Stalls while driving...

Car: 95 Talon ESI

Ok, I am sure I have seen this before here, but dont see it now. As most of you know, I am working on a project car for/with my daughter. I got the oil pressure problem solved and we were out driving it. Luckily I was behind the wheel when this happened, but it just died and before I could get it into nuetral (auto tranny) it refired.

I think its electrical because the radio presets went out, clock, etc. Then, once home, it would not crank the next day, it just would not do anything. I could get radio, lights, etc on, but would not even attempt a turn over. Tried it again several hours later and fired right up.

My only experience with a problem like this is in a Fiat Spider. In that car, a bad ignition switch would do the same thing.

Where do I start looking?

Wow, Had the same problem with my red 91 GS and no one on earth could figure it out. i sold the car but shortly after started thinking. I say replace the alternator. On the 91 there was a yellow warning dash light that had a funny pic on it. NO ONE knew what it was and neither did I. Now that I think about it, it looked like the alternator. Other than that the only thing suggested to me was to replace the distributor. I know what you mean, me and my buddy would be out driving and the car would like die then come back to life and sometimes wouldnt restart for a couple of days. I say replace the alternator. We had it cheacked once and the autozone said it was fine but that was when it was running not after it had died. So try that and I hope it helps. Good luck and if you have any other related questions to this just post.

Just replace the battery in the process because that's what I think it is.

Have you checked the starter wires for good contacts? A friend of mine had a problem with an old rx7 where the ground wire wasn't grounded the greatest... rusted... once he replaced it he had no problems....
I don't agree with ned032002... if you have power for radio and such but the starter doesn't turn over then the battery isn't the culprit.... test the battery just in case...

The ignition might be another thing like you were saying with your fiat... the accessory position might have good contact but full turn of the key might not have good contact...i've heard of that happening....

I don't agree with ned032002... if you have power for radio and such but the starter doesn't turn over then the battery isn't the culprit.

When you turn the key to on what happens? Does everything come on? When you turn the key to start what happens? Does nothing happen? Does the radio turn off, along with everything else?

If he turns the car to start when the radio is on and it turns off when it is attempted to turn over then that is I believe is a bad battery. If it is not this case then your right 96spyderman it's not the battery but without knowing this how are we all suppose to know?

I could get radio, lights, etc on, but would not even attempt a turn over.

This right here says the battery isn't dead

This right here says the battery isn't dead


But, just because the radio works doesn't mean that the battery isn't dead enough not to turn over the car.

To Bill, I would recommend charging the battery overnight and seeing if it will start. If you can get it started, drive the car to Autozone/Advanced and have their free charging system test performed. This will tell you if it's the battery or alternator.

Good luck!

if when you turn the key it just clicks then you lose most most of the power for a few secodns, try cleaning the battery terminals or replacing the clamps...