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Car just randomly shut off. Please help.


ss101504
01-07-2011, 11:13 PM
This morning on my way to work, my car just shut off. No warning, no nothing. What happened was i was merging onto the highway, after exiting the interstate, and when i went to speed up, the engine just died. just like if someone had shut off the ignition. not sure whats causing it, but i am getting fuel at the injectors, and fire at the plugs. Also the battery is fully charged, the fuel pump, fuel filter, and injectors are a few months old, and had a tune up about 6 months ago. Any help y'all can provide would be greatly appreciated.

danielsatur
01-07-2011, 11:23 PM
How old is the battery?
New cars demand alot of battery power.

ss101504
01-07-2011, 11:27 PM
Battery is maybe 3 month old, and it was checked. Everything seems alright. and its not a new car. unless this is 1992. Which if it is, I might be able to wear parachute pants, and be cool. LOL.

danielsatur
01-07-2011, 11:32 PM
Make sure the battery terminals are clean + tight.
You shouldn't beable to move by hand, and I don't want to see any corrosion on battery cables.

If battery terminals were dirty + loose, the alternator wouldn't be able to charge the battery.

Can you honk the horn with the bright lights on?

ss101504
01-07-2011, 11:37 PM
The battery cables are clean and corrosion free. The battery has been maintaining a charge. I guess to clarify, when the engine died, I still had full electric power. Headlights were still on and strong, and the stereo was still playin.

danielsatur
01-07-2011, 11:43 PM
If your Lights + horn work, this rules out the battery.

Check for fuel on the fuel injection rail!
Are you getting any fuel?
If not, check both the fuel pump fuse and relay.

ss101504
01-07-2011, 11:47 PM
Car has TBI. And I am getting fuel at the throttle body from both injectors.

danielsatur
01-07-2011, 11:52 PM
Sounds like an ignition problem, need to check for spark at plugs.

ss101504
01-07-2011, 11:53 PM
I do have spark at the plugs.

danielsatur
01-08-2011, 12:02 AM
Got a spark, but is the ignition timing good?

ss101504
01-08-2011, 12:03 AM
Timings good.

danielsatur
01-08-2011, 12:42 AM
Have the ignition module bench tested.

ss101504
01-08-2011, 01:06 AM
The coil has been tested, and is working. (At least getting spark to the spark plugs.)

j cAT
01-08-2011, 10:26 AM
The coil has been tested, and is working. (At least getting spark to the spark plugs.)

with a good blue spark, engine cranks, and fuel in the intake and the engine does not start or run this may be a timing chain ..

1992 is a year I am not to familiar with ..

what about any antithieft devices installed...if so remove disable them ..

if the spark is yellow or weak the ignition module or even the distributor maybe defective..

Scrapper
01-08-2011, 11:51 AM
dose your car sound like it's turning over real fast if so i would say timing chain if no compression.could take cap off and turn it over and see if rotor button turns if not it is the timing chain.

ss101504
01-08-2011, 12:00 PM
Well I am getting good strong spark, and it has no anti-theft devices. It does sound like its cranking fast, but it has always sounded like that, and usually fires with just a bump of the key. As for the rotor button, if im getting spark, then it would be turning right?

Scrapper
01-08-2011, 12:38 PM
yes it would be getting spark then. is the spark good and blue and not yellow?

ss101504
01-08-2011, 12:41 PM
It did give a blue spark.

danielsatur
01-08-2011, 01:42 PM
4-Stroke engine X 8 cylinders!

1) Intake
2) Compression
3) Combustion(pwr)
4) Exhaust

Fire should be blue on all cylinders.
Could the fuel be bad?

What is missing?
Compression test- on each cylinder.
Smoke Test - for unmetered air leaks.
Crank to Cam timing.
Ignition module (timing)

Will she start now?

ss101504
01-08-2011, 02:02 PM
Hmmm. Bad gas. didnt think of that. how would i check that? maybe pour some fresh gas into the throttle body? as for the smoke test, how can i go about doin that?

danielsatur
01-08-2011, 02:05 PM
Throw some starting fluid in the TBI, and see if she start's.

You might consider adding some octane boost to the tank.

ss101504
01-08-2011, 02:08 PM
Awesome! Thank you very much brother. Headin out right now to try it. Just gotta hope it works... And that my car is still where it broke down. Ill keep yall posted if it works or not.

j cAT
01-08-2011, 04:33 PM
Well I am getting good strong spark, and it has no anti-theft devices. It does sound like its cranking fast, but it has always sounded like that, and usually fires with just a bump of the key. As for the rotor button, if im getting spark, then it would be turning right?

you say it is cranking fast ...this is what happens with the timing chain ..valves don't close no compression no starter motor load ..

ss101504
01-08-2011, 05:03 PM
Ok. Just got back from messin with the blue bomber. Tried the starter fluid. She fired right up. Ran For about 30 seconds, and died again. While she was runnin, everything sounded good, and the engine light did not light up. Starting to think maybe the fuel pump went bad... Again.

danielsatur
01-08-2011, 08:35 PM
If your Lights + horn work, this rules out the battery.

Check for fuel on the fuel injection rail!
Are you getting any fuel?
If not, check both the fuel pump fuse and relay.

Check fuel filter too!

ss101504
01-08-2011, 08:39 PM
Looked into that. Got fuel flow through filter. Now, will running the tank dry really ruin a fuel pump?

danielsatur
01-08-2011, 08:47 PM
Not as long as fuel is flowing through the pump.

ss101504
01-08-2011, 08:51 PM
Ive had a few times where hopes and dreams flowed through it. However ive heard that if ran low enough itll clog and go bad from all the bottom of tank debris. if thats true, could a clogged strainer cause it to not maintain pressure?

danielsatur
01-08-2011, 08:56 PM
1) Watch the gas flow for rust + derbis!
2) How do you clean a gas tank?

ss101504
01-08-2011, 09:20 PM
Plastic tank, so no rust, and any debris should be caught by strainer and filter. as for cleaning, proally drain and drop the tank, let it completely vent, and dry out, and flush it with either isopropol alcohol, or acetone. But will a clogged fuel pump strainer cause a significant pressure drop, that would cause it to not pump right?

bdillard11
01-30-2011, 06:52 PM
I am having a problem with my car as well my problem is my car will turn over but won't start then I got it jumped off it started for like a minute or so then cut back off. Now it will turn over but will not completely come on can someone answer what could possibly be wrong!

j cAT
01-30-2011, 07:06 PM
I am having a problem with my car as well my problem is my car will turn over but won't start then I got it jumped off it started for like a minute or so then cut back off. Now it will turn over but will not completely come on can someone answer what could possibly be wrong!

start your own posting with your vehicles year and engine. normally this cranking with a no start or quickly dying you check for fuel pressure.

using a pressure guage.. must be at or above the min pressure spec for your vehicle.

Blt2Lst
01-31-2011, 12:00 PM
Have the ignition module bench tested.

It could be an intermittant problem with the control module, I have encountered this problem in the past and replacing the module corrected the problem.
If all else checks out ok, I would replace the module. :2cents:

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