Not even sure where to start

[Greiff]

My SSEI was running great one day and like hell the next. When I start the car the gauges jump all over the place. Wont idle, cant drive it, if you give it will stay running anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes like this. it is almost as if the power is turning on and off. The part that is throwing me is the fact that if I turn it on and back off then back on anywhere from three to 8 times it will all of a sudden run as if nothing is wrong with it... Any insight would be awesome so that I can get this car back on the road. Kinda miss driving it.

[Hans]

My SSEI was running great one day and like hell the next. When I start the car the gauges jump all over the place. Wont idle, cant drive it, if you give it will stay running anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes like this. it is almost as if the power is turning on and off. The part that is throwing me is the fact that if I turn it on and back off then back on anywhere from three to 8 times it will all of a sudden run as if nothing is wrong with it... Any insight would be awesome so that I can get this car back on the road. Kinda miss driving it.

It seems like an electronic issue based on what you said. I would start with the ground connections, make sure they are good. Then I would start with the PCM (located near air intake). You may have some bad/corroded connections, make sure all the connections are clean, you may have a PCM with a bad soldier joint or chip failing internally on the PCM. I'm only placing blame on the PCM as it has a high amount of logic which controls a lot of the engine's functions. There are several other modules and electronics that talk to the PCM that could be "pissing it off" too I guess. Electronic issues on these cars can get quite complicated, you really need a Tech II or other dealership-only diagnostic equipment to narrow it down.

[bobgto65]

and check the battery terminals under the rear seat to make sure they are tight, and the ground wire is making a good ground, and the positive wire to the rear fuse block is tight on the fuse block.

[Greiff]

Thanks guys. Will be checking all this in the morning and report back.

[Greiff]

Oh. And now that I found the list I made of everything that I had noticed. When this car decides its going to run and be drivable the supercharger is also working on and off. When it actually runs it runs smooth, when the charger doesnt seem to be working it still runs smooth it just seems like a v6 with no supercharger. The gauge is reading normal. as I accelerate it builds up but it doesnt engage. sometimes when its suppose to, sometimes long after it should which results in one hell of a burn out, or just doesnt work at all. I dont know if this will change any ones thoughts on the matter but I figured it couldnt hurt to throw it on here.

[spoiledred94]

the 94 SE I had never had a problem with the PCM in these situations. Id reinforce the bad ground suggestion. It's easy to figure how a bad ground could cause almost all of your problems. Look around here and find out where your ground busses are and open them up easily and clean up the contacts. That fixed my prob on the SE. How does it shift?

[Greiff]

So today I unhooked the battery since it died from sitting and charged it. Hooked it all back up and the car is running fine now. I have shut it off and turned it on multiple times and have had no issues aside from a flat tire. I know the issue isnt going to just disappear lfor long but figured I would post the update

[Greiff]

Ok so first thing today the car started and everything worked. (everything, including the Traction control that hasnt worked since i have owned the car.) Drove it waiting to see if it would pop a code. Ran great turning it on and off at all my stops for about 2 hours. Then everything went in this order. all of a sudden over about 30 seconds. The traction control stopped working, abs light and break light came on the dash. shortly after that the gauges started their little dance again. I should add that I hadnt put any thought into the abs and the brake lights being on before since they had been since I got the car. I removed the pcm, The board looks fine but I spent enough time building computers to know that means exactly squat. The one thing I am unsure of and was unable to find any reading on the matter is that when I opened the PCM case it released a lot of pressure. Im not sure if this is normal or not.