2003 engine shuts down including electrical

[taurus03]

94K miles, the engine will shut off, more so if its above 90 degrees outside and after coming off the freeway, sometimes at a stop light. Also yesterday after shutting it off I heard a click, click sound for about a minute coming from under the dash. Any ideas? I had the battery and alternater checked and they are fine.

[InstallTech]

Try checking the ignition coil. Without that, no spark. No spark = no life in the electrical or engine.

[shorod]

Does the car restart easily after it dies?

If not, pick up a fuel pressure guage and monitor the fuel pressure at the fuel rail when the car won't start. Heat related no-start or stalling often times can be indicative of a tired fuel pump.

The clicking you heard is probably a relay. If you can duplicate the problem, see if you can determine which relay is clicking. This could be a sign of a bad relay or weak voltage to the coil of the relay. Once you find the suspect relay, get out a multimeter and measure the coil voltage (should be across terminals 85 and 86 of the relay). Check the cover of the relay panel or the owner's/service manual to determine the circuit this relay is used with and report back if you need more guidance.

-Rod

[taurus03]

Originally Posted by shorod

Does the car restart easily after it dies?

If not, pick up a fuel pressure guage and monitor the fuel pressure at the fuel rail when the car won't start. Heat related no-start or stalling often times can be indicative of a tired fuel pump.

The clicking you heard is probably a relay. If you can duplicate the problem, see if you can determine which relay is clicking. This could be a sign of a bad relay or weak voltage to the coil of the relay. Once you find the suspect relay, get out a multimeter and measure the coil voltage (should be across terminals 85 and 86 of the relay). Check the cover of the relay panel or the owner's/service manual to determine the circuit this relay is used with and report back if you need more guidance.

-Rod

Yes, it does start, sometimes you have to wait a minute. Before the minute everything is dead, then it cranks up like nothing was wrong. I changed the fuel filter, but haven't done anything with the pump. Still happens after changing the filter. Iwill have to try your suggestion about the relay. Let me know if you think anything different based on my answer about how it restarts. Thank you for your time.

[shorod]

Originally Posted by taurus03

Yes, it does start, sometimes you have to wait a minute. Before the minute everything is dead, then it cranks up like nothing was wrong. I changed the fuel filter, but haven't done anything with the pump. Still happens after changing the filter. Iwill have to try your suggestion about the relay. Let me know if you think anything different based on my answer about how it restarts. Thank you for your time.

Everything is dead? All electrical inside the car and out? If that's the case, the problem is bigger than a bad fuel pump, even if the pump is bad as well! You'll need to check for voltage from the battery forward. A test light would make the this process a bit quicker than a DMM.

-Rod

[UNO#1]

Originally Posted by taurus03

94K miles, the engine will shut off, more so if its above 90 degrees outside and after coming off the freeway, sometimes at a stop light. Also yesterday after shutting it off I heard a click, click sound for about a minute coming from under the dash. Any ideas? I had the battery and alternater checked and they are fine.

Hey my brothers 94 just had this same problem, did you ever find out what caused the problem. I live three hours away from him so I can't do a hands on inspection. Please help me out. Thanks

[shorod]

Have your brother find a fuel pressure guage and keep it in the car with him. Next time it acts up, check for fuel pressure. If he can verify that there's no or insufficient fuel pressure when the car won't start, that will give him a place to start.

If he determines there is no fuel pressure, then he'll need to check for voltage to the fuel pump. If there is voltage to the pump, but no fuel pressure, and the fuel filter is not restricted, then chances are pretty good the pump is shot. The symptoms are consistent with a bad fuel pump, and since your brother's is a '94, the age would be reasonable that if he hasn't replaced the pump yet, it is probably overdue.

-Rod

[UNO#1]

Originally Posted by shorod

Have your brother find a fuel pressure guage and keep it in the car with him. Next time it acts up, check for fuel pressure. If he can verify that there's no or insufficient fuel pressure when the car won't start, that will give him a place to start.

If he determines there is no fuel pressure, then he'll need to check for voltage to the fuel pump. If there is voltage to the pump, but no fuel pressure, and the fuel filter is not restricted, then chances are pretty good the pump is shot. The symptoms are consistent with a bad fuel pump, and since your brother's is a '94, the age would be reasonable that if he hasn't replaced the pump yet, it is probably overdue.

-Rod

The place for me to acutally start is to find out what the owner of the 2003 found out. I go to an automotive college in Ohio and my brother lives in Michigan. He is not mechanically inclined by any means. I am going to have to take a trip to see him. If i can find out what the owner of the 2003 found out about his car, this would make it so much easier on me. My brother does not know anything about cars, and that includes using DMM's and fuel pressure gauges.