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Car just shut down while driving, will not restart

Tiny
SHERRI SKåNES
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 1.6L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 85,000 MILES
When I turn the key there is no sound, nothing. No turn over. Lights come on, radio/window/lock works. Battery is 2 years old, and since I moved to Indiana from California got a heavy duty one due to cold weather. Since it quit I found it was low on oil 2 quarts worth. Very small amount of leakage on my garage floor just a few drops. I was hoping that might have been the reason for the power down while driving, but it still won't start or even turn over or click. Help!
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Tuesday, January 7th, 2020 AT 1:32 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
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It is unlikely that the low oil level caused the engine to stall and not power back up. This is more than likely an issue in the PDC or with power to the PCM. The fact that the lights and radio worked makes me think the PCM just lost its power or ground. Unfortunately I have seen this a few times on this vehicle. You can replace the PCM and that may solve it but it could also be a wiring issue.

If this is currently no starting then we need to hook up a scan tool to the vehicle and see if the PCM is saying it is in Park or Neutral. If the PCM is not showing P or N then it will not allow it to start. Also, the Auto shut down relay will prevent this from starting as will the transmission range sensor.

However, I assume it is operating properly which is typical of this issue.

Unfortunately there are many causes to this and we need to start eliminating them and I would suggest with hooking up a scan tool checking for codes and then seeing if it is in P or N when this issue is happening.
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Wednesday, January 8th, 2020 AT 5:18 PM
Tiny
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Thank you. Someone also said it might be the fuse for "engine management"? My son has one of those scan tools and he is driving down on Sunday, so I should know more by then. I may get back to you with more questions. LOL!
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Wednesday, January 8th, 2020 AT 8:37 PM
Tiny
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Okay, so my son came over today instead. All fuses in both boxes are good. All connections and ground wires to the under the hood fuse box is good. Battery was tested and low and at the end of warranty so we replaced it. No change. The inside fuse box we don't know about wiring and his scanner wouldn't turn on when he plugged it in under there. One other thing he noticed is my coolant color is rusty. Coolant was changed last winter by a mechanic. We discovered an oil spot on my garage floor. Son says it's motor oil, which explains the low amount (which I replaced). No oil spots under the car on the driveway where it has been sitting since last Thursday. For background I had wiring replaced in the steering column that had something to do with electrical in 2017, and an electrical harness of some sort in 2016. You still have to jiggle the ignition key to get the radio to come on, even after all of that. The car is always kept in an insulated but not heated garage. I drive about a 1,500 miles per year. It has 85,000 miles.
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Thursday, January 9th, 2020 AT 4:30 PM
Tiny
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Also, apparently I got the engine size wrong, it's 2.4 liter. It's the Touring Edition.
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Thursday, January 9th, 2020 AT 4:32 PM
Tiny
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No Turbo.
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Thursday, January 9th, 2020 AT 4:32 PM
Tiny
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The only way a fuse would make sense is if it is currently not starting. I understood that this was an intermittent issue meaning it is starting and running normally today. If this is the case, then we probably have a greater electrical issue.

The scan tool not turning on could be an indicator but that is only if the scan tool is compatible with your vehicle. If it was for OBD 2 vehicles then it should have powered on.

Let me know if the vehicle is currently working or is not starting. If it is not working then tell me exactly what it does when you turn the key. Thanks
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Thursday, January 9th, 2020 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
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As I said before, the car will not start. It does not turn over, it does not buzz, it does not click. Nothing. No sound. Just nothing. It happened once, then after a few minutes I got it to start and went to gas station about a block away. Put in gas. Restarted successfully without issue at gas station and drove about a mile when it shut down while driving again. Fortunately it was a hundred feet from my driveway, and my neighbor pushed it the rest of the way for me. I have tried to start it every day since and nothing. Silence.
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Sunday, January 12th, 2020 AT 8:39 AM
Tiny
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Okay. If the lights and accessories still come as you stated before, I suspect the ignition switch is the most likely cause.

This was also pretty common on these vehicles. In fact, here are a couple videos of someone with the same issue.

https://youtu.be/k25RvIl-8Dg

https://youtu.be/P_A7X1Ra6MA

If it were me, I would suggest replacing the switch and going from there. The fact that it worked once with no issue and then stopped points to an electrical issue and since you are getting nothing out of the ignition switch, I suspect that is where your issue is.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 2:17 PM
Tiny
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Well, that actually makes sense. The radio doesn't come on unless you jiggle the key. I am going to have to break down and call a mechanic. I just don't want to be swindled. They see lady with grey hair and think they can pull a fast one on me. Thank you so very much for your help!
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 11:18 PM
Tiny
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Haha. There are some good ones out there. Here are the OEM parts and labor times for the switch and cylinder. You may need both but again they can check this out.

The way you get a rough estimate is to take the standard labor time and multiply that by the shops door rate. Then add the part price. Clearly you would use a different part price if they don't use the OEM part.

Also, they will need to diagnose this themselves because they are not going to take our word for it unless you just tell them to replace it. If they are going to be responsible then they are going to want to confirm what we are saying and that will be a charge as well.

By the looks of it, you should be around $250.00 all in. If it is much more then you can just ask them to break it down to labor hours, part price and the door rate and you can compare it these times. Just remember, everything is negotiable.
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Tuesday, January 14th, 2020 AT 5:09 PM
Tiny
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Just to wrap this up, it ended up being Fuse #13. Before I bought an ignition switch I found out about the key dance, and tried it and got nothing, not even "done." I got on the PT Cruiser forum and searched "security light on, no scan, no key dance, no turn over" and it said to try that. Even though my son checked the fuses, he missed this one. So $6.00 later I am back on the road. Thank you for all of your help!
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Saturday, January 25th, 2020 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
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Awesome. Thanks for the update. Please come back and use 2CarPros next time. Thanks
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Saturday, January 25th, 2020 AT 5:05 PM

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