Engine Stalls

[Joe Tracker]

working with no scan tool, makes the job very hard, due to lots of things that can fail. (spark?)
power lost
grounds bad, many there are.
cop fails.
eCU goes dead, lack of power or bad ECU
Main relay bad.
bad fuses, cracks inside them.
bad CKP or CMP
bad wiring to all the above.

I do know J18/j20 engine options, loves to fail CMP sensors but not sure on this car. and go heat sensitive ,hot fails only,
that is all I have on stalls.

Id have to drive it to see
when CEL comes on stalled, at what rpm or at all.
id have to see the tacho die. when , exactly , and what speed, and if engine and trans in 4th gear, and I hear the engine screaming fast and falling RPM with my ears.
know the rpm is still fast but of the tacho goes to 0 and engine is still spinning fast in 4th gear (stick shift) then I know the ECU is NOT HAPPY, for a fact.
but Id have to drive it and witness those key facts.
id be driving the scan tool logging but that is me. (lazy)


if I had to guess, no tools? no tests, etc.
sounds like bad CMP on back of head, rear cam , is a housing with CMP attached.

Will a good scan tool tell me if the Cam Shaft Position sensor is the issue? Can you recommend a good value scan tool? I am looking at Bosch's at O'Reilly's for $100 or $150. Wal-Mart has one for $40 that includes a real time date tracker. I am retired. Trying to save some money. But the scan tool looks like a good investment ongoing (particularly owning older vehicles, and I love the Tracker). The $150 Bosch OBD 1150 looks extremely capable, but more $$'s.

If I had to guess, I would say its the Cam shaft position sensor. After I cleaned the ground and cable connections, the stalls became less frequent and less intense and deferred the final stall and dead stick landing.

The car ignition system is COP - there is no distributor (took me comparing the 98 and 99's part list at Rock Auto to realize that - LOL).

Thanks again for the huge help.

Joe Tracker