3800 runs rough on turns and stops

[markthorn]

My 92 with V6 3800 always runs rough and almost stalls when I go into

a certain turn on my way home. It seems to happen only when the fuel

tank is below 1/4. The turn is a cloverleaf when I exit the freeway.

This has been happening for approx. 2 years. Now, the problem happens

when I park on a downslope. When I go to pull into a parking space

that is on a downslope, the engine starts sputtering and runs rough.

Also, sometimes when I come to a sudden stop, the engine does the same.

It seems to me that inertia (going around curve or stopping) and gravity

(parking on slope) are causing a problem with the fuel delivery.

Any suggestions or help of any kind would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Mark

[heidigirl]

the most obvious and simple ATTEMPT to remedy the problem is to change the fuel filter. how many miles are on the car?

[markthorn]

Thanks for responding.

There are 170,000 miles on the engine.

I replaced the fuel filter. It was totally clogged. I couldn't blow

through it at all. I also put in new plugs. I checked the spark

plug wires with an ohm meter and the resistance was in the proper

range.

The problem used to be intermittant but now it runs rough all the time.

It starts without hesitation. When I do start it, I can smell unburned

gas. It seems like I'm not getting a good spark in 1 or more cylinders.

Could a clogged PCV valve be causing the problem? I am trying to avoid

taking it to the dealer. The charge an arm and a leg.

Thanks again

Mark

[heidigirl]

hmmmm....you might have a couple issues here.

'always runs rough' could be indicative of, but certainly not limited to either a weak coil pack or clogged fuel injectors. does the condition get worse, when you floor the throttle?

'almost stalls' on the cloverleaf might be fuel pump related.

mark, you have been living with this situation for two years, so the car doesn't really owe you anything. my suggestion would be to buy an hours worth of diagnostic labor to determine the problem(s) and do your own repairs. i know, shop time is expensive, but so too is a bunch of nonreturnable electrical parts that don't solve the problem. now that the fuel filter has had a day to dry out, try blowing through it again.

[markthorn]

Just read a post on another site about a guy stalling while making right

turns with less than 1/2 a tank of gas. He has the V6 3800 engine also.

Anyway, I removed the coil pack and the Ignition Control Module and took

the module to Autozone. He put the module on a testing machine and said

it was bad. I hope when I install the new one, it will solve the running

rough problem.

I have realized that the "turning" problem and the "rough running" problem

are 2 seperate issues. The turning problem is a fuel issue and the rough

running problem is an electronic problem. (hopefully the ignition module)

I will post the results when I replace the module

Mark

[markthorn]

I installed the new ignition control module today.

I turned the key and it fired right up. I took

it for a test drive and it runs better than ever.

I heard someone say that that ignition control

module either works or it doesn't. Not true.

Mine definately had an intermittent problem.

Anyway, glad to say i'm back on the road minus $90.00

for the new ignition module.

Mark

[2seater]

It's good to hear you have the problem solved and also the report on the fix. The no spark and fuel are loosely related. When the engine is cranked the module generates the spark signal after it synch's with the crank position which tells the ECM to start fuel flow. No spark will likely result in no fuel either.

[Reatta Man]

Mark,

Just remember that $90 was very well spent! If you had taken it to a shop, it would cost about that much just for them to tell you what you probably already knew.

As for other items, I would run a can of 44K through the gas tank to clean the injectors. Go to www.bgfindashop.com to see who sells it near you.

If it were mine, I would also replace the plug wires. A worn or failing module or coil pack can put extra work on the wires, and they can fail just due to age and miles. They may check out when cool, but break down when hot.

Good luck!

Joe

[Guest Greg Ross]

THe Fuel System Cleaner is good advise, I probably do mine too often but probably run one of the good(premium price)products twice a year.