Giving proper care to the car is the responsibility of the owner. This helps your vehicle run smoothly and save you from costly repairs in future. Things such as oil, gas and coolant levels must be monitored from time to time which helps them stay fit in future.
A car consists of sensors and accessories that help it run smoothly. Also, basic knowledge about the vehicle can help you deal with mechanical issues like car shut off while driving. This article helps you determine the car shut off causes and ways to resolve them:
What are Some of the Car Shut Off Causes?
Let’s explore some common car shut-off causes and apply measures to resolve them:
Faulty Crankshaft Position Sensor
A defective crankshaft position sensor makes the vehicle shut off while driving. The crankshaft sensor is an integral engine component installed in several car models. However, some cars have a camshaft position sensor installed that doesn’t stop the car from working smoothly. These issues can be fixed via crankshaft position sensor replacement, as ignoring them would get you into expensive repairs in future.
Faulty Fuel Pump or System
The engine receives the appropriate amount of fuel from the fuel pump. If the fuel pump cannot supply the proper amount of fuel to the engine, it leads to motor shut-off. These situations leave you stranded on-road, and driving with a faulty fuel pump leads to bigger issues later. Sometimes clogging prevents the fuel pump from working appropriately. A car that shuts off suddenly and starts again is due to a bad fuel pump. A fuel pump replacement would be the best way to resolve the issue in such situations.
Empty Fuel Tank
Car owners must check their fuel levels every now and then. If your car has a sufficient fuel level, but the fuel gauge doesn’t show it, there is a serious issue with your car. Check the car by filling it with 1 gallon(4L) of fuel.
Alternator Issues
Your car receives electricity from the alternator that is present within it. If the car stops working suddenly, then the alternator has gone bad. This would reduce the power supply to the car components, and lights in the dash turn off or lose their power. Alternator issues will illuminate the red light on the dashboard. If the electric or driver motor operates smoothly while driving, the issue is something else and must be inspected thoroughly.
Faulty Ignition Switch
Sometimes a faulty ignition switch makes the car shut off while driving. The ignition switch is present behind the ignition lock and turns on as you start the vehicle. Inside the switch lies the tiny metal plates and contaminants entering it, leading to corrosion and dust. If one of the connections has lost plates, it turns the entire connection off. Furthermore, the entire engine will shut off completely. The moment the car shuts off, note whether the check engine light illuminates or not. If nothing pops up on the dashboard, it is due to a faulty ignition switch. After the ignition switch replacement, the car starts working as it used to earlier.
Malfunctioning Sensors
Vehicles have many sensors that optimize air is to fuel mixture to deliver an adequate amount of fuel to the car. A single sensor failure impedes the working of the car. Sensors such as MAF coolant temperature and oxygen messes with the fuel that the engine dies.
How to Diagnose a Vehicle that Shuts Off While Driving?
1. Performing a diagnosis on a car that shuts off while driving can be difficult, especially when the issue takes place occasionally. These issues can be resolved if the car dies completely after driving.
2. Check the car for trouble codes using OBD 2 Scanner. Perform diagnostics on the trouble code as you suspect them.
3. Fill the tank with 4 Gallons of fuel to ensure its smooth working.
4. Connect the car to a battery charger to ensure that it runs smoothly.
5. If the car is operating smoothly after connecting it via Multimeter. A voltage between 13.5-14.5 indicates that the alternator is running smoothly, while a voltage below 13V means something wrong with the car.
6. Check the fuel pressure thoroughly using a fuel pressure gauge. If there are concerns with the fuel pump or fuel filter, replace them as soon as possible.
7. Have a look at the RPM while cranking it using the starter motor. It is possibly due to the crankshaft position sensor if it doesn’t move at all.
The Bottom Line
Car shutting off while driving indicates that something is serious and must be taken seriously. If you suspect a faulty part, replace it and help your car run smoothly.