amomin2321

Yesterday I drove the car about 40-50 miles with no issues. Then when I pulled into my garage it died and wouldn't crank. I waiting about 2 hours and tried again. Car cranked up instantly and idled smoothly. Then this morning I drove about 25 miles with no issues and then suddenly I lost power and car cut off. Again it wouldn't crank after multiple attempts. After getting it towed and sitting for an couple of hours it cranks up on first try with no hesitation. But I think it will die again if I take it anywhere. Have any of you guys had this issue. I do feel a slight hesitation on heavy acceleration but nothing too crazy. Could it be fuel pump or DME relay. I do have it hooked up to battery maintainer lately. That is the only change in last couple of months. Appreciate any advice. Thanks

newsboy

Yes, it could be the DME relay.Would try that first.

No_snivelling

You should always carry a spare DME relay in the glovebox. Takes seconds to swap it in or out.

A8KED

Agree with the DME relay suggestions. Never leave home without a spare.

0luke1

Or buy this and forget the spare. https://www.ftech9.com/new-products/993-ssr-pp

Dan Jacobs

A bad DME relay won't stop the starter from cranking. We're the instrument lights on when you were you turned the key ? Did they dim when you turned the key to the start position?
Could be many things but Battery connections, Battery, Starter and Ignition switch are certainly on the list

amomin2321

No issues with dimmed lights or anything like that. It starts up completely normal.

ZG862

Bad earth caused these symptoms for me once. I was told that when the failing earth connection gets warm it becomes less conductive. Electricity is all magic fairies as far as I can tell.
Z
​​PS/ Failing starter earth isn't always obvious. If you are prepared to go through the pain of removing it, the cable should be pliable and copper coloured (ie not green or white tinged). Clean up the earth terminal and use a copper washer under the bolt.

cjoenck

When was the last time you changed the fuel filter? You need air, spark, and gas for combustion. Assuming you have fresh gas in the tank and now debris in the fuel filters, right? It's got to be electrical.

r-mm

Agree to check the primary electrical contacts: easy ones are battery positive and negative including the negative CABLE and its ground point. Cable is cheap insurance. Then go to the starter to check the ground and positive connection there. A bad/sticking solenoid will prevent the car from attempting to crank and is a very intermittent type issue.

amomin2321

Need help with a strategy to trouble shoot this issue. I bought a new battery because the old one died on me once or twice. I also replaced the dme relay. Last time I started it after 1 months of sitting the exhaust smelled like gas but that could be because he has been sitting for a long time. Today I tried cranking it and it died within a few seconds then wouldn't start again. I will try to change the ground wire next.

r-mm

With any "its been sitting" issues I would strongly try to do whatever it takes to get it running, up to temperature, burn the condensation and oil off all the places its been sitting, run a can of your fave injector cleaner etc thru and then take further action. Trying to troubleshoot a near-dormant car on first start is a fools errand, like trying to make decisions when you just woke up hung over af.

amomin2321

How would I check to see if the fuel pump is the cause?

r-mm

Hook up a fuel pressure gauge to the test port located at the drivers rear of the engine, it has an obvious hex head cap. Proximate to the distributors.

95_993

You might have some stuck injectors dumping fuel in and flooding the engine.