Car Shuts Off While Driving?!!!

[toicy4ya]

Sup Guys,

I have a 99 GS Eclipse Spyder with a 2.4 engine, lately it has been shutting off on me while driving. Initially it would shut off while stopped at a red light and I would just quickly turn the ignition and it would start up again. I didnt think much of it then because it rarely happened but now I've noticed that it's been happening while I'm driving, the car would just shut off. The dash board lights would come on like when your initially starting the car meaning the Service Engine, SRS and seat belt reminder lights. Also sometimes when I drive the "Service Engine Light" would come on and I feel momentary a loss of power but then the light would come off and the car would continue driving like normal. Any one have any idea what this might be? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[freshlane]

i would say check the ecu and alternator. Do the lights dim? Any funny sounds?

 

[turbo98eclipse]

definitely sound like an electrical problem...any more symptoms?

 

[viperlp01]

check the spark plugs/ spark plug wires and make sure they are tight. I they could be mis firing and bogging the car down? also check the battery. The alternator should run all the stuff once your car is on but it can be affected is wires are lose and/or your bumping your music .

 

[turbo98eclipse]

and how long does the power loss last?

 

[toicy4ya]

The lights definitely do not dim. There arent any symptoms other than what ive mentioned. I will check the spark plugs and wires tomorrow along with the battery wires. The loss is only momentarily when it doesnt shut off altogether, I would say about a second. I did change the wires and spark plugs recently maybe i didnt plug em in all the way. I did notice while changing the sparks that there was a little bit of oil on the tips, is this normal?

 

[turbo98eclipse]

oil on the tips of the ones you were putting in or on the ones you were replacing? and no its not normal...there should be no excess oil in the combustion chamber. that could be a sign of bad rings or valve guide gaskets. bad rings could cause low compression which would result in a power loss, but I would think you'd have a loss of power for longer than a second. regardless, if there was oil on the plug then you have an oil leak in there from SOMETHING

 

[toicy4ya]

There was a little bit of oil on the tips of the sparks that I was replacing, meaning the ones I took out.

 

[toicy4ya]

Sup guys,

I'm still having the same problem. I rechecked the cables on the battery and retightened them in addition I checked the spark plug wires which are plugged firmly. This morning while driving, the check engine light flickered then the car shut off. All the lights on the dashboard came on as if I was starting the car. I placed the car in park, through on my hazzard lights on and turn the ignition, the car cranked for a bit but didnt start. After a few tries the car started. I placed it on drive and it quickly shut off again. Same scenario, put the hazzards on, put it in park and cranked it, after several tries the car started and I was able to drive it to my destination which lucky for me was a short distance away. Anyone ever experience this problem? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[luv2rallye]

You most likely have a loose wire connection or bad MFI relay. Since the ECU is resetting (all dash lights come on) I'd lean toward an intermittent MFI relay (not staying closed) or it's connector is intermittent. That relay is the right one of two in center dash console on right side of the radio. Pull connector and clean contacts and make sure it goes back on tightly. There's no good way of detecting an intermittent relay other than replacing it. Although you could at least turn the key on/off several times to see if it stays engaged while the key is in on position (by clicking sound and vibration when you put your finger on it and dash lights going through only one on cycle while key is on). Keep in mind the ignition switch may be the problem also.

If not this, check all ignition system connectors (and wires) for being loose or making poor connection by wiggling them and pulling them off, checking contacts (no corrosion or muck), and putting back on. These include the connectors for the power transistor unit, coil pack, and filter capacitor. A rare case is the filter capacitor developing an intermittent short which can be determined by simply unplugging it and see if problem goes away. Another possibility is your ignition switch is intermittent. Again difficult to determine w/o replacement but you could at least wiggle the key while running to see if it happens.

 

[Defiant]

Make sure the battery isn't loose and shorting against the hood or a strut bar.

 

[luv2rallye]

Oh ya I forgot that one. Defiant is right - check that first!

 

[Raph]

adding to this.. your valve cover gasket is shot (o rings on spark plug holes) . thats why you found oil on your plugwires.

 

[toicy4ya]

adding to this.. your valve cover gasket is shot (o rings on spark plug holes) . thats why you found oil on your plugwires.

Is thta serious? how to I remedy that?

Thanks

 

[Raph]

um..by fixing it. get a new gasket and rtv.removethe old gasket and put on the new one

if your car throws a cel,have it read and come back and tell us what it read out instead of trying to replace every part on your car. that way,more folks can chime in and help.