Engine shuts off intermittently?

Tiny
VAARDECT
  • MEMBER
  • 2018 MAZDA 2
  • 1.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 66,000 MILES
I brought the car new in 2018 and for the 1st time last year (2023) the issue started. The car engine died on 4 different occasions.

Dates as follows:
• 6/6/2023 (Winter)
• 11/8/2023 (end Winter / Spring)
• 19/10/2023(Summer)
• 15/12/2023 (Summer)

All 4 times the issues occur in the same driving conditions. Car is started and driven in 1st gear, once you press the clutch to gear to 2nd, the engine shuts off. Always at low speed between 1st and 2nd. The last time the engine died the car was driven quite a distance in 1st in a parking garage and once clutch was pressed the engine died. If you try to start the car after the engine died the starter will swing and the car shakes a lot (like when the timing is out). There is no warning that the engine is about to die and further once the engine died there also no engine management indicator appearing on the dash (no fault code). If you let the car stand for around 40 to 50 minutes the car starts normally and drives normally (until it happened again without warning).

After the 3rd time this happened, I took the car in to my mechanic (in October 2023) and the following was done:
• Throttle body was cleaned.
• Carbon flush performed.
• New Crank Shaft sensor fitted.

I thought the issue was resolved until it happened again in December. Any suggestions why this is happening, or do you know if anyone else had a similar problem – and what could a possible solution be to is issue.
Wednesday, January 17th, 2024 AT 1:09 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,602 POSTS
Yep, I have seen the fuel pump cause this issue. What happens is the fuel pump motor can bind at times and cause the fuel pressure to drop which will cause stalling and rough running after the restart. I would say to do a fuel pressure test which may help but may not be definitive due to the duration of the stalling event.

Please go over this guide and I have included instructions below for your car:

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

Also, please go over this guide which can give more information on the problem you are having:

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

Fuel pressure:
425-505 kPa 4.34-5.14 kgf/cm 2 , 61.7-73.2 psi

Luckily the low-pressure fuel pump has a trap door, so you don't need to remove the fuel tank. I have also included how to change the fuel pump out (low pressure) in case you need it. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, January 17th, 2024 AT 9:42 AM
Tiny
VAARDECT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks Ken. Will definitely ask my mechanic to check this out. Thanks also for the comprehensive guides. Just another thing that maybe was not clear in my description is that once the engine dies, the starter will swing the engine (car shakes a lot), but engine will not start. Once you leave it for a while it starts.
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Wednesday, January 17th, 2024 AT 10:53 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,602 POSTS
Yep, low fuel pressure can cause this. Please let me know wat happens.
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Thursday, January 18th, 2024 AT 10:44 AM

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