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Engine shut off while driving, having issues getting it to run again

Tiny
NICK JERSEY BAL
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 VOLVO 850
  • 5 CYL
  • TURBO
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 203,000 MILES
I was driving my car and it was running fine. I stopped at the store and got back in. I started it up and took off. About two miles in I noticed it was lacking power, kind of a lot but would catch and gain it back. Well about five miles after that the car just shut off out while going 65 mph up the highway. I tried starting it again and it would crank really weak as of the battery was dead, but wouldn't turn over. It sat for about two hours and when I got back to the car I tried turning it over and it started up after a little bit of hard cranking. Immediately it was shaking a little and there was a loud grinding sound. The motor is idling weak and then shuts off. The motor looked as if it was shaking really bad. But, I do not know if that was just the weak low idle. What could this be? Please help me.
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Monday, December 31st, 2018 AT 6:31 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

First, have you had the charging system checked? I would first start by having the battery load tested and the alternator load tested. If the vehicle can make it to your local auto parts stores they will usually test for free. Having the alternator not fully charging the battery or the battery not holding a charge is what sounds like what your car is doing. Here are a few tutorials showing what is involved:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

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

If you want to take the battery and alternator out and take to be tested. Here is how you can remove:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-alternator

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-battery

Hope this helps and feel free to ask any questions if needed.Thanks for using 2CarPros.
Danny-
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Monday, December 31st, 2018 AT 12:52 PM
Tiny
NICK JERSEY BAL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The battery holds a charge. After a little while when you crank it, it would then turn over. It kind of bogs out but not necessarily bogging out. Kind of hard low idle. Once it hits about 1,200 rpm's it cuts off. OBD2 scan revealed codes for misfire in cylinders 2, 3, 4, 5 which I don't see how that's possible and it was still driving. Now when you start it the loud grinding sound sounds like it is coming from the passenger side under the hood and if you hit the gas while in any gear or reverse. You go almost no where. Kind of as if the winter mode was engaged.
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Monday, December 31st, 2018 AT 1:11 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

Does the check engine light happen to be on? This means you have trouble codes stored in your vehicles computer. First thing I suggest is to have the code(s) checked. If you don't have access to a code reader/scanner your local auto parts stores have a tool loaner program and can rent you one. Here is a tutorial showing what is involved:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Once you have the codes read get back to us with the code numbers and we will be happy to help properly diagnose. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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Monday, December 31st, 2018 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
NICK JERSEY BAL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks again for your reply. No there is no check engine light on currently. When I ran the obd2 last time I got several codes indicating that I was misfiring on cylinders 2, 3, 4, 5. I thought it was strange so I replaced all spark plugs and check engine light turned off without me having to reset it and erase codes. When I replaced the spark plugs the sound wasnt there anymore. I let the car warm up and idol on its own for about 3 minutes, after about 3 minutes the sound then started again. I pulled the spark plug wires off one by one while the engine was started and when I pulled the 3rd wire the sound almost wasnt there anymore. The pictures attached are the only thing the obd2 shows right now, no codes at all. And the videos are of how the engine sounds and when I pull the 3rd spark plug wire off.
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Friday, January 4th, 2019 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

On the second video is the engine running with the spark plug off or is that how the car is running/complaint? Thanks again for using 2CarPros.
Danny-
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Friday, January 4th, 2019 AT 4:16 PM
Tiny
JIS001
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,411 POSTS
Most of the time the mass air flow sensor is what goes bad on this vehicles and will cause no power, stalling out, and hard starts. Drove me crazy because they would not set a check engine light. Hope this helps.
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Thursday, February 21st, 2019 AT 1:02 AM

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