Car keeps cutting off and stalling?

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

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.

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

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

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.

just bought car last week--hit a bump & the engine quits. now what?

is anyone there???

How quickly does the engine restart?

Jacobandnickolas--after steering car off to side of road, adjusting gear shift, turning key it starts right up as if nothing happened.

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.

Thanks...car goes back to dealership Tuesday for them to figure out; hope they do!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

Cut off while driving, will not start.

Good morning.

You need three things for the engine to run. Spark, fuel and compression.

I attached some information on how to check for spark and fuel below.

Roy

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

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

My car will take a while to pick up speed some times. And the car will cut off but it will start back up after a few minutes. What can be the problems?

It sounds like you have a clogged catalytic converter. Here is a guide to help confirm the issue:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

Please run down this guide and report back.

Cheers, Ken

Car will stall while driving, engine light not on, will re-start after several attempts, after I turn key and get nothing it always starts on next try? Cleaned ECM connections, throttle act control module connections, new battery (connections good). Cleaned throttle body, ran scan after it stalled, p0601, p0606, and u0107? I read the codes but, I know what they mean but I do not know where to go from here. Took it to two mechanics both said it would not give them any codes Cost me money for nothing. I would highly appreciate any help I can get, Thanks!

Hello, I'm Danny.

You might want to check PCM connections as well. The codes you provided are for the PCM losing communication between itself and the throttle actuator control. I've attached two pictures below.Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
Danny-

I completely removed the PCM and cleaned the connections with electrical cleaner. My problem is I can not afford to take my car to a garage and just give them a blank check. I know what the codes are, I am attempting to narrow it down by checking one thing at a time. Do I replace the PCM ? Is that the issue ? What made it go bad? When I purchased the car it only had 38,000 miles and is still under 75,000 and I always keep in garage. What do you suggest?

Hello again.

Were you able to check the wiring/communication from the PCM to the throttle actuator control using freeze frame data while driving the car or check the throttle actuator control data outputs? If you have access to a professional scanner you can check all parameters and data.As I stated before check communication from the PCM to the throttle actuator control using driveability/data.Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.
Danny-

No, I have not. In the past I replaced a few starters, alternator, brake pads, etc. I have zero experience with electrical issues in fact a few weeks ago was the first time I even held a scan tool and it was borrowed from a friend and it was a very inexpensive one. (Although it did pull up those codes I gave you.) Want I need is some educated guesses, some people say it might be a crankshaft position sensor, mass air flow sensor, fuel actuator sensor, bad PCM, and on and on! I am very poor and I don't have the cash to have a mechanic just start replacing parts. So far I mentioned what I did but I am going to try to explain exactly what it is doing : 1) It stalls, mostly when low idle. 2) Turn key several times but just cranks. 3) When I turn key and get nothing, no click, no sound, it always starts on next turn of key? I understand mechanics don't like to guess, please make acception.

I had a used PCM installed it fixed it!

At highway speeds and at low speeds,the engine stops running with no warning.STARTING DISABLED warning message shows up on driver information center.The car was hooked up to a computer at a dealer and nothing was found wrong.We tried fixing the problem after we found a TSB 05-06-04-037 which recommended cleaning the negative battery cable.This did not solve the problem.

looking at the bulletin you have you only performed half the bulletin,cleaning the negative terminal was only part of the fix,but the other half is the PCM has to be updated with the latest calibration to address a stalling condition.and I've read the bulletin is does not say to clean the neg cable at the battery is states to clean the negative ground that attaches to the body.clean the neg ground and reflash the PCM and this problem will go away.I'm suprised the dealer didn't look at this bulletin.post back with any other questions.

Glad you could get it fixed, that kind of problem can be tough. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.

Thank you for the reply.I will take it to a dealer(prob lem is I am in Mexico so I hope they get the same PSB)On another forum,someone suggested that fuse#15 might need to be replaced.Fuse somehow loses connection after car is warm.Any thoughts?

Forgot to add that we did clean the connection at the frame rail.

I"ve never heard or seen a bulletin for the #15 fuse needing to be replaced,I think somebody was misinformed.post back with any other questions.

Thanks for the reply.I am in Mexico and language will be a problem.Is reflashing the PCM a common occurrence? Anything,I should try to make clear?Would the TSB number be the same regardless of whether it was the U.S.,Canada, or Mexico.

Engine Performance problem
2005 Buick La Crosse 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

when i start my buick lacrosse I notice that the RPM needle is rev low, like its about cut off. I use engine restore and fuel injector clean my car is at 85,000 miles should I get a tune up because I talk to people at auto stores and they told me that theres not a replacment part for the fuel fliter??

as far as refashing the pcm,it's not a common problem but it is a common thing.if there is a problem with different aspects of the vehicle GM will come up with software to correct a problem,it's more of a calibration for the car,thats why there are software updates.just tell them you found a bulletin outlining your problem and you fixed the ground but need the pcm reflashed.the tsb number will be the same nomatter what country your in.some other in for I came across is this tsb:Vehicle may crank and not start or may not stay running intermittently.

Recommendation/Instructions:
Cause:
The 4 bolts that hold the underhood bussed electrical center (UBEC) may become loose, causing a poor connection at the back of the UBEC.

Correction:
Tighten the 4 bolts that hold the UBEC to the inner fenderwell.

if you go to the dealer they have access to these bulletins.

Has the check engine light ever come on? Honestly, if the fuel pump pressure is too low, the engine would be doing more than just idleing low. You can check fuel pump pressure . Let me know if you need directios. Also, try cleaning the mass air flow sensor (MAF). There is a specific cleaner for them.

thanks for the answers..took vehicle back to the dealership...they did exactly what you suggested and vehicle no longer stops running thanks