91 Suburban service engine light came on and engine stopped

[Dtrain]

ill just run it until it fails again and look for spark first

 

[r67northern]

I’ll chime in here too and vote for something spark related. Had my tbi wagon do this a couple years ago: failed in the driveway, restarted sometimes, ran for periods of time sometimes. I thought it was fuel pump but it was a failing distributor. You could be looking at that or the coil - maybe pop the distributor cap and take a look around, see if there’s something obvious.

 

[dvdswan]

I vote fuel related. Fuel pump got hot and quick, when it cooled down it unfroze itself and started working again. No codes would be set by this.

Hot day, less than 1/2 tank of fuel, more common on non-updated fuel pumps.

 

[Daveo91Burb]

I’ll chime in here too and vote for something spark related. Had my tbi wagon do this a couple years ago: failed in the driveway, restarted sometimes, ran for periods of time sometimes. I thought it was fuel pump but it was a failing distributor. You could be looking at that or the coil - maybe pop the distributor cap and take a look around, see if there’s something obvious.

x2 on checking distributor. TBI distributors seem to be corrosion prone. Mine failed going up a hill out of our neighborhood. It started up once, enough for me to turn it downhill, then it died completely and I was able to coast back to my house. When I finally figured out it was dist and got it out, pickup coil just crumbled apart. Wasn't even recognizable, amazing the damn thing ran as long as it did. But yours has different systems, I'm leaning towards coil or module, but at least pull the cap and check pickup coil.

 

[Dtrain]

Thanks for the ideas, I’m away but I will look for at cap first, just the way it dies leads me to spark or coil, there is no stumble or sputter it cuts off sharp. I thought maybe the pump got hot to. No codes I guess is common with OBD1 cars, not too sophisticated.
Thanks again to all, I will keep you posted.

Thanks,
Dtrain

 

[Dtrain]

Ok, I’m back at the problem, I let the suburban idle and in about twenty minutes she shut down, no spark from plug wire, no spark from coil wire, I switched out coils with one that I know is good, it still did not run, I pulled the cap and the pick up coil looks real rusty on top. I am thinking to replace it but wanted to ask if I have to pull the distributor first. Not sure how that thing attaches and how easy it is to remove.
Thanks,
Dtrain

 

[mags468]

Yes you have to pull the distributor.

 

[Dtrain]

I wound up buying a new complete distributor complete for 169.00 rather then replacing part after part. I am getting ready to time the engine and have to discount the wire on the pass side of dash, is that wire behind the glove box?

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

No, it’s on the passenger side of the firewall. It looks like this.

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[Dtrain]

Thanks , I will time it tonight!

 

[Dtrain]

timed it yesterday it was off a little , hard to get at that clamp bolt on the distributor, the advance wire on mine was on the driver side fire wall taped to the wiring harness plastic loom.
Does any one know where I should get my taillights from? there are so many companies making repos I wonder if there is one better than another.
Thanks,
Dtrain

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

The parts stores have them on the shelf usually. If it were me, and I had to get a new set, I’d try a set of those because if they don’t fit right, it’s easy to return them. Are they repairable? Mine looked crappy, and I cleaned them up with a headlight restoration kit. That was almost three years ago, and they still look like this. Not perfect, but at least I can say that my original lenses are still pretty good.

Also, is it running better?

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[Dtrain]

Yes thanks, it runs perfect, a little better than before, the idle is perfectly even now, boy those twilights look great, I have one cracked lens so I though I would by a pair of them. I like the idea to buy them in a store
Dtrain

 

[mags468]

Mine did the same thing. Changed everything in the ignition and still had it quit. come to find out the fuelpump relay was the problem, it was loose in the case.