Thread: Car cut off while driving, possibly cause?? I'm worried now

I wanna say crank sensor. I'd shotgun one in there if it was me.

Any codes?

With a bad crank sensor, often you will not get a code. Crank sensors are very common in our cars to the point that I agree with FFDP and suggest shotgunning one on there. Sensor is about $25-$35 and it's fairly easy to swap out.

I suggest it was the MAF Sensor...my 2000 GT did the same thing while on the road. The rpm's would flutter, then engine would cut off shortly after. It shouldnt be the Crank Sensor. It is a Crank Sensor IF the rpm's go flat, and at the same time the Track Control Light comes on, but motor stays running. I really think it is your MAF.

Originally Posted by PK2000GT

I suggest it was the MAF Sensor...my 2000 GT did the same thing while on the road. The rpm's would flutter, then engine would cut off shortly after. It shouldnt be the Crank Sensor. It is a Crank Sensor IF the rpm's go flat, and at the same time the Track Control Light comes on, but motor stays running. I really think it is your MAF.

Completely untrue statement. Crank sensor reads the rotation of the engine without it the engine doesn't run. Period.

Bad crank causes no starts, misfires, and just random stalling.

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Classic CPS. Its located behind the harmonic balancer. Pull the tire off, splash shield, balancer, pull the electrical clip, then another splash shield, then just the 2 bolts holding the sensor on. Pretty straight forward.

Originally Posted by rperry435

Completely untrue statement. Crank sensor reads the rotation of the engine without it the engine doesn't run. Period.

Bad crank causes no starts, misfires, and just random stalling.

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Actually I believe when my CPS was going out the car would run but I would loose the tach and TCS.

No tach I see.. Because the Crank Sensor watches the Crank.. But tcs doesn't make much sense. I believe it but I definitely wouldn't put a stalling issue on a maf personally. Maybe a map sensor because I've replaced several of those over the years that caused stalling issues especially when coming to a stop.

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Ditto on the MAF sensor as well. Mine was doing all sorts of funky things until I got the sensor cleaned.

EDIT: I lost my Tach and TC a while back as well but no stall, so I guess my crank sensor is going as well. Get at both I'd say.

Originally Posted by rperry435

Completely untrue statement. Crank sensor reads the rotation of the engine without it the engine doesn't run. Period.

Bad crank causes no starts, misfires, and just random stalling.

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I say this is the problem becuase I had to experience this problem personally and know exactly what happend. Did you have the same or are you just going of knowledge of how its ACTUALLY supposed to happen???

I just gave my 2 cents worth and advised him to start at this location. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure with my PERSONAL experience that this is the issue location.

Originally Posted by rperry435

Maybe a map sensor because I've replaced several of those over the years that caused stalling issues especially when coming to a stop.

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Also, this stalling is happening during normall driving while in motion and at idle. It can happen at any moment if this problem is happening all the time.

but all this bickering aside, its most likely gonna come down to your problem being the Crank Sensor or the MAF Sensor. Good Luck.

EGR valve is exhaust gas recirculator. Pull your egr valve and clean it. The o2 sensor is the one after the catalytic converter.

PK, rperry is speaking from years of wrenching on these cars. A good amount of experience, not a single instance.

The O2 is not causing the stalling
Check the maf first, it's a free text. Simply unplug it and expect the car might start hard or idle funny for a bit. If the issue continues with the maf unplugged, it's a maf.

From experience as well.... I can tell you it's 80% or more the crank sensor.

After reading my comments I can see where I may have overkilled my wording, but didnt mean to point fingers. A bad day at work, can result in negative emotions elsewhere. I can also understand that there are multiple reasons why a Crank Sensor can go bad. I assume I only experienced one of the issues with it. I still think its the MAF sensor. I do remember when mine was bad that there was no code for it. It was simply luck that I found it was bad. The Crank Sensor never set off any code either.