition switch. I have replaced the crankshaft position sensor. I haved swapped out all 3 coils with ones I know work also swapped out maf sensor too. The fuel pressure is 42psi and raises up to 50 something with acceleration. What else is left before she finds the scrap pile?
Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 6:54 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,182 POSTS
Can you keep it running if you try or does it just shut down?
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
GMORRILL
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
It just shuts down. Battery has charge plugs and wires under 2 years old too.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 7:24 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,182 POSTS
You need to check to see if power is lost to the coil when the key returns back to the run position.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
GMORRILL
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Where should I meter this?
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 7:40 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,182 POSTS
At the coil
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 8:41 PM
Tiny
GMORRILL
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Does it matter which one of the 3 coils or test each one?
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 9:00 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,182 POSTS
I won't matter which one. I think either the ignition switch or PCM may be an issue. In the start position, power is directed to the ignition switch differently than when it is in the run position. Therefore, you get power in the start position, and when you release the key to the run position, power is lost and it stalls. This is at least my theory at this point.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 9:35 PM
Tiny
GMORRILL
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  • 10 POSTS
The ignition switch is new and what does PCM stand for. I am assuming power control module. Thanks for your input.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 10:29 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,182 POSTS
That is correct, Power Control Module.
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Monday, October 10th, 2011 AT 2:46 AM
Tiny
GMORRILL
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
One other thing I found on line was a possibility of a bad ballast resistor. There is no one I know that has any clue what or where a ballast resistor is.
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Monday, October 10th, 2011 AT 2:55 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,182 POSTS
That is a resister that did the same thing as I described. However, Chrysler used them and stopped in the early to mid 70's.
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Monday, October 10th, 2011 AT 3:03 AM
Tiny
GMORRILL
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Thanks again 1 less thing to worry about. Will look into the PCM.
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Monday, October 10th, 2011 AT 3:07 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,182 POSTS
Let me know what you find.
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Monday, October 10th, 2011 AT 4:03 AM

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