What the hell causes complete engine failure in the middle of an intersection? *FOUND PROBLEM!*

[PsychoAndy]

I only ask because...making sure it dosent happen again might be kinda safe.

I was driving home from a friends house. Came to an intersection. Got 50% thru, lost PS and RPM's went to 0. All the dash lights went on like when you intitially start (including oil pressure) so pulled to the side of the road and put it in park. I was reluctant to restart it and go home cause I didnt know what was up, so I broke a flashlight out of the glovebox and checked to see if I snapped any belts. Didnt look like it. No massive oil leak, cause the pressure sensor would have set off the light before the engine died. Shrugged, cranked it. Engine started. No oil, temp, or etc...lights so I drove home.

I had a full tank of gas, so that eliminates the fuel pump not getting anything. And my headlights and radio were on thru the entire ordeal, so I know the battery is fine.

-PAB

I found it. I had 2 engine stoppages last night. I got in my car this morning, cranked it and the engine started but immediately shutdown. So I started troubleshooting. I popped the hood and opened my door. Door chime. Radio. Ok. Not a battery issue. I checked all the connections to the dist cap and spark plug wires. Nothing loose. I pulled the engine fuses to see if the EFI circuit was blown. Fuse = fine. Igntion fuse was OK, otherwise I woudlnt have even gotten the engine to crank. Then. It hit me. I got in and put the key in the acc position. Nothing came on. The On position. No guages, no check engine light, no AC, but I get a radio, power door locks, and a door chime. Then. I turn the key back very slowly towards the ACC position. Bingo. Lights. Guages. AC blower. Its my goddamn fscking igntion switch. The engine goes into start, and doesent realize that the key is in the on position anymore so it shuts down.

Oy. Anyone know what an ignition swtich runs for an integra? I can feel my pockets getting lighter from here.

 

[Howard]

How is sparking handled on your car?

 

[Keego]

My fuel pump went out once.. didn't make the truck die all the way though, wailing on the gas made the engine not die. It did stutter a lot though.

 

[MacBaine]

Maybe your car was trying to kill you :Q

 

[rgwalt]

Could you have had an electrical short?

Just guessing here...

Ryan

 

[everman]

It may be related to some bad electrical connections, check the distributer and cables. Probably not the idle control motor but it's possible.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Howard
How is sparking handled on your car?

I have a distributor cap.

-PAB

 

[Evadman]

Demons. Your car is possessed. Sorry.

Honestly, it just stalled out for one reason or another. there are literaly billions of things that can make it happen. Without a string of incidents, it is hard to diagnose. My only guess at this point (and it is only a guess) would be a fuel starvation problem. For some reason, the eninge ran out of fuel. The engine uses large amounts (comparitively) when accelerating which is why I am leaning towards this. You do not specify what type of car, so we don't know FI or Carb. Maybe a almost clogged fuel filter, hell, it could have been a large piece of rust that blocked the fuel pickup for a second, then realeased when the pump stopped sucking. for all I know, when you hit the gas and the engine torqed in the mounts the rubber section of hose from the engine to the firewall or frame kinked, then unkined when the engine died.

Fuel starvation is my only guess at this point. Sorry I could not be more help.

 

[iamwiz82]

its sounds as if the car stalled. It does happen sometimes. I would drive it normally and see if it occurrs again. It could have been any number of things.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Demons. Your car is possessed. Sorry.

Honestly, it just stalled out for one reason or another. there are literaly billions of things that can make it happen. Without a string of incidents, it is hard to diagnose. My only guess at this point (and it is only a guess) would be a fuel starvation problem. For some reason, the eninge ran out of fuel. The engine uses large amounts (comparitively) when accelerating which is why I am leaning towards this. You do not specify what type of car, so we don't know FI or Carb. Maybe a almost clogged fuel filter, hell, it could have been a large piece of rust that blocked the fuel pickup for a second, then realeased when the pump stopped sucking. for all I know, when you hit the gas and the engine torqed in the mounts the rubber section of hose from the engine to the firewall or frame kinked, then unkined when the engine died.

Fuel starvation is my only guess at this point. Sorry I could not be more help.

Oh, I should say its a 1.6L DOHC FI Honda motor with a 4 speed auto.

-PAB

 

[Evadman]

Another question... Did it die instantly? Like turning a switch? Or did it kinda fight for life?

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Another question... Did it die instantly? Like turning a switch? Or did it kinda fight for life?

Instant. It was like 1500 RPM to 0 in a second flat.

I thought the a belt (accessory drive or timing) snapped at first. My buddy's dad has the same car. The previous owner was driving down the road the timing belt went, engine bent all 16 valves and died. 3 days and a lot of money later, it was a lesson learned.

-PAB

 

[Anubis]

well if you were able to drive it home and everything was fine. im gonna say its a electrical short or you blew a fuse

 

[Evadman]

Maybe I should phrase that a little better. did it die like when you turn off the key? Faster or slower? ( should be slower since the engine was speeding along )

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Maybe I should phrase that a little better. did it die like when you turn off the key? Faster or slower? ( should be slower since the engine was speeding along )

It was key shutdown similar. However, I dont think I hit the key and put it in ACC mode because when I was on the side of the road and staring at the dash, all my accs were on like my rear window defogger.

-PAB

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy

Originally posted by: Evadman
Maybe I should phrase that a little better. did it die like when you turn off the key? Faster or slower? ( should be slower since the engine was speeding along )

It was key shutdown similar. However, I dont think I hit the key and put it in ACC mode because when I was on the side of the road and staring at the dash, all my accs were on like my rear window defogger.

-PAB

I wasn't going to suggest that, as you would have had to push the key in to get it to ACC ( I did on my prelude ) and that would take skills to do, and not know that you did it

If it was that instant, I am now going to guess that the problem lies in getting the spark to the plugs. ( a fuel starvation problem usually has the engine "trying" to run, or stuttering before it dies) And since it shut down so fast, it was probably in the power lead to the coil, or the coil wire itself instead of one or 2 plugs. Check the wires that lead to the coil for cracks in the insulation, or anywhere they may pass close to the eingine. IIRC the coil is on the firewall ( which does not move ) to the engine, whicn can when you hit the Go pedal.

Also check the high voltage wire from the coil to the destributor. look for cracks. Then start up the car, and have a helper lean into the gas and watch the engine move. See where the wires go. Also listen for the "snap" sound made when a high voltage spark jumps in regular air.

antoher thing.. . check the fuse panel. Is your ignition fuse actually a fuse? Or is it a metal circuit breaker?

 

[PsychoAndy]

bump because I now own a 3000 pound rock with wheels.

-PAB

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
bump because I know own a 3000 pound rock with wheels. -PAB

And 100 17"LCD's if things go your way.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: dman6666

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
bump because I know own a 3000 pound rock with wheels. -PAB

And 100 17"LCD's if things go your way.

LMAO


sorry bro dunno what to tell ya. take it in to get looked at is the best you could probably do for it at this point.