P32 MH Engine Dying Abruptly

[1969SSCamaro]

I have a 1995 Georgie Boy MH on a P32 chassis with 454 eng with TBI. MH only has 37,000 miles and spent the last several months doing extensive maintenance; coil springs, airbags, ball joints, fuel filter, changed/flushed ALL fluids, check spark plugs, etc, etc. Recently took it on maiden voyage that was 360 mile round trip. On the way out and on the way back, the MH all of a sudden died, usually on the highway driving at 60mph. I would shift into neutral and it would fire right back up. This happened about 8 times total; 5 times on the highway, 2 times on surface streets (maybe 35mph) and the last time at almost a dead standstill pulling into the driveway. Everytime it died, it happened instantly with no hesitation or intermittent cutout. Environmental conditions were benign with 75-80 degree temps, no rain, water, etc. There did not seem to be any coorelation to it dying; rough roads,hard braking, hard acceleration, it just inexplicably dies. I am at a loss in terms of how to troubleshoot such an intermittent problem. I suspect it is ignition related, ECM, coil, etc, something having to do with spark plugs not firing? Any suggestions on how to move forward. There appears to be connector on driver side for the computer, but it is an older style connect that is not compatible with device I have. Does anyone know if I just need to get an adapter, or do the older computers required completely different device?
Thanks,

[Bill_Diana]

Congrats Greg!!! I hope the problem has gone. Thanks for sharing the update and please continue to keep us posted on any new developments.

Happy trails to you.

[1969SSCamaro]

Installed the Control Module over the weekend and went on a test drive with new oil pressure sender, Fuel pump relay and ignition coil. Also cleaned the ignition contacts, applied new contact grease and measured resistance of pickup coil (821 ohms). The weather was pretty hot ranging from 90-100 deg with some mild humidity. Drove around in the hills for about an hour and got the water, oil and xmission fluid temps up pretty high with no problems. Stopped at the casino for about 1-1/2 hours for lunch, and then drove another 45 minutes home on the interstate with no problems. I am not declaring victory, but it does look promising. I hated to replace all those parts simultaneously, but don't have the patience or gas money to do this 3-4 times to isolate to the exact part. Anyway. I will update again if anything changes and THANK YOU ALL very much for all the support and great ideas in solving (??) this intermittent pain in the arse problem.

Greg

[1969SSCamaro]

enblethen wrote:
No, It is more like on the side. I think there is two small bolts into the distributor housing on the side.
You can see it at 12 o'clock in this photo.
Distibutor

Thank you, FOUND IT. Feel like a dunce for not noticing it before.

[Daveinet]

sklonsdale wrote:
The problem is the crankshaft sensor. This sensor controls the ignition timing. It happened to my 2001 Class A with the 454 engine.
This sensor is located on the bottom of the crankcase aimed at the flywheel.

Crank shaft position sensors are only used on sequential fuel injection. Throttle body ('95) does not use a crank position sensor.

[sklonsdale]

The problem is the crankshaft sensor. This sensor controls the ignition timing. It happened to my 2001 Class A with the 454 engine.
This sensor is located on the bottom of the crankcase aimed at the flywheel.

[enblethen]

No, It is more like on the side. I think there is two small bolts into the distributor housing on the side.
You can see it at 12 o'clock in this photo.
Distibutor

[enblethen]

No, It is more like on the side. I think there is two small bolts into the distributor housing on the side.

[1969SSCamaro]

enblethen wrote:
Should be mounted on the bottom of the distributor.
Ignition control module

Thanks, so that means pull the distributor, which means I might as well replace the pick up coil as well.

Greg

[enblethen]

Should be mounted on the bottom of the distributor.
Ignition control module

[1969SSCamaro]

I installed the new ignition coil, Oil pressure sending unit and fuel pump relay, but could not locate the Ignition control module. I thought the MAP sensor was the control module (Ha Ha). I searched on the forumn and found one link stating it was mounted with the computer (ECM?), but couuld not locate it?
Unfortunately work got in the way of life and I was not able to test drive this weekend.

[BrianinMichigan]

1969SSCamaro wrote:

Brian in Michigan wrote:
Take a look at the back of the ignition switch. Look for any melting of plastic. Mine was so bad I'm surprised it didn't start a fire. My engine died a couple of times. The tip off was the bezel around the key would get warm after awhile. This is what mine looked like.
Switch
Edit, by the way mine will still run without the tank fuel pump. It just won't have the cojones for hills or acceleration.

WOW! That looked really bad. Is that connector located inside the steering column near the ingnition switch on the sterring column?

I noticed on my MH there is a "plunger-like" switch (at the bottom of steering column and readily accessible) that is controlled by a cable connected to the ignition switch - when I turn the ignition swithc the cable/plunger switch moves. But it must not be related to the ignition as there are only 2 wires and it will still start with it disconnected. This switch gets extremely hot (200 deg), but the wires feeding it (~18-20 AWG) do not get hot? Anyway, thanks for the information.

My switch is in the dash and that plug was located on the back of the switch. I could not see the problem til I pulled the switch out of the dash. Once driving down the highway I put on my turn signal and the engine just died. I touched the key and kaboom. The gas built up in the exhaust and when the ignition hit I thought the exhaust system was toast.

[enblethen]

My switch failed with virtually nothing showing on the wiring harness.
Took it apart and the contacts were severally burned.

[1969SSCamaro]

enblethen wrote:
Your ignition switch should look like this.
Ignition switch
It should have the control rod coming down column to operate it.

Bud,
Thanks, the photo will definitely help along with your description. I will search this out and make sure nothing looks melted or is getting extremely warm.

[1969SSCamaro]

Stuck in first wrote:
The several times I have run into this on my rig and others it was a wiring harness running near an exhaust manifold. The Mfg like to run wires near them. When they heat up they move like a thermostat spring and short out then cool and move away. One repair shop dident put back a small bracket letting the wires droop just enough to touch the manifold. Ran a wire from batt into cab thru a switch then to pos side of coil. When engine died turned switch on and engine refired. Found when I tightened wires on starter only used one hand and the wire twisted enough be affected by the manifold heat. Hope this helps.

Thanks for valuable input; I will be sure to check cable harnesses around engine/manifold. They black protective sheating looks okay, but I will take a much closer look at the individual wires.

Great stuff guys!!! I got my new parts last night, so this weekend will install new parts and check wiring closely and then go for long test drive in the Southern CA hills to make her work hard.