My 1993 940 Stalled on Freeway, Won't Re-start

Big Bruce · Post by **Big Bruce** » 04 Oct 2011, 23:23

Over the weekend, I was driving in the #1 lane of the Hollywood Freeway, at Universal City, at about 75-80 MPH when I started hearing a rustling kind of sound. I couldn't tell where it was coming from. Suddenly the sound intensified and the engine stalled. I was able to coast the car across 5 lanes and off the Freeway at a nearby exit. I had the car towed to my home, where it is now sitting inoperative in the garage. I tried several times to restart the engine, but it would crank, and sound like it had "caught", but would then stop running immediately. Non-mechanic friends have suggested possibly broken timing belt, and possibly a bad distributor. I would appreciate suggestions from anyone who's ever had or heard of this kind of occurrence. Thanks,

Big Bruce

Post by **jersey240** » 04 Oct 2011, 23:30

I'm not sure. But did you check to see if the timing belt is broken?

petek153 · Post by **petek153** » 05 Oct 2011, 03:22

My wifes did the same thing and what I found was the air cleaner box was lined with a foam material that had deteriorated over time and came loose and blocked the maf air intake sensor area. Took the rest of sound deader out cleaned maf and it fired right up haven't had a problem since. She had no trouble lights on saying there was anything wrong was just instant off.

Post by **writer100** » 05 Oct 2011, 16:24

Check for codes.

Also, how did you reach 75-80 mph on the Hollywood Freeway? Was this 2 am?

Big Bruce · Post by **Big Bruce** » 05 Oct 2011, 17:51

On a Saturday, at 1PM, there was extremely light traffic, and I could have traveled at 90 MPH had I wished to. People have a perception that Los Angeles area traffic is in a state of grid-locked bumper-to-bumper congestion 24/7, which is very far removed from reality.

Big Bruce · Post by **Big Bruce** » 05 Oct 2011, 22:16

Jersey240: I removed the 3 bolts holding the top part of the timing belt cover in place, and peeked inside. The timing belt definitely looks intact, and when I pulled at it, it felt like it had good tension holding it in place. Other possible causes?

Big Bruce · Post by **Big Bruce** » 05 Oct 2011, 22:18

jersey240 wrote:I'm not sure. But did you check to see if the timing belt is broken?

Yes, I removed the top part of the timing belt cover and looked inside. The belt is intact and pulling at it, it felt that it was under good tension. What else comes to mind?

adki110 · Post by **adki110** » 06 Oct 2011, 07:11

If you listen at the gas cap and have someone turn the key, do you hear the fuel pump?

Big Bruce · Post by **Big Bruce** » 07 Oct 2011, 01:54

adki110 wrote:If you listen at the gas cap and have someone turn the key, do you hear the fuel pump?

I'm not sure what I should be listening for, but when we did this today, I heard a faint and brief gurgling sound, but no mechanical sound as I would expect to hear from a pumping mechanism.

Post by **writer100** » 07 Oct 2011, 10:45

On a Saturday, at 1PM, there was extremely light traffic, and I could have traveled at 90 MPH had I wished to. People have a perception that Los Angeles area traffic is in a state of grid-locked bumper-to-bumper congestion 24/7, which is very far removed from reality.

I live in LA, too. While it is not 24/7 gridlock (yet), the traffic is bad and getting worse. Too many drivers, too many bad drivers, distracted drivers, and uninsured drivers. "Rush hour" is actually several hours long. Have you been on the 405 North starting at around 3pm on a weekday? It is not the end of society as we have known it, but you can glimpse it from there.