420A Car randomly dying

[97 EclipseRS-T]

My car for the past 2 days has died randomly while driving, no sputtering, just flat out dies. There's power, the lights and everything stay on. The car is N/A, no CEL, usually have to wait 5-10 minutes, then it starts back up. I've looked around the other threads and found nothing that seems familiar with my problem.

If you have any ideas I would greatly appreciate your feedback.
Thanks

 

[Ricardo18]

Sounds like your crank sensor is on it's way out.

 

[97 EclipseRS-T]

Both crank and cam position sensors have been replaced.

 

[Ricardo18]

How long ago were they replaced? How many miles on the car? Does it overheat at all? How's your temp gauge? When you restart it, does it shut off after a while again? If so, how long?

 

[97 EclipseRS-T]

About four months ago on the sensors, its got 148,000 miles. Doesn't overheat at all temp is normal. When it does start up it'll run fine then randomly do it again this just started happening today. When it does die its only like five to ten minutes until it starts back up.

 

[BK85]

I have a similar problem and tonight I finally was able to make it stall in my driveway.

I let it warm up till the fan came on than I grabbed the wire that goes to the coil pack and while wiggling it could get it to stutter and stall with no CEL.

This weekend I will trace the cable and connector.

BK85

 

[Ricardo18]

Crank sensor could still be the issue. That said, someone else had the same problem and turns out they just didnt have enough fuel in the tank. Could you make sure your gas gauge isn't broken? It could also be your fuel pump if your tank is too low.

 

[97 EclipseRS-T]

Thanks for the input BK, and let me know if you find anything.


I'll check the Crank position sensor. As far as fuel i believe the fuel pump is factory and its got 3/4 of a tank, and the gas gauge is fine.

 

[Gruff511]

I got the same problem in another 420a i got and everything has been changed. Im concluding its my ECU though since I've tried multiple sensor's on it and when mines stalls, it will start up immediately and it does it alot sometimes then other times it wont do it at all.

 

[97 EclipseRS-T]

Did you ever find out whether or not it was the ECU, because I'm beginning to think the same thing now.
But I've also had problems with the engine harness getting to close to the hot components while the car is run, and it would cause the car to just die while driving.

No codes have been came up. The sensors seem to be fine.

 

[95TalonOwner]

Check where the main harness attaches to the head. It's a common problem for it to rub through at that spot.

 

[97 EclipseRS-T]

Where at exactly. top Right side?

 

[95TalonOwner]

Where at exactly. top Right side?

Right where the ring holds the harness and is bolted to the head.

 

[TallestHERETIC]

Ive had this problem before! very simliar symptoms, too! Mine used to die out at the 9-10 minute mark.

In my case, it was the battery. The terminals were heavily corroded as well and were actually rusted on to the posts! I put in new wires, terminals, battery and BANG! Fired up instantly.

Drove it all over town, everything was perfect. By any chance, did you leave the car sitting for a long time?

 

[97 EclipseRS-T]

The battery terminals are fine just checked them. But it was sitting in the body shop for a week because someone back into me, and i didn't have this problem till after i got it back.

Once again thanks for the help guys.

I also checked the harness where it bold to the head and it looks okay.

 

[95TalonOwner]

The battery terminals are fine just checked them. But it was sitting in the body shop for a week because someone back into me, and i didn't have this problem till after i got it back.

Once again thanks for the help guys.

I also checked the harness where it bold to the head and it looks okay.

Well if it didn't happen till you took it to the body shop then take it back and make them fix it.

 

[97 EclipseRS-T]

It looks like the crank sensor seal when out and for some reason the bolt holding the sensor was loose.
Replaced both cam and crank and so far so good, no problems.

Thanks for the inputs.

 

[BK85]

Still had the problem of stuttering at speed and trying to stall at idle leaving the CEL on with no error code.

After replacing the coil pack, cam sensor, crank sensor, ICM, TPS, replacing all connectors and even did the EGR elimination, I still had the problem.

One day it did it's stutter and stall at idle, but this time it would not restart. I found I had no spark, no fuel and no information to my code reader!!!

Replaced the ECU and all is well. I put old one back in just for a test and no start.

I found one on Ebay fro $90 used.

BK85