86 5KCS Sudden Death

[Mike Arman]

>From: Steve Sherman <spsherm at attglobal.net>
>Reply-To: spsherm at attglobal.net
>To: quattro <quattro at audifans.com>
>Subject: 86 5KCS Sudden Death
>
>I'm hoping some on the list can offer some advice as to what might be
>going on here....  My (wife's) 86 5KTQW died this afternoon as I was
>taking it on a test ride.
>
>I had been looking for a slow coolant leak,

  About 5 miles out I stopped and looked under
>the hood.  Everything fine.  Headed back home and suddenly the car
>starts bucking/missing.  By the time I am 0.5mi  from home the engine
>just won't run and dies. Can't restart it,  so I use the starter to pull
>over to the shoulder.

>BTW I think I did locate the coolant leak while waiting for the ride
>home.  There was a steady drip of coolant coming from the bottom front
>of the engine.  No wetness at any hose connections, so I was thinking
>that it must be a water pump leak (pump is only 3 yrs/25K miles old).
>Any thoughts here?
>


I think the coolant leak is just coincidence, and I doubt the pump siezed,
blew the belt and bent a bunch of valves. Three years, 25K miles is too
soon for the water pump to die.

Always look at the simple things first - got fuel? Fuel pump running? Fuel
Pump relay working (stranded me once, SAME symptoms!)?

Got spark? Checked all fuses?