Cadillac Repair: engine dies, Florida plaintiffs forensic locksmith

Question
I have a 1996 Sedan DeVille with the 32 valve North Star engine. It has developed an intermittent problem of shutting off. I might drive it for several days with no problem then the next time it will die for no apparent reason. Once I'm stopped and try to start it again, it may start or may not. If it doesn't start, it can sit a few minutes and then it will. A local mechanic has checked it out and is suspect of the fuel pump, but is not sure. Can you tell me what may be happening.

                                            Curtis

Answer
Hello,

Intermittent problems are impossible to fix. Mechanics commonly diagnose fuel pumps for stalling, but they seem to forget one thing about the fuel delivery system, the fuel filter! its unbelievable that the fuel pump is always their first guess.

If you think that the problem is fuel, change the filter first. The factory recommends changing every 60,000 miles and that depends on the quality of gas you are getting and thanks to the EPA!

No matter what, you will need to change it and it is cheaper than changing the pump.

It has been my experience that fuel pumps don't cause intermittent stalling. It's either good or bad. Now, a fuel pump can lose pressure and cause power problems, but this is a constant problem.

You could have a secondary ignition problem related to the coil.

In reality, this problem will be impossible to fix unless it can be replicated.

A tech can;can't diagnose this problem without a tech driving down the road without a tech II scanner plugged into your OBD II port under the driver's side of the dash. The tech doing this may be able to find the problem. If your mechanic does not have a tech II scanner, he will cost you hundreds, maybe thousands and not be able to fix the car. He is guessing and he should have thought about the filter first,

You don't have to go to the dealer and the larger service centers have the right diagnostic equipment.

Change the filter and see if it fixes the problem. Who knows, maybe it is a fuel pump, but you cannot afford to guess.

Good luck!

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