This post is intended as reference material in case this happens to anyone else.

My car died this morning. I had just arrived to work and was about 20 feet from my parking space, when the car just shut down. It didnt stall, just simply turned off.

The circumstances were:

JUST before it happened:

Traveling speed: 10mph
Gear: 2nd, but clutch all the way in.
Rpms: Idle. was going to coast into my parking space.
Hesitation/Stalling?: None
Mileage: 2715
Stock? 100%

Right after it happened:

Accessory power?: Full
Any physical evidence under the hood? None
Will car crank? Yes.
Will car turn over? No.

Special Notes:

After a couple failed attempts at starting the car, it finally turned over. The idle was VERY rough. There was an incredible amount of vibration from the engine bay, followed by a loud BANG as though the engine rocked itself against the firewall like a mental patient in a padded room, then the car died again.

I called onstar and asked for a diagnostic. Since the car has to be on, a full diagnostic could not be performed. Instead, a diagnostic with the car in ACC power mode was performed. The code that came up was an ignition failure.

After speaking with onstar and the tow service for approximately 15 minutes, I gave it one more try and it turned on as if nothing had happened, but my check engine light was still on. I moved the car into a parking space that would be accessible to the tow truck and awaited pickup.

My car is currently at the dealership and they are working on the problem. I was assured by the service advisor that they would check for updates/TSBs for the BCM, PCM, and anything else they could to fix the problem. At the time they had just received my car and had no luck turning it on.

I will update this thread with whatever additional information as well as whatever resolution comes up for the problem so that hopefully it can help the others who have yet to experience this be prepared for when/if it does.

UPDATE:

Cause of failure was the Crankshaft Position Sensor. The report states the following:

"CRANK SENSOR INTERNALY SHORTED W PERF CHECKED AND PERF ROAD TESTS FOUND THAT LOST CRANK SENSOR SIGNAL WHILE DRIVING P PERF REPLACED CRANK SENSOR AND RECHECKED OK PASSED"

So I guess the translation of that is that it was an electrical problem. Not cool, but the car is back on the road.

 

That sucks, hopefully they can find whatever caused the problem...good luck!

 

My car had an "ignition failure" the first month I had it. I came out from work and it wouldnt start, it would crank and start tof ire but wouldnt stay running. They ended up replacing an ignition switch and Ive been good with it ever since.

 

^^ yeah what he said.. Good luck..

 

Odd question, but did your radio clock reset to 12:00?

 

My car did the same, but at WOT in third, maybe 80mph. Just shut off, like I took my foot off the gas. Wouldn't restart. About 2-3 mins later, similar start, rough idle, backfire and die. Let it sit 5 miuntes, then it restarts perfectly, no problems. Been running fine ever since.

 

Trying real hard to remember but I don't think so.

 

If it did, there's a bullitin on the power accessory wire that runs behind the sub along the qtr panel that gets frayed and shorts out. It kills anything that needs memory. Your PCM, BCM, radio stuff like that all uses power from that wire. most of the time it dont short out enough to blow the 50amp fuse .

 

I had the exact same thing happen to me.

 

Little update.

My cell phone died halfway through the day so I was unable to receive the call from the dealership at around 5. The service adviser did leave me a message though.

Basically he said they discovered the problem, and that they ordered a new "C** Sensor". The **'s represent the part of the word I didn't hear him say because of the noise in the backround.

lol just my luck.

So what do you guys vote? Cam or Cat sensor?

I guess I'm leaning toward Cam sensor. Don't know how on earth that could have gotten screwed up though.

Anyway I appreciate all the input guys. Thanks. I'll update again when I actually get to talk to someone on Sunday (they're closed Saturday).

 

Crank Position Sensor. Same thing dealership wanted to replace on my car and I told them to go-away because they had to order the part and it would be a week. I told them I would come back if it did it again and it hasn't since then.

 

Defintely the CPS, i've heard of this one failing many times

 

UPDATE:

Got my car back today. Total downtime was 11 working days (they were closed easter weekend). They ordered the part the same day the car was brought in, and it arrived yesterday. It only took them a day to install the part. Pretty good deal if you ask me, even though I was without the car for 2 weeks. I got a rental under warranty so I wasn't suffering too bad.

Cause of failure was the Crankshaft Position Sensor. The report states the following:

"CRANK SENSOR INTERNALY SHORTED W PERF CHECKED AND PERF ROAD TESTS FOUND THAT LOST CRANK SENSOR SIGNAL WHILE DRIVING P PERF REPLACED CRANK SENSOR AND RECHECKED OK PASSED"

So I guess the translation of that is that it was an electrical problem. Not cool, but the car is back on the road.