# 1989 Chevrolet Caprice Classic - Shuts off

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-shuts-off/197995>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet\
**Created:** [November 11, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-shuts-off/197995 "2024-11-11T23:15:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cocktail1000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d9b06d/32.png) [@cocktail1000](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cocktail1000)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-shuts-off/197995/1 "2024-11-11T23:15:45Z")

</div>

car shut off driving,starts up shutsoff

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 12:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-shuts-off/197995/2 "2024-11-13T00:30:15Z")

</div>

With the limited info you gave, like motor size, carbureted or fuel injection  
It sounds like a fuel delivery problem. it might be a clogged fuel filter if you have a carburetor or a bad fuel pump if fuel injected.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-shuts-off/197995/3 "2024-11-13T15:21:08Z")

</div>

Looks like it’s TBI, according to wiki:

"1989 marked the first year of a fuel-injected V8 engine. The 305 cu in V8 was updated with throttle body electronic fuel-injection (RPO LO3), first introduced in 1987 on Chevrolet/GMC pickups and vans. This engine was rated at 170 hp (127 kW) and 255 lb⋅ft (346 N⋅m), which was only a slight increase in torque over the carbureted engine. However, as a result of fuel injection, the cold weather starts, drivability, fuel economy, and emissions were all improved. "

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-shuts-off/197995/5 "2024-11-13T16:33:19Z")

</div>

That sounds like the ignition control module is bad in the distributor.

 ![121_M1952_01](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/6/a64535310ce823e3b4284351b8099819b042f09d.jpeg)

When these go bad, the engine runs until the module gets hot and the engine shuts off. Then when when you try to restart the engine, the engine starts until the ignition switch goes into the run position and the engine shuts off again.

Let everything cool down, and the engine starts and runs.

Tester

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-shuts-off/197995/6 "2024-11-13T19:52:13Z")

</div>

> When these go bad, the engine runs until the module gets hot and the engine shuts off. Then when when you try to restart the engine, the engine starts until the ignition switch goes into the run position and the engine shuts off again.
> 
> Let everything cool down, and the engine starts and runs.

I agree.  
A few years back my wife called me saying the engine suddenly shut off while she was driving down the road. She got the car to the side and called me, saying she couldn’t restart it at all.  
I got there an hour later and it immediately started for me. It died again on the way home, but after cooling off, we got the car home.

As Tester noted, it was the ignition control module.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 3:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-shuts-off/197995/7 "2024-11-14T03:43:39Z")

</div>

I wonder if any of the parts houses can still test the ignition control modules??

I agree, sounds like a failing ignition control module… Be warned, I have bought a few that were DOA, so don’t go cheap…
