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Car keeps cutting off and stalling?

Tiny
JESSICA WYCKOFF JONES
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 BUICK LA CROSSE
  • 0.6L
  • 3 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 250,000 MILES
I've been having issues with my car turning off. As soon as I put it in reverse or drive it cuts off completely or my battery light will pop on and as soon as I try accelerate it turns off. Sometimes my car will automatically turn itself back on without me pressing the push to start button. I've bought a new battery, air filter, and alternator and it's still doing the same thing. Can you tell me what the problem may be so I can fix it? It's been going on for a while now.
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Sunday, September 29th, 2019 AT 3:57 PM

47 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

Do you mean the battery light turns off when you press the gas or does the engine stall? Also, is there any specific time it happens? For example, only when the engine is hot or it doesn't matter. Is the check engine light staying on when the engine is running? Are there any odd rattling sounds or anything else you can think of?

I would start by servicing the throttle body these guides should help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

and

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

Let me know.
Joe
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Sunday, September 29th, 2019 AT 6:46 PM
Tiny
JESSICA WYCKOFF JONES
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The battery light comes on after pressing the brakes. When I come to a complete stop my car will turn off. It will restart right back up though. One thing that I noticed is that when I put it in reverse my battery light comes on as well. I'll put it in drive and it will turn off then automatically cut back on. I'm not sure what's going on with it.
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Tuesday, October 1st, 2019 AT 6:46 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Welcome back:

Jessica, I suspect the engine RPM's are low enough to cause the light to come on. When you shift from R to D, for a second the transmission isn't engaged and the RPM most likely increase a bit and allow the light to go off until drive engages again. Does the vehicle have a tachometer? If it does, what is the RPM at which it idles?

Let me know.

Joe
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Tuesday, October 1st, 2019 AT 7:56 PM
Tiny
RANDY HANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2007 BUICK LA CROSSE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
Car stalls randomly while driving and when I try to restart it will just click but doesnt crank you have to wait 30 seconds to a minute then it will crank over and start and be fine I also noticed when it starts cranking it keeps cranking after I let go of the key
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check for corrosion on starter relay in fuse box under hood then use dielectric grease on prongs to prevent it in future. It may also be a bad solenoid sticking and holding starter drive in operation so check starter as well.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SUSAN SWAYZE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2006 BUICK LA CROSSE
  • 78,000 MILES
Just bought car last week--hit a bump & the engine quits. Now what?
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SUSAN SWAYZE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Is anyone there?
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
How quickly does the engine restart?
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SUSAN SWAYZE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Jacobandnickolas--after steering car off to side of road, adjusting gear shift, turning key it starts right up as if nothing happened.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
There has to be a short in the wiring would be my guess. Check wiring at the PCM to make sure nothing is loose at the connector and check to make sure nothing to the fuel pump is loose.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SUSAN SWAYZE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks. Car goes back to dealership Tuesday for them to figure out; hope they do!
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEOJONES49
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2006 BUICK LA CROSSE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
Hi, I have the CX model, it has recently been randomly shutting off. (Long distances or short but it does not happen all the time) For example, I am on the highway doing seventy mph and engine shuts off dash lights up with everything and I loose steering power. I pull off, turn the key back. Sit a few seconds/minutes. The initial turn of the key does nothing. Lights come on but nothing else does even try to turn over. Second turn of key starts right up no problem. When it happens its the same way every time two turns to start. Not a mechanic at all just need an idea of what this could be. Thanks
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
Okay, you say that "The initial turn of the key does nothing. Lights come on but nothing else does even try to turn over." Do you mean the starter does not engage or that it engages but the engine does not start?

It sounds like a bad connection that is cutting power to the ECM, but it could be fuel related as well. That is the reason I am asking.

Does it seem to make any difference as to outside temperature? Like it does it more when it is hot or cold out?
Do you notice any pattern? Like it happens usually after you go up a hill or turn left or?

Intermittent issues are a pain.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEOJONES49
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Sorry I meant it does not. And there has been no pattern. It has happened when warm out and cold. Has not happened during a turn or up/down a hill. Thanks for responding.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
Yeah, what I figured, a magic 8Ball car. Ask the ball "Will my car run good today?" Flip over the ball " Cannot predict now".

Was anything done to it like an oil change, belt, or any accidents or a minor bump on a corner done prior to this starting?
Is the check engine light on now?
Just prior to it shutting off everything seems "normal" correct, no strange sound or smell or maybe a bright light in the sky?

Has this car had the key switch replaced under the recall? Those can cause this problem.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEOJONES49
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
No accidents, I had an oil change maybe 2months prior to first cut off, no warning signs, but there was a bright light in the sky. Come to think aboit the bright light is there almost everyday in the daytime. But that couldnt be ive seen it for years. I didnt know about the recall I just got this car early this year. I will definitely check into recalls. Thanks man. And watch out for that bright light.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
I haven't seen it in a couple days. (Although way back when I was a lad I did see a VERY bright light one night. Couple days later we found out in school it was a satellite burning up)

Take a close look down by the oil filter and the front of the engine behind the drive belt. The camshaft sensor harness runs across there. If it was damaged and grounding out on the crank pulley or block it could shut the engine down if it grounded the reference voltage. The only other idea is to do the pull and wiggle tests on the harness with the engine running. BUT I would check on the recall and see if that was done first. Would hate to see you tear into it and discover it was the switch.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEOJONES49
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2006 BUICK LA CROSSE
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
While driving engine stalls and the check engine light comes on, the reduce power light and the traction control light. Few seconds/minutes later it will start. Happening more often then before. Any ideas?
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
It could be several things. Have you tried scanning the computer to determine what trouble codes are stored? I feel that is the first thing that should be done. Hopefully, it will point you in the correct direction for the problem. Here is a video which shows how a scan tool works and how to use it. Let me know what you find.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg1WO0UKIYM
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NEAL76
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 BUICK LA CROSSE
  • 3.6L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 225 MILES
Cut off while driving, will not start.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)

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