I have a problem with my 'rx: I am driving down the road, things are good, and suddenly the engine dies. I coast to a stop, turn the key, and it starts right back up, and runs fine. Sometimes I need to crank it with the fuel shutoff, but it usually starts right back up. Can happen anytime, without warning, and it's dangerous!
I just purchased led's and will be reading ecu codes soon, but anyone have similar experiences, and what fixed it? Seems like it could be anything, fuel- or electrical-related, but in that it starts up again without problems and runs well then, what the heck??

'87 NA S-4, stock, 15K on rebuild, 15mpg around town with a/c on;
good grounds, resoldered ecu and cpu (no effect other than alot of new lights on upon starting!)
recent plugs and wires, air and fuel filters, passed CA smog 30 days ago....?

 

I tried to pull up codes on the diagnostic connector, but the ecu came up clean with no codes.
Anyone have a problem with a flaky ignition switch? When they wear out, will jiggling the key sometimes make contact? I'm thinking this is my next avenue to explore.

 

Well, yesterday was a natural progression...this time, when it stalled, it wouldn't start again. At all. After a tow home, now I'm running down the list in the FSM troubleshooting guide. No obvious causes yet....
Still cranks fast, all the obvious electrical systems (lights, meters) still work...it's something fuel- or electrical-related, for sure....

 

Does the tach still work when the engine initially dies?
If the tach dies, it's a sure sign the ECU is bad or wiring to the ECU is bad.
Whatever the case, it sounds more like an electrical problem.
Electrical problems are a PITA to troubleshoot, especially intermittent ones like yours.


-Ted