Car died while driving

[thescreensavers]

Hello, Posting for a friend

He bought a 05 2.3 4cyl Mazda 6i Sport AT @72k In September 2010.


He was driving car and it started to shake, rpms were fluctuating and then the oil light came on and the car turned off.


The oil was only half a quart low, and if he tries to start it all he hears is the engine turning over but it wont start.

Anyone have an idea? I was thinking vacuum leak some place, but he mentioned oil light eh...

 

[exdeath]

"Shaking" before dying then not restarting sounds like fuel. May be a dumb question, but is there gas in it? Youd be surprised how many people get towed to the shop and pay $80+ diagnostic and they are just out of gas.

"Well I put $5 in it on the way home!"

Srsly.

 

[Eli]

If the engine is only 1/2 quart low on oil, the oil light probably came on when the RPMs dropped.

Dunno. No way to tell just from the symptoms.. Are there any codes?

Edit: I agree, sounds fuel related.. but it could be a lot of things.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, the oil pressure dropped too low when the engine stumbled, so don't be too concerned about the oil pressure light.

 

[thescreensavers]

Thanks for the quick replies he got the car pushed to a gas station and waiting for AAA now heh.

He says he has half a tank of gas and his RPM was around 2k when it was fluctuating.

Wouldn't his oil light come up if it was uber low RPM?

 

[BUTCH1]

Check the fuel rail to see if proper PSI is available at the injectors, check for a clogged fuel filter. Is the CEL on? did it throw any codes?..

 

[JulesMaximus]

My guess is it is fuel related. Possibly the fuel pump.

 

[punjabiplaya]

is this when he tells you the CEL has been on for 2 months?

 

[thescreensavers]

is this when he tells you the CEL has been on for 2 months?

lol, maybe

He took it to the dealer he has some warranty from them so we will see how it goes.

 

[thescreensavers]

Update:

Dealer is taking apart the fuel pump, and Oil Light came on at around 2k RPM

So wouldn't that mean there could be another issue? I understand low Rpm b/c there is no gas so Oil light turns on. But he was at above idle

 

[exdeath]

Drive a working car up to 6000 rpm and turn the key off and back on. Everything on the dash will light up.

 

[LTC8K6]

The story you gave does not indicate a loss of oil pressure for long enough to be concerned, even if it was a loss at 2K revs.

 

[punjabiplaya]

engine turning but not starting : no spark or no fuel. pull the plugs and see if they're working. Then you know it's fuel - which is what I assume the dealer has done, thus taking apart the fuel pump.

 

[thescreensavers]

Update: Was the fuel pump , right on guys.

 

[punjabiplaya]

AT garage gets 5 exp points

 

[Howard]

AT garage gets 5 exp points

Do you put the points into Knowledge Gathering or Troll Armor?

 

[punjabiplaya]

Do you put the points into Knowledge Gathering or Troll Armor?

Hmm, Troll Armor I think. ATG has some epic knowledge already, but the troll armor needs an upgrade. Or perhaps boosting the racial bonus against canadian rock-laden corolla drivers...

 

[Doppel]

Bad luck one dying that early. I was going to ask if Mazda is outsourcing fuel pump production to BMW, but you said it died at 72k, not 7.2k, so I know it's not a BMW one

 

[exdeath]

Bad luck one dying that early. I was going to ask if Mazda is outsourcing fuel pump production to BMW, but you said it died at 72k, not 7.2k, so I know it's not a BMW one

Ouch....... Oooouuuch. That's cold!

 

[EightySix Four]

Bad luck one dying that early. I was going to ask if Mazda is outsourcing fuel pump production to BMW, but you said it died at 72k, not 7.2k, so I know it's not a BMW one

Two words: motor mounts.

 

[angry hampster]

72k seems pretty short for that car's fuel pump. I've got an '04 with 60k miles..may have to keep an eye out for that.

 

[Fenixgoon]

any idea if the previous owner did a lot of city driving and let the gas go all the way down? that's how my sister killed a fuel pump (to be fair its not like she really knew that would happen)

 

[BUTCH1]

72k seems pretty short for that car's fuel pump. I've got an '04 with 60k miles..may have to keep an eye out for that.

I've read in a few places that to help increase pump life don't let the tank get below 1/4 full, something to do with the fuel acting as a coolant for the pump. I have a bad habit of driving mine till the low fuel chime comes on, probably will cost me in the next 2 years when my pump croaks..

 

[wirednuts]

most fuel pumps will last 150k miles plus, then you get the 1 out of 10 that might go 100k, or even just 50k who knows.

 

[Fenixgoon]

I've read in a few places that to help increase pump life don't let the tank get below 1/4 full, something to do with the fuel acting as a coolant for the pump. I have a bad habit of driving mine till the low fuel chime comes on, probably will cost me in the next 2 years when my pump croaks..

this is correct. typical design is to place the fuel pump in the tank itself, using the gas as coolant. allow it to run too low too many times (i have no idea what that number would be), and it will fail.