87 Lebaron just suddenly stops

[TheSteve]

So this is a new issue and I have some suspicions I need confirmed.
Car runs fine, idles good, accelerates good, fuel economy good. NO warning light or codes or anything.

Past two days while driving it just suddenly, without any warning, stops. Almost like it ran out of gas. I have to coast to the side of the road, let it sit for a minute or so, it turns back on and I go my merry way.

I don't lose lights, no warning knocks or anything other than a SMALL barely noticeable hesitation right before it quits.

new tank of gas so that isnt it. ran lucas oil fuel system cleaner through it.

battery and alternator are new

based on conversations with people the suspects are either the fuel pump relay switch going bad OR the fuel cut off relay.

I ordered both from ebay just to be safe (and they are cheap anyway and easy for me to fix).

Any other theories?

[cordes]

The ASD relay is in the PM on those cars. If it's that you'll need to replace the PM. I would also suspect the ignition switch. To eliminate the fuel pump you could jump out of the car and jump the + side of the coil from the + side of the battery. If that doesn't energize the fuel pump immediately then it's the pump or pump wiring.

I believe that getting power at the J2 circuit where it comes out of the car would eliminate the ign switch from the equation for you.

[fcasta308]

Cordes has given me good advice before, so I would try his solution first.
BUT! On my 87 LeBaron I was having a similar issue. Idle good, acceleration good, fuel economy good, same way, while driving (specifically COASTING) the car would die out.
The solution for me was to remove the HEP, gave it a good cleaning, a really good cleaning. Have not had the issue happen since then. The ONLY thing I did, was clean the HEP. Hope that helps.

[TheSteve]

EDIT

found what the HEP is. Just need to locate it and I will pull it and clean it.

[tryingbe]

EDIT

found what the HEP is. Just need to locate it and I will pull it and clean it.

Most HEP is broken due to broken wires. No amount of cleaning will bring it back to life. Replace is the only option.

[Gaboon]

EDIT

found what the HEP is. Just need to locate it and I will pull it and clean it.

The HEP is just under the distributor cap and rotor.

[fcasta308]

Most HEP is broken due to broken wires. No amount of cleaning will bring it back to life. Replace is the only option.

In my experience, I had to clean off quite a bit of gunky oil deposits. I still don't know why that fixed it, but I can definetly say that it did fix it. But you're right, normally HEP's gotta be replaced altogether. Best of luck TheSteve!

[cordes]

The key sign of a bad hep is the tach cutting out. No hep signal, no tach.

[jonnymopar]

The key sign of a bad hep is the tach cutting out. No hep signal, no tach.

This. When it cuts out, if you're able to coast to a stop with the car still in gear, see if the tach is still reading or if it just drops to zero.

ASD relay has already been suggested. One other thing I'll throw out there is a failing coil. I just got bit by that one a few weeks ago.

[TheSteve]

the tach drops to zero so I am thinking it is the HEP

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...nid=431&jpid=2

According to my research THIS is the correct HEP for my car

[TheSteve]

UPDATE: New distributor later and all is well with the world.....