Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
My talon sometimes quits when I back up particularly on a slope. It will start right up again and drives fine for the majority. It is an automatic transmission, 2.0 litre engine, no turbo. The problem is intermittent. The electrical on this car is also very touchy. I was told by another expert on here that it was the 02 sensor which I changed and it didn't work. Can you help. Thank you
Kim"
Answer -
I'm afraid the "it's the 02 sensor" is a stock in trade answer that takes the place of "I don't know". I recall this sort of uphill die out behavior came up at the Chrysler Lebaron group on Yahoo so I will bring it up there again and see what other people say they have found out causes it. Just in case, please let me know the year model of the car and also am I correct in assuming this is a fuel injected engine and that the engine is made by Mitsubishi?
Hi there,
It is a 92 Eagle Talon. Yes it is a fuel injected engine and it is made by Mitsubishi. I had the motor changed last year and it started doing this in the early summer. Could it be a short somewhere?
AnswerHi Kim,
Thanks for the kind evaluation.
I doubt that the starter is in anyway involved in the problem. So share my message with the mechanic and if he agrees to look, see what he finds. It shouldn't take but a few minutes to check those engine and battery ground points. I don't know of anything else that would make an engine die because the car is going up hill backwards.
Roland
Hi Kim,
Thanks for the follow-up question. I asked a friend who co-moderates the Yahoo group with me and he didn't remember that sort of issue being posted, so I went ahead today and asked in a posting if anyone of the 1500 members would have an idea as to your problem. I'll let you know if someone gives me some suggestions.
The only thing that I can imagine is that when you put torque on the drivetrain to climb steeply the engine will flex its position via the engine mounts which are rubber bushings. Now if there were a loose electrical connection that might be enough to open a connection needed for the electrical current to flow from the battery and back to the battery. My thought is that one of the grounding wires which are associated with the engine is maybe loose and so when the engine moves that connection is opened up. Such loss of a ground will very likely cause the engine to die.
So the way to find the ground wires is the go to the (-)post of the battery and find the wires that are connected there by a battery clamp. Trace (follow) those thick wires to where ever they lead you looking for fittings with eyelets that are held in place either on the body of the car or on the engine, by bolts. You might do well to remove each bolt and shine up the eyelet and the metal surface it is in contact with using steel wool and then rebolt the connection firmly.
There should be one or two such wires on the powertrain, one attached to the cylinder head at the rear and one attached to the automatic transmission. There may also be one to the body, near the battery tray. So unless I hear some other ideas that is my best suggestion as to what to try. An outside chance is that the ignition switch is flakey and the tilt of the car on the incline is causing it to intermittantly shut down the engine. If there are a lot of keys on the key ring, that additional weight can sometimes cause that to occur on some cars.
Roland
