Shut off while driving and will not start?

Tiny
TONYCG72
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 SATURN ION
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 160,000 MILES
I was driving to the store and got about a half mile from my house and the car quit running. It'll turn over but will not start back up. So, what could the problem be?
Saturday, May 13th, 2023 AT 4:01 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,792 POSTS
Hello, it could be a number of things, the first step is to see if there is any Ignition spark, below is a guide to help with that, most likely you will be missing spark if it just shut off on the road. When sensors get hot, that is the most likely time for them to fail. Go through and check to see if any fuses have popped as well, do you have a Check Engine Light comes on when you turn the key just to the on position? And if you have a Tachometer (RPM) gauge, does it jump while cranking the engine over?
If the Tachometer doesn't move while cranking, most likely the Crankshaft position sensor failed.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-for-ignition-spark

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

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-stalls
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Sunday, May 14th, 2023 AT 7:00 PM
Tiny
TONYCG72
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The car wasn't running no more than 5 minutes tops when that happened, and I had someone to see how far it was away and it was only 2 tenths of a mile. But could you tell me which sensors to start with? And right before I bought the car 2 years ago, they had just replaced the ignition module. Could that be the problem?
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Sunday, May 14th, 2023 AT 7:07 PM
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,792 POSTS
First check to see if there are any connectors that are not fully seated and may have loosened up due to vibrations. The Crankshaft position sensor is on the lower rear of the engine below the oil filter, I'll post a diagram of its location. But does the Tachometer jump while cranking the engine over?
This diagram is looking at the front of the engine when you open the hood. In yellow is your oil filter housing, below that is the crank position sensor. The 2nd diagram shows the wiring colors for it, it's a 2-wire sensor, make sure it's still plugged in and being under the oil filter, see if there is any oil leaking on it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-for-ignition-spark

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-stalls
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Sunday, May 14th, 2023 AT 7:14 PM

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