Need help.. '85 380se intermittent engine quitting
 

I am helping a lifelong friend in Washington with his wifes '85 380se. I am in calif. The car runs good then just quits in the road. He pulled the cap and cleaned it and it started but then quit later.
HISTORY on the car:
New Performance rebuilt engine 4 yrs ago.
New ign module, the one on the fender well 5 yrs ago.
Cap, rotor and wires replaced 2 yrs ago.
Where is the fuel pump relay on this car? Is there any other devise that tells the computer that the engine is rotating? Tachometer?
He just called and it appears to be a fuel issue. He can't hear the fuel pump.
Any help much appreciated. Chris

JUST GOT OFF the phone again. I found out which is the fuel pump relay...Looked up the part on Fastlane, Thanks Fastlane!
He checked fuses, OK, re checked spark while I was on the phone, OK, He pulled the relay, tapped on it and replaced it, STILL WON'T START. Seems no fuel.

I do not think there are many 84-85 380SE's out there over 100K that does not have a stalling/idling issue. I have read several issues on stalling on these cars here.

My 85' 380SE is having a similar issue. On the 1st trip out in a day, it is fine, but if I take it out the 2nd time- it will occasionally stall at a traffic light, or when making a turn into a parking space. Yesterday, I was setting at a traffic light- it was idling around 700 RPMS - after about 25 seconds of setting, idling smoothly, it quit just as quickly as if I had turned it off. :rolleyes: It always starts right back, but sometimes stalls when I place it back in gear- which it did this time. :rolleyes:

I have been told it could be the idle control valve, but I do not know how to remove it. :(

I know what you are talking about but this car wont restart. He got it home and I had him check if he had voltage at the fuel pump while cranking. It does not.

I think that the idle control valve is in front of the throttle body. It could just be dirty. You can use some spray choke cleaner to de-gunk it.

relay
 

pretty sure it's the fuel pump relay. Lot of stuff on this site, do a search. you can jump socket pins 7 and 8 (i believe) together to bypass relay. Don't leave it jumped out though, cause you'll be pumping fuel even with the key off! shop around for the relay, prices vary. might even try ebay.

If its dying while slowing down, or in a parking lot, its the Idle Control Valve. Its under the air cleaner and infront of the throttle body. Its about the size of a roll of half-dollars. Take the hoses off of it and clean it inside and out with WD-40. Spray it half full, put your fingers over the holes, shake. Repeat 3-5 times. Drain it fully, let it air out, etc. Re-install.


I did this 2.5 years ago and my car is just now starting to act up again. It beats replacing the damned thing at a cost of $260 on fastlane or $775 retail :eek:. Hell, I think the price has come down since the $330-ish I last priced one at...

I am leaning to the relay as the problem. I have replaced the relays on VWs with CIS injection for a simular problem.
Thanks to the people who responded. That is what this site is for. Chris