I’ve had this car for a while now and it recently started giving me some really frustrating problems.

• I was driving home and my car randomly died on the highway. Lost all power and drifted to the shoulder.
has to wait 20 minutes before it started back up and I drove home. had to leave it outside in the rain, snow, and salty air for three months while I was at A school.

• when I got back, the alternator was seized so I swapped it for a new one, and the engine came back to life. It idled for a bit and then died randomly again.

• I had a coolant leak from the radiator, and I thought the random dying might be the engine overheating. so I did a coolant flush and replaced the radiator. Then burped it till I got pressure back in the system. Radiator cap now gets warm. Car still dies.

• pattern started to develop: start fine, run for a while, drive fine, then, after about 15-30 min of driving, the acceleration would stumble once or twice and engine would cut out. Electrical was still good but car was dead. Then it would either turn on and run for increasingly shorter intervals before dying, or not start at all.

• I threw a new fuel pump at it (I have no mechanical experience, so I was just guessing) and it ran better for a day or two, but would still die after about 15-20 minutes of driving.

• now it won’t run at all. it’ll crank and if I step on the gas pedal it’ll turn over, and the engine with run as long as I’m holding it down, but when i let it go it’ll shut off. And the battery won’t hold a charge. I have to jump it every time. I won’t even idle.

• going to check grounds and replace spark plugs next, but am really just shooting in the dark. I’ve been told it might be my throttle position sensor, crankshaft position sensor and idle air control valve, but I don’t wanna just keep throwing parts at it.

• my car does seem to drink coolant (the coolant reservoir always seems like it needs a top-off) but the oil is fine (not thick or clumpy), and I can’t find an external coolant leak anywhere.

• I have a leaking vacuum line elbow. Getting that replaced soon. Also there’s no airflow through the front AC vents. Thinking the elbow might be the problem. Not sure if it’s related to the engine cutoff though.

• If anyone has had similar problems or can help me diagnose the problem I’d be grateful! Very inexperienced and looking for all the help I can get. Base Kodiak is a pretty rough place to live without a car to go fishing.

 

It would be best to check for spark when it cranks but wont start

If it has no spark, the most likely fault based on your description is a crankshaft sensor

So you can either replace it with a good quality (expensive) one

Or free download the FSM and do some further fault finding with the electronics and fuel system

The coolant system should be pressurized to find any leak , a kit can be used to do this, or most mechanics can do it