Hey guys, again with another problem! >.>

Once in a while I'll be sitting somewhere idling (for example a drive through line) and the car will completely start shutting off. As in all the lights go off, and engine dies but doesn't die 100%, usually will come back to life half a second later. This problem made me think immediately it had something to do with the ignition - but my radio reset (time) so I assume it's some kind of power problem.

Anyone have any kind of experience in this?

 

Plugs?

 

How would it be plugs? :s

The whole electrical system seems to go down. :s

 

tighten your battery connections!! happened to me!!

 

If its not the battery leads it couldn't be a plugged cat could it?,

 

start by looking for any pending codes or possibly even a hard code. Mine did this and it ended up being the crank sensor.

 

Oddly enough my grandmas cobalt had a problem where it kept turning off. Actually had something to do with the power steering recall....

Just food for thought

 

Start with battery and connections

 

Right on! A couple possibilities!

1) Power Steering Recall - I think my car still needs that done. Previous owner didn't fix as far as I know. Any way of knowing if the repair has been done?

2) Battery Connections - will check, seemed tight but will check nevertheless

3) Crank Sensor - I've had a code pop up a couple times before, I replaced CPS and still got code again so I'm going to replace actuator after I test it.

4) Plugged cat? Would the whole electrical system die with it though? Like it's not really stalling out it's just all the lights and everything go off and car kinda shuts off as if I turned off the key, not like it studders, spits, or anything like that.

OH! And when this happens - the alarm light comes on on my dash if that's any help!

 

ok - bump.

Started car this morning - no problem whatsoever, drove to work and left car there. Went back out and car was dead (after four hours might I add)

Boosted it at work, drove home (about 5-10 minutes) I accidentally without thinking shut it off when I pulled in the driveway and it was dead again. Does this sound like a battery/alt issue?

 

Yeah deff a power issue. I had issues with my car not starting and everything dying the ground on the battery had come loose. Sounds like you have a dead battery though.

 

+1 check battery and alternator. If both check out then start testing the electrical system.

 

Weird, I disconnected everything and re-wired the terminals and it's running fine again. Battery tested at 12+ volts so it was fine, and I assume it was just some sort of connection problem.

 

Just becareful when a car all of sudden dies it could be that the battery is dead (a cell fails usually)

Happened to my GFs car. Drove and started fine the night before and in the morning the car turned on but went to crank and everything went dead. TOTALLY dead. Tried boosting and it wouldnt take a charge. Even went straight to the fuse box and it slowly cranked but the battery took all the power it was so dead!

 

Appreciate it - but when I tested the battery (out of the car) it was above 12 volts, so I assume all is good.

 

have also been having this problem !!
all the wires are good on the battery
sucks seeing this ia a common problem with our cars !!