1991 Geo Storm: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jan 16, 2014 · Engine · 40,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 1991 geo storm. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while sitting at a traffic stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, they were unable to repair the vehicle. The manufacture was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

Filed Jun 28, 2008 · Engine · 100 miles · CO

7 months and 5 replacement ecus on my 1991 geo storm gsi, and still has dangerous issues of stalling on highway and when pulling out into traffic. The problem is that between 1985 and 1995, AC delco used a insulative spray on the circuit boards in these ecus/computers which shrinks over time when exposed to warm and cool temperature conditions, such as the normal conditions that an automobile is subjected to. The shrinking insulative spray contracts and pulls the electronic components from the circuit board, breaking solder connections and causing shorts. The symptoms of this fault are most notably erratic idle, idle revving and dropping, idle dipping often with engine dying, idle hanging high above 2,000 RPM, and engine dying or stalling for no reason with no trouble codes. Gm knows about this fault in their AC delco ecus/computers and has even gone so far as to include supplemental instructions on how to test for shorts and broken circuits in the ecu/computer to their technical literature, though they refuse to repair or replace the problem at their own expense. Gm went further and began using a different insulative spray on all of their ecus/computers in 1996, though they do not use this new spray on their factory reconditioned ecus/computers for the geo storm models.

Filed Aug 8, 2005 · Electrical · 86,000 miles · PA

1992 geo storm manual transmission. When engine gets hot ( summer months ) engine idle increases to 2,500 - 3,500 RPM. Must use foot to pull up on accelarator. Car begins to overheat lurches forward. Car also stalls without warning. Heard it has to do with faulty ECM. Very dangerous situation.

Filed Apr 17, 2003 · Engine · MN

The vehicle stalled without warning. The dealer replaced the distributor cap, spark plug wires and rotor, however the problem recurred.

Filed Jun 25, 2002 · Engine · OH

Ongoing problem with engine stalling / cutting off while driving at multiple speed. Vehicle been to dealer, but problem reoccurring. Feel free to provide any further information.

Filed Feb 28, 2002 · Electrical · MO

General motors used a shrinking sealant on the computer boards in these cars which they have since quite using and admit it was a problem, but still use it on the replacement parts when this shrinks it pulls the components on board loose, causing poor idle/ hesitation and stalling even during acceleration (ie when pulling out in traffic).

Filed Feb 25, 2002 · Engine · KY

Engine control computer improperly built causing erractic idle from 2000rpm to 500rpm, car stalls and will not start. Isuzu has been contacted about this and has stated"we do not make cars" and they fail to rectify the problem. There are very many of us who would like to see this issue resolved as our cars stalling in traffic and idling erractically is causing a lot of problems as in poor efficiency and unneeded downtime. The problem is in the insulative spray on the main circuit bopar dof the units that breaks down over time due to heat and extreme(hot or cold) temps. Gmc has recognized this problem and fails to do anything about it. We would like this issue addressed and I speak for the over 500 members of the geo storm owners club, www.stormowners.com.

Filed Nov 29, 2001 · Steering · OH

The date & mileage are only for the most recent occurence. It started late april 2001 at about 70,000 miles; I'd bought the car used the previous september & it had driven ok throughout the winter. The problem has been happening off & on ever since. The car will be going 55 MPH or more; about 5 or more minutes after startup (it varies), the RPM gauge/idle suddenly drops to 0, the car might buck slightly,the engine light comes on, & the car stalls. Pressing the gas pedal has no effect; all I can do is coast to a stop. So far, I've been lucky; I've been able to coast to the shoulder w/no incident. Usually after a couple minutes, I can start the car again,but this past saturday, I was stranded for over an hour before the car would start. The problem happens irregularly, usually when it's warm outside. The idle also revs on its own; whenever I take my foot off the gas & the speed drops below 30 MPH, it revs & jumps forward unless I immediately hit the brakes -- very dangerous when I'm heading towards a stoplight! The car has had both its ignition coil & fuel injectors replaced, and all belts are new; all maintenance is kept up, & there are no other problems with the car that would cause either of these issues. After driving our mechanic & us nuts for several months, we finally found out that the problems were due to shorts caused by bad insulative spray on the ecu/computer circuit board (the original factory installed unit), & we also found out that we weren't alone in having these problems -- that other storm & isuzu owners were having the same trouble. The faulty ecu is what gm/isuzu refuse to recognize. Isuzu claims the problems are "normal" -- I've yet to drive any car where stalling & dying at high speed on the highway is considered "normal".

Filed Oct 24, 2000 · Acceleration · CO

Idle drops below 500 rpms and stalls all the time.

Filed Sep 9, 2000 · Electrical · FL · crash

Faulty ECM causes erratic idle speeds. After starting, engine rpms drop and engine may stall within 30 seconds every time engine is started. While stopped at lights or idling, engine will often stall out. Engine will also often rev to over 2,000 rpms. This has caused vehicle to strike the rear of another vehicle at a stop. This problem reportedly occurs due to malfunction in ecu due to shrinkage of the insulation used on it.

Filed May 30, 2000 · Engine · KS

Exhaust manifold cracked, causing vehicle to stall. Exhaust odor coming through front of car.

Filed Jun 30, 1999 · Acceleration, Engine · WI

At an idle, in park or in gear, the engine speed often rises from normal (1000rpm) up to as high as 4000 rpms. This happens at a stand still and also when approaching, sitting at or leaving stopp lights also. This problem has caused unwanted and unsafe "lurcheing" forward when letting out the clutch. At times, when the engine speed comes back down, it will drop too far and cause the engine to stall. This happened to me in the middle of a busy inter section and I was nearly rearended. To my knowledge gm is aware of this problem but refuses to take care of it outside normal warranty period.