Quick background: 78 GTS with electromotive ignition. Like the title says: I'm driving along and the engine will shut off. All accessories work after the engine has shut down (lights, hazards, wipers, radio, etc...). I'm able to start the car after turning it off for about 30-90 seconds. Any suggestions?
It can always just be a Gremlin inside your added electronics or new connections , but one thing to check (if you haven't already made an update or preventative repair) is the condition of the fuse block near the top of fuses #1 and #2 and see if the plastic has melted/defromed/darkened (if you are drawing +12V power to run the EM unit via the stock path). The (stock) food chain is: +12V battery -to- ignition switch -to- top of fuse #2 (on the A, light blue, wire) -to- the top of fuse #1 (via the rivets and plate on the backside of the fuse block) -to- the G, yellow, wire leaving the top of fuse #1 -to- which goes to run the ignition system. (Your report that everything else works OK is a sign that it is not a problem further up in the +12V power distribution network.) By adding a more powerful ignition system (and if you are still using the yellow wire to power the EM unit), you have increased the current flowing in this path. A preventative repair would be to add (e.g., solder) a better, high-current electrical connection between the top of fuse #2 and fuse #1 (besides the mechanical-only rivets + plate) to better ensure a good electrical connection between the A, light blue, wire and the G, yellow, wire. IMO, all aftermarket ignition systems, installed on carbed 308s, should include this step in the instructions .
I haven't had time to check the fuse block yet, the problem happend late at night and didn't feel like diving into the the problem at 2 am. Does it make any difference if I have a birdman fuse block?
Yes, that's an "update" (so more likely something in your EM system), but never hurts to check/inspect (and you don't have to get greasy ).
Happened to me twice. Once I had to get towed home & once in SOHO NYC - waited 2 min on the shoulder (embarassing :$) and then it fired right back up. The fuse block/connectors were melting from resistance.
