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Engine stalled while driving

Tiny
PAULTC
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 94,000 MILES
I have a 2005 Grand Prix GXP. While driving on the highway, my car just shut off and lost all power. I pulled over, waited a minute and tried again. My car started. I drove another few minutes on the highway and then the same thing happened. I pulled the car over. I called a tow truck and had it towed to a mechanic. The mechanic called the next day and said he ran a diagnostics, checked the fuel pressure, checked the codes, and test drove it 3 times (on the highway) and could not duplicate the problem I had.

I haven't had any problems since.

What could have been wrong with my car and what can I do?
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Thursday, September 8th, 2011 AT 5:25 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Next time it refuses to start don't wait for it to make up its mind-do below immediately to determine if its fuel or spark problem

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 away from ground-have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, Do you hear the fuel pump come On when you turn key on? If not check fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay if okay-check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs,coil's resistances,cap and rotor,distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it and keep testing
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Thursday, September 8th, 2011 AT 6:30 PM
Tiny
PAGEBOWERS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 122,316 MILES
My 05 Grand Prix keeps shutting off while driving or sitting and running. It started out doing it periodically, but now it does it more. If I start it to warm up, it shuts off after a minute or so. It will start again, to only shut right off. Sometimes, the lights inside and radio will flash off and on, which leads up to the entire car shutting down.
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
We need to start with checking the battery and the charging system. Here are a couple guides that will help with this.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

When the battery cannot keep the charge up it will cause issues like this so I think this is the place to start.
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PAGEBOWERS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
What will the charging system show? Because it cuts off so much, it will take me forever to get to the corner. Should I expect a fee for this test?
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Most autoparts stores test for free.

If car will not make it there, take battery and alternator out and have them tested at autoparts stores for free.

This guide should help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-stalls

This will tell you if alt. or battery are bad. A bad alt. will not charge battery and car will only run a few minutes, until battery is discharged.
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAYJAYREETHOMAS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 125,000 MILES
My car just died the other day going down the road and wouldn't restart. 2 day's later it started right up and went about 0.5 miles and died again.

We got the car back to the shop and the next morning it started right up, we let it run for about 30 min. No problems. We get out and take it on the road and it goes about a half a mile and dies. I got it started back up and back to the shop. We attempt it again and got about a half a mile and it died and wouldn't restart.

We got it back to the shop and it still want start. The fuel pump is working, it's got fire to the module, I cant think of what else to check. Any ideals?
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So when it doesn't start you have spark an the correct fuel pressure?Also any codes in the computer?Have you checked for injector pulse while cranking?
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FREEMBA
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,152 POSTS
If it is still at the shop, have the technician to check for a spark at the spark plug wires.
Next, he should check the crankshaft sensor (check it while spinning the engine over, using a voltmeter; set on AC [current] and on a low scale because the crank sensor will only generate about 2V-ac, during the test).

He should also remove ONE of the ignition coil packs and connect a testlight to one of the coil pack terminals on the Ignition Control module (ICM) and connect the other end of the test light to a good ground. Spin the engine and the testlight should flash. If not, try the other terminal on the ICM. If neither makes the testlight flash and the crankshaft sensor if good, suspect a faulty ICM.

Please let me know how this goes.
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAYJAYREETHOMAS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
We tested for a spark at the spark plug wires. The way it's acting is like something along the lines of the fuel! But the fuel pump is working, we are going to try the filter next. It will crank over, just want start. After is set's for a day, it doesn't have a problem starting. It's like when you get it out on the road and it goes for just a bit, it dies and sometimes it will restart. But by the end, it doesn't start at all. Will turn over and try, but no luck. What else is there to check along the lines of the fuel, besides the pump and filter?
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KRAZY4X4S
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
  • 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 195,000 MILES
When the car gets started for the first time everyday it starts great. After it warms up it takes about 2 are 3 times to keep it running. It will start up the die. What could be causing this?
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
I would start by checking the ignition module.

Next fuel pressure/filter.
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KRAZY4X4S
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
Thanks when it finaly threw a code it was ignition module
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM (Merged)

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