Lady In Distress - '01 Northstar Intermittent Stalling & Not Starting - Clues Please?

[XChoppers]

Hi,

I have spent some hours on this great forum here, trying to find some answers before posting, as to not duplicate Q & A’s. I have learned a lot although I can not seem to find a possible answer to the combination of problems I have with my 2001 Eldorado. – Northstar.

I was finally able to purchase my dream car, 2001 Northstar two years ago with 18,000K miles. The car now only has a little over 31,000k miles and I have thoroughly enjoyed the car until a few weeks ago.

#1 – My car is dying at stops or when just cruising slowly down a quiet street. No warning, just dies. I put it in park or neutral and it re-starts immediately. If the car had a carb, first thought and feeling would be to turn up the idle. It dies under all conditions – a/c on or off, hot day or mild day etc. etc.

#2 – In the last two weeks, I drive to a location about 10 minutes away, park for 20-30 minutes, return, and my beloved car will not start. The symptoms are like a car out of gas, tries to start strongly but will not “fire”. After a few tries, or waiting 10-15 minutes, and usually a few failed tries the car then starts, then is trouble free for a few more days and “startups”.

I am hoping that the above combination or problems might be a clue to my problem before approaching a mechanic “cold” or my husband, who has been building thousand horse Chevies for 40 years but the new age of electronics is a whole new world to him and is just now starting to read along with me in the forums here, on how to decipher the electronics of this great car.

…Need my car to hopefully get to our sons’ wedding in 2 weeks without grief. THEN time to spend some time in your forums here reading advice from all of the generous posters and moderators

Thank you in advance, hoping that my above combination of problems gives enough information to help us either fix the problem, or approach a mechanic with a few

[I_Finally_Have_A_Cad]

A few things came to mind, but first thing is first; have you checked the codes yet? Do that and then come back with the results. If you don't know how, just ask.

[Ranger]

Definately pull the DTC's first. You have classic symptoms of a failing CKP aka CPS (Crankshaft Position Sensor). GM had a bad supplier and almost every '01, '02 and some '03's have been replaced. There are two, an "A" & "B" sensor. R & R them both.

That should eliminate the dying problem. If the hard hot starts persist, check for a leaky FPR (Fuel Pressure Regulator).

[XChoppers]

Great thank you so much. It looks like we are on the way to get my dream car back to being reliable and enjoyable. I will keep everyone updated as to our progress to hopefully help others. Again, it is the car I wanted for a long time and planned to be my hopefully “last car”. We are going to start this afternoon, IF all is quiet. We have a metric customs motorcycle business, so I get put on the bottom of the list a lot with my “live in” mechanic (my husband).

In reading, I am seeing that these cars actually have more than an “off the shelf” gas cap, and above fuel pressure is mentioned. When I go to fill my car with gas (highest octane/premium) I have to “throttle” and play with the gas pump nozzle, in a lay term, the gas pump nozzle keeps clicking off, I can not just push the nozzle in, lock it, and let it automatically run. Hence, the gas pump nozzle keeps shutting of like the tank is full. This happens on all pumps, at all filling stations. Just tossing out another hopeful clue.

Thanks!

[I_Finally_Have_A_Cad]

The issue at the gas pump is nothing. My deville does that all the time. I am not sure why. I think it is a bottle neck thing. Just pump a little slower on the automatic setting and you should be fine.

Also, before you go nuts trying to find/fix the problem, check those codes. You don't need any tools to do it. Do you know how?

[XChoppers]

Originally Posted by I_Finally_Have_A_Cad

The issue at the gas pump is nothing. My deville does that all the time. I am not sure why. I think it is a bottle neck thing. Just pump a little slower on the automatic setting and you should be fine.

Unfortunately mine shuts off at the lowest auto pump settings. I've tried many differant pumps and it shuts off with all of them. Even pumping by hand takes time because the pump keeps shutting off while I'm standing there.

Originally Posted by I_Finally_Have_A_Cad

Also, before you go nuts trying to find/fix the problem, check those codes. You don't need any tools to do it. Do you know how?

We don't have a code reader. Do you know of a way to read codes without one?

[JimD]

Originally Posted by XChoppers

....

We don't have a code reader. Do you know of a way to read codes without one?

See post #1 here http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...ull-codes.html

[urbanski]

Originally Posted by XChoppers

We don't have a code reader. Do you know of a way to read codes without one?

if the other suggestion does not work, autozone, oreilly's, any other autoparts store will scan you free....then post the code
they also sell cheap scanners for like 40 bux, you could do that.

[wydopnthrtl]

This last spring I bought a 01 eldo w/northstar. Mine did the EXACT same thing. Died w/o warning. And it gave no DTCs either.

I read here about the crank position sensors and choose to swap them. I did and it's been perfect in the 20k miles since. Price was about $160 for both from the dealership w/me doing the work myself.

btw: Any autozone can scan and clear the codes for free.

Rich

[XChoppers]

Thanks a lot for that information! It sounds like changing those parts would be a good thing to try. By any chance, do you still have the part numbers for them?
Also, where are they installed?
My guess is where the crankshaft protrudes through the timing cover on the front but I have no experience working on this engine so it's all new to me.

Signed,
Lady in Distress's husband.

P.S. - By the way, both my wife and I are very impressed by the willingness of everyone on this forum to help!
Thanks!