it died on the highway and it doesn't make sense!

We were driving down the highway, the rpm dropped to an idle, all of the warning lights came on then the engine shut off, and coasted to a stop.
Got it back home, tried starting it and the starter is not engaging the engine, but the solenoid engages when jumped. We have checked the engine codes and its reading, a knock sensor code. Checked the timing belt, the fuel system, tried bump starting it, and spoke with a tech at the GM dealer, the technician had no idea what it could be.

I am thinking it may be a shutdown switch wich may be activated by the computer the root being somehting else, although i am not sure if an aveo would have such a thing?

Does anybody have any ideas, or thoughts on where I could start looking? I don't have a lot of money so would like to avoid taking it to the dealer.

What year is it and how many miles? Appears to me the timing belt stripped some teeth at the crankshaft pulley. Your engine could be siezed up not allowing the starter to turn it over. Usually the aveo motor will lock up when the belt breaks. The valves go through the piston. How did you check the belt? It could look intact yet have teeth sheared off at the crank pulley. I'd suggest looking through the oil filler hole in the valve cover to see if the valve train is moving when it's turned over, but you say the starter doesn't work?

Alternator is more than likely blown and it drained the battery running the engine till it was drained.

it would be worth looking into however I am certain it is something to do with an electrical safety. we have attempted to boost the vehicle which would eliminate the lack of power, also I would have noticed a dimming in the lights in the dash and headlights because we were totally bright when this happened. the motor did turn over when attempting to bump start the vehicle and if i was to drop a valve I would assume it would make some sort of mechanical stoppage, or some sort of noise. besides the dash trouble lights comming on it was as if I had put it in neutral let it come to an idle and then shut the motor off. and then the starter motor would not engage after attempting to restart the vehicle.


I do appreciate the input and if there are any other thoughts I would much apreciate hearing them.

i would think something that dramatic would cause a MIL or check engine light and set a code, if it did, get the code. on most gm's Ive messed with if the crank sensor goes out it just dies. My money is on a sensor, not that its going to be a crank sensor, but some sensor.

ya we got a knock sensor code do you think that would shut it down?

and does someone know where the knock sensor is located on an 04 aveo??

both blazer and davescort97 replies are valid.

Boosting a shorted battery will suck all the power from the boost car and it won't have enough power to turn over. Load test your battery or sub in a test battery.

If it still doesn't turn over; turn the engine over by hand (on the crank pulley bolt with a rachet). If you can't turn it by hand that's why your starter motor can't turn it either.

A knock sensor code will not inhibit starting or cranking.

This cars are bad for blowing timing belts. I've seen one blown at 65 000km.

The timing belt is broken. That's why the starter won't turn it over. The engine is siezed up. It is advised in the owner's manual that the timing belt be replaced at 60k.
Most break around that mileage.

60 000miles, 90 000km...up her in ther great white north the belts aren't even making the change interval...yikes

I know what you mean. One fix according to an old master mechanic is to replace the tensioner pulley, idler pulley and water pump with aluminum components vs. steel. The aluminum components don't transfer heat to the timing belt which in effect causes premature failure. As far as I know, NAPA is the only parts place that carries these parts. Some think that $185 for these parts is excessive, but compared to an engine rebuild they are cheap.