Strange Strange problem Help Please!!!

[evood69]

So heres the story from time to time I will be driving down the road and then out of nowhere my car will cut off, wheel locks up everything. Scary as hell when youre going down the Interstate at 70mph. Usually it will cut right back on even if youre still coasting. Lately it has been doing the samething but not turning back on for up to a hour. I dont have the slightest clue to what it would be. Ive changed spark plugs, and spark plug wires, checked all my fuses, also checked most of my electrical wiring for signs of wear or tears and nothing!! It did it to me again tonight 3 times within 15 minutes of driving. Does anyone have any idea what this could be or maybe give me some helpful information because im in the dark with this.

Thanks, Zach

 

[wishnfor4g63T]

def sounds electrical and for the reason of the tires locking up i would almost bet it has something to do with your ignition.

well in my head i would figure the only way the wheels would lock up is if the key was all the way out so i dunno maybe something is touching and grounding out.

Good Luck.

 

[ADrewzki]

def sounds electrical and for the reason of the tires locking up i would almost bet it has something to do with your ignition.

well in my head i would figure the only way the wheels would lock up is if the key was all the way out so i dunno maybe something is touching and grounding out.

Good Luck.

His tires are not locking up, his steering wheel is.

Do 1g have a power transistor? Or something ECU related?

 

[EagleTSIawd]

Wheels lock up? If that's the case then I think it's something to do with your drive train. There's an old recall on the transfercases because they would leak oil and lock up.

Come to think, I don't know if this applies to 1gs but it's worth checking.

 

[Calan]

His tires are not locking up, his steering wheel is

That makes no sense. The steering wheel has a mechanical lock, and shouldn't have anything to do with his car shutting off.

OP, please clarify what you mean by "my car will cut off, wheel locks up everything".

 

[evood69]

Ok maybe I should have stated this a little more clear to make better sense. It doesnt lock up completely, but you know when you shut your car off before it hits the actual locking point it is alot harder to steer/handle than it is normally, that is what happens. My tires do not lock up its the STEERING WHEEL that is alot harder to steer/handle like I mentioned above. It is just so random to me that the car shuts off out of nowhere?!?!

 

[Rob10_99]

Uhh... thats what a 1g feels like with no power steering... that's how my car is until I get the bullshit oring kit in from mitsu.
Don't be a pansy with the wheel when it dies, put some protein behind it =P
Fix your power issue, sounds like the battery is being disconnected, maby even an engine/ecu ground.

 

[dallu22]

Your loosing power steering.....your cars cutting off but the steering doesnt sound related

edit:: I removed the power steering from my 1G, you have to put a lil bit of muscle behind it.

 

[badabing33a]

When the car cuts off, does the car shut off? 5sp or Auto trans? Sounds to me that the car would have to be shutting off in order for the power steering to quit. This happens to me. For some reason the alt. belt squeels when i have the heat on and the lights on in between shifts or when i am idling. When it squeels, the belt puts so much stress on the engine that sometimes my car will stall out when the clutch is engauged or in neutal.

You know when you try to pop start a car, and it doesnt work, the car makes noise but isnt running, maybe its something like that. Either way, this is a weird problem.

 

[Calan]

Ok maybe I should have stated this a little more clear to make better sense. It doesnt lock up completely, but you know when you shut your car off before it hits the actual locking point it is alot harder to steer/handle than it is normally, that is what happens. My tires do not lock up its the STEERING WHEEL that is alot harder to steer/handle like I mentioned above. It is just so random to me that the car shuts off out of nowhere?!?!

Ok... that makes more sense.

As dallu22 mentioned, your steering is just getting harder because your car is stalling and no longer turning the PS pump.

It could be several things causing it. It could be anything from an intermittent electrical problem to completely losing fuel for some reason. Do you have a logger to monitor what is going on with it?

 

[evood69]

I am actually in the process of getting a logger now, been meaning to for the past weeks because of this here problem. Also im not sure if this means anything, but when the car does shut off they're quite a few dash lights that come on as well. I dont know the exact ones but if it happens to me on my way home from work ill update. The problem also comes and goes like stated above. I drove to work this morning about 10 miles with no problems at all. Went to lunch no problems at all again. Biggest mystery I have ever encountered when dealing with cars.

 

[rlacasse1]

do you have a tall battery that allows the hot post to hit the hood from time to time.

 

[Calan]

do you have a tall battery that allows the hot post to hit the hood from time to time.

Or any battery that isn't tied down?

Call around to some parts stores (Autozone) and see if they can pull any codes from your ECU. They usually will do it for free. That might give you a clue until you get the logger and can do it yourself.

Also check all the fuses and wiring for any loose/broken connectors, charred wires, blown fuses, etc.

 

[92AWDHX40]

His car is a 1g i dont think they can check codes that far back at least not here.I had a similar problem when the battery post would hit the hood then stop the car.

 

[08talon08]

Your wheel locking up is just your power steering not working from the car shutting off sounds like your loosing power from the battery check all the connections maybe replace the terminals and see if the battery is hitting the hood and shorting out from not being properly tied down my car did that when i first got it and that was the problem

 

[Calan]

His car is a 1g i dont think they can check codes that far back at least not here...

Yeah... the OBDII testers won't. I'm thinking maybe someone has something like Pocketlogger or MMcD running on a Palm that could pull them for him.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Yep if he could find one that could help him.

 

[evood69]

Alright guys quick update. Should have said this before but never thought of it for some dumb reason, it usually happens when i am stopping 5mph or less or stopped. It happened like 5 times on the way home and when it does do it. The E-brake light comes on, Battery light comes on, and also the Radiator light comes on. I am going to check the connections, terminals, and all other battery things related within the next hour. Maybe with this new information a few people would be able to help more?!
Thanks alot guys

 

[92AWDHX40]

Sounds like your battery post hit the hood, happens when i used to come to a stop. And of cource your electrical systems will shut down.

 

[NiKKUH_BOViCE]

might be a very dumb comment, but since you said it happens when stopping to 5 mph or less....are you sure your not stalling the car yourself? or you keep the clutch pressed in?

 

[evood69]

Yes I am sure, might sound weird but once I get to around 25mph and going slower i always put the car in neutral. Just something I have always done.

I'll have to check the battery post and look to see if that is possible, but that would explain it. Thanks

 

[badabing33a]

Thought you said it happend when you were going like 70? Are you braking when this usually happens? Also, did your Alternator light come on along with the others?

 

[Calan]

...it usually happens when i am stopping 5mph or less or stopped...

It's starting to sound like it's idle related. The ECU does things in a very specific way when idling down and the car is still moving. You could have some issues with your ISC, Idle Switch, or TPS that is causing the car to stall when the ECU starts delivering fuel again during coast down, or something similar.

I would start by checking the base timing (always a good thing to check), adjusting the BISS, and then go through the adjustments and checks for the TPS, ICS, and Idle switch. There is a lot of information on this site related to these basic procedures, but you really should get a FSM, or at the very least a Haynes manual for the car also.

BTW - The dash lights you see coming on should be the same ones you would see if you turn the ignition on without starting it, since in effect the engine is not running but the key is still on.

 

[evood69]

It has happened when I was going down the Interstate, but after thinking about it, it usually does it when I am slowing down maybe that one time was a fluke im not sure. I have the Haynes manual and also the Mechanics manual for the 90 eclipse because the previous owner was a mechanic. Thanks alot for all the helpful information guys really appreciate it!

 

[dallu22]

This will probably sound completely retarded but....if there is a chance it could be the battery post hitting, take something that isnt conductive or flamable like say.....a bottle cap and electrical tape it to the top of the post cheap way to tell if thats it.... and Idle air controller would do that, my 92 would stall out under like 20mph coming to a stop all the bloody time, I would have to feather the gas while braking and holding the clutch in.....such a pain and checking the codes on those 1Gs is a pain too you have to get a analog volt meter and read the needle sweeps.....