engine cuts out spontaneously

[hopalong]

question about a problem w/ a '91 corolla (in GREAT shape otherwise, only 110K)

this has been a problem for about 2 years now and NOBODY at any shop seems to be able to find the problem...

while i am driving, when i come to a stop, sometimes the car will sort of shudder a bit, i can feel it in the brake, and then the engine light goes on and its just died. the car is automatic, and i have always been able to just put it in park and restart it, but it is a bit of a pain, and i'm worried one day it just wont restart..

i've tried to make note of anything specific about when it tends to happen, ie, hot day, cold day, hard stop etc.. and it _seems_ to be worse in the summer time.. this past winter it really didnt happen much at all. but i'm not sure how much of a correllation there is...

i am looking to sell it now, and was hoping to get it fixed before it sold.

any advice?
thanks!

[brink]

My 85 corolla did that at the end. I replaced the plugs, wires, battery, head gasket, a cracked vacuum hose, and had the timing adjusted (all by mechanic recomendation) and still had the problem. After I junked it and got the Camry another mechanic said it may have been because I lost my muffler awhile back. He said that potentially the lack of backpressure was killing the engine. I didn't have the car at that point, so I couldn't test it out to see if that was a legit answer or not. Sounded at least plausible, though.

[Voodoo.Priest]

If your willing to spend an arm and a leg you can always try taking it to the dealership. That's what I'm doing with my Corolla. I keep having different mechanics telling me different things are wrong. I figure I may as well let the guys who built the damned car have a look.

[REN69]

have you ever done a tune up, changed the fuel filter, air filter???

[hopalong]

Originally posted by REN69
have you ever done a tune up, changed the fuel filter, air filter???

Originally posted by Voodoo.Priest
If your willing to spend an arm and a leg you can always try taking it to the dealership. That's what I'm doing with my Corolla. I keep having different mechanics telling me different things are wrong. I figure I may as well let the guys who built the damned car have a look.

i fortunately have the benefit of a neighbour who works for the service dept at a toyota dealership!

the car has had multiple tune ups, so far to no avail, but are these the things you recommend having done (fuel filter, air filter) to fix this particular problem?

thanks!

[rezzle]

____
I am no mechanic ... but

Automatics transmission torque converters 'lock up' at low load and highway conditions to save fuel.

Sounds like your torque converter is staying locked and stalling the engine when you slow to a stop. I honestly have no idea how Toyota does it but see if there is a solenoid somewhere that engages the lock and disconnect it. You should be able to drove without, if it happens again you know that isn't the trouble. If the problem goes away you'll have to find someone who knows about atuomatic trannies or just live with the torque converter lock disconnected. Most 1960 to 1980 transmissions never had it and they ran fine.

[RedruM]

my oldsmobile wagon was doin that for 3 years until i changed the fuel filter and fuel pump.. now it runs fine (well did till my dad blew the tranny)

i think what happens is when you're not givin it gas the fuel pump isn't sending enough fuel on it's on and there for car dies...

but yeah change the air filter as well...cant hurt


btw : this is a GM wagon not a toyota so i dont know if it'll work for you cause gm's are f**ked right from the beginnin