My car's engine stalled and it won't start up again. edit: apparently fixed to the tune of $115US

Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
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See post at bottom of thread

Old edit:
Well, it got fixed and I'm gonna pick up the car tomorrow morning. Total cost of repairs: $115 or more USD, I haven't seen the bill yet and I don't remember if they said that was before or after tax :(


Old edit:

Okay they're telling me it's the timing belt. I don't get that because when I looked at it it looked fine to me, but I dunno. I asked them if the car would be fixed after that and they said yes, and it would cost me quite a bit to get the car towed all the way over here and then do it myself so I'm letting them do it. I'm really glad the shadows have non-interference engines, had this been a talon like I wanted to get (but didn't have the money) :Q

Original post:

Any idea what the trouble could be?

Okay, I drive a '88 Dodge Shadow (non-turbo), and today on the way to school my engine died on me. I had gotten off the highway 5 mins before, and I was driving down this street and going under an overpass. I usually go fast through here, at around 80km/h (50mph) or so, so my momentum carries me up the other side without having to give gas.

Just at the part where the road curves upward again, my engine died. I didn't realize it at first, I only noticed that my gas pedal wasn't working. Since it's an automatic the car didn't stop quickly like it would in a standard, so I was basically coasting along. I then noticed that the check engine and oil lights were on, so I "stopped" the engine (it was already stopped though), and quickly found a place to park before I stopped in the middle of the road.

I went down to the Canadian Tire and got a manual, then checked the engine code. It was 33-55, which according to the book was something to do with the AC. However, I don't have AC! Anyways, the car woudln't start up again, I checked the hoses and electrical connections but they seemed to be ok. I also took off the timing belt cover and looked at the timing belt but it wasn't ripped or anything. I really didn't know what the problem was, so I got a friend from the college to help me push it 1/2 mile to the closest mechanic. Now it's there :frown:

I just got my paycheck, now watch it all dissapear :frown:
Heck I may even have to borrow money.. this pisses me off.

 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
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maybe a dead altenator? that would cause the engine to stop, and the pumps and things to shut down. but your warning lights still came on so you still had some power in the battery. did it crank afterwards?
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
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33 is A/C clutch relay circuit.

this means it is probably shorted. Even though you do not have it, the circuitry is still there and can be fried. Check your relay, i dunno where it is in a shadow.
 

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
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That happened to me once. The truck was out of gas. Always check the simple things first.
 

Ultima

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Oct 16, 1999
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Originally posted by: notfred
That happened to me once. The truck was out of gas. Always check the simple things first.

heh. I had just gassed up though, can't be that.

The engine will turn over, it just won't start. :(
 

ThisIsMatt

Banned
Aug 4, 2000
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Originally posted by: Ultima
Originally posted by: notfred
That happened to me once. The truck was out of gas. Always check the simple things first.

heh. I had just gassed up though, can't be that.

The engine will turn over, it just won't start. :(
Sounds either electrical or fuel problem...
 

Ultima

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Oct 16, 1999
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So does anyone know why engine code 33 would cause my engine to stop other than the A/C (which I don't have?)
 

Code 33 is normal for a chrysler vehicle with no A/C.
That is not your problem.
First things first, check for spark.
If you have spark, pull off the top of the air cleaner and look down thre throttle body while cranking the engine, you should see a conical spray pattern of gas coming out of the injector.

Do these tests and PM me back with the results.
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
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I had an 87 Shadow that this happened to once and it turned out to be the computer (can't recall if it was called the ignition control computer or spark control computer). There were some tests in the shop manual to perform to confirm this that did not require any special test equipment but it was so long ago I don't recall what they were.
 

WinkOsmosis

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Sep 18, 2002
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Originally posted by: Linflas
I had an 87 Shadow that this happened to once and it turned out to be the computer (can't recall if it was called the ignition control computer or spark control computer). There were some tests in the shop manual to perform to confirm this that did not require any special test equipment but it was so long ago I don't recall what they were.
They had computers in 1987?
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,103
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Originally posted by: Jellomancer
Originally posted by: Linflas
I had an 87 Shadow that this happened to once and it turned out to be the computer (can't recall if it was called the ignition control computer or spark control computer). There were some tests in the shop manual to perform to confirm this that did not require any special test equipment but it was so long ago I don't recall what they were.
They had computers in 1987?

Yep, a friend's dad has a early 80's GM station wagon, one those 18ft land barges. Its got computer everything, but still with a carb. As he puts it, one step away from fuel injection. Computer controlled advance, etc..
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
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Originally posted by: Jellomancer
Originally posted by: Linflas
I had an 87 Shadow that this happened to once and it turned out to be the computer (can't recall if it was called the ignition control computer or spark control computer). There were some tests in the shop manual to perform to confirm this that did not require any special test equipment but it was so long ago I don't recall what they were.
They had computers in 1987?

Not just computers...they had WHEELS, too!!!!
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
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91
Originally posted by: Jellomancer
Originally posted by: Linflas
I had an 87 Shadow that this happened to once and it turned out to be the computer (can't recall if it was called the ignition control computer or spark control computer). There were some tests in the shop manual to perform to confirm this that did not require any special test equipment but it was so long ago I don't recall what they were.
They had computers in 1987?

Yes and when it died the car would not run period. When it died on me it was almost exactly as Ultima described it. I was working in a gated facility and when I was going through the gate and showing my base car pass the car was dead when I tried to accelerate. The only other time the car did anything remotely similar was when the timing belt broke but that was easy to identify just by the way the engine sounded when I tried to restart it.
 

Ultima

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Oct 16, 1999
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Okay they're telling me it's the timing belt. I don't get that because when I looked at it it looked fine to me, but I dunno. I asked them if the car would be fixed after that and they said yes, and it would cost me quite a bit to get the car towed all the way over here and then do it myself so I'm letting them do it. I'm really glad the shadows have non-interference engines, had this been a talon like I wanted to get (but didn't have the money) :Q
 
Jun 18, 2000
11,174
752
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Maybe the belt slipped? If it did, there could be serious damage to the valve stems and/or pistons. Go to the garage and check it out yourself. Listen to the engine while somebody tries to turn it over. If the valvetrain is screwed you'll hear a loud clicking coming from the heads.

The timing chain on my brother's Blazer slipped once - he ended up selling the car for scrap. If it is the timing belt, it wouldn't have just inaudibly died like that.
 

Ultima

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Oct 16, 1999
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Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Maybe the belt slipped? If it did, there could be serious damage to the valve stems and/or pistons. Go to the garage and check it out yourself. Listen to the engine while somebody tries to turn it over. If the valvetrain is screwed you'll hear a loud clicking coming from the heads.

The timing chain on my brother's Blazer slipped once - he ended up selling the car for scrap. If it is the timing belt, it wouldn't have just inaudibly died like that.

Yeah, I've heard that when timing belts go like that it usually results in a scrapped engine but I did some reading up on it and apparently my engine has enough room that the pistons and valves won't slam into each other if the belt breaks.

Well, it got fixed and I'm gonna pick up the car tomorrow morning. Total cost of repairs: $115 or more USD, I haven't seen the bill yet and I don't remember if they said that was before or after tax :(

 

Ultima

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Oct 16, 1999
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($CDN)
Timing belt: $30
Antifreeze: $10
Labour: $125 ($50/hour * 2.5 hours)

TOTAL: $165
TOTAL + TAX: $190

In $US, that's $106 before tax.
I guess it wasn't THAT bad when I asked a couple people how much it costed them to have their timing belts changed, but still.. that was like a punch in the stomach, financially speaking. I only make the equiv. of $70 US every week and about $35 US goes to rent each week leaving $35 for everything else. Damn Canadian wages ;p