This article will bring insight into why your vehicle shuts down while driving, allowing you to be more prepared the next time it occurs.
Being in the dark wondering what caused your vehicle to die in the middle of nowhere may be a terrifying situation. There are several reasons why a vehicle’s power may be interrupted or lost while it is in motion.
If you own a vehicle, you have to ensure that it is properly maintained. Many vehicle owners seem to believe that their cars are powered by magical dust. Oil, gas, coolant, and other liquids must be checked regularly to ensure that your vehicle remains in good working order for a longer duration.
A wide variety of sensors and functions are now standard equipment in modern cars to help keep them running well. Being familiar with the basics of your vehicle may help you deal with a technical issue, such as your automobile shutting down while you are on the road.
Major Factors Cause Vehicle Die While Driving
Your vehicle can die or lose power while you are driving for several different reasons. Diagnostics and repairs may be more time-consuming for some than for others.
Unfortunately, repairing your vehicle on the side of the road is seldom an option, so knowing what went wrong is crucial if you need to contact a recovery truck or a technician later on.
Some of the most frequent factors that cause your car to die while you are driving are listed below:
Fuel Is Not Getting To The Engine
Whenever the engine is accelerating, the fuel delivery system must fulfill the engine’s needs. In order to function correctly, fuel injectors need a continuous flow of fuel. Several factors may contribute to the inability of fuel to enter the engine. We can all agree that the most apparent explanation is that you are out of gas. In addition to being one of the most common causes of vehicle failures, this is also one of the most straightforward to repair.
For those who have fuel in the tank but no power in the engine, you may have clogged fuel filters, damaged fuel lines, or an ineffective or malfunctioning fuel pump. An engine with a clogged fuel filter or line may run poorly, have misfires, and die while driving.
It is possible that a defective fuel pump or a poor fuel pressure regulator is to blame for an engine stall. A fuel injector issue will present itself as a water buildup in your gas tank. On the downside, you may notice things like poor acceleration, rough motor behavior, and even complete engine failure under certain circumstances.
Fuel Pump Not Working Properly
You will not be able to restart your engine if your fuel pump fails. Car owners should use caution when choosing which gasoline to use. Simple mistakes like putting fuel into a diesel vehicle or pumping diesel into a petrol car are enough to cause major problems most of the time. Another critical factor in preventing unintended automobile failures is the manner you take care of your vehicle. When you initially start your vehicle, please pay attention to the little whirring noise it makes. A faulty fuel pump is most likely to blame if you do not hear it, and your vehicle will not start after replacing the fuel filter.
Another option is to have your vehicle towed to an auto shop to diagnose the problem correctly. Even if your car’s battery, alternator, and fuel pump fail while driving, several other issues may be to blame. Overheated engines, faulty MAP sensors, the device that measures the air-to-fuel ratio, and malfunctioning ignition systems are among the numerous causes we have seen. If this occurs to you, first check out the first three possibilities.
A Broken Or Slipped Timing Belt
Having a damaged timing belt is another persistent cause of a vehicle cutting out while you are driving. Your car may show signs of a faulty timing belt even before it fails entirely. A faulty engine or timing belt will result in the engine not starting or starting but running very poorly. Timing belts that are severely worn and somewhat stretched may need to be replaced. If not, the engine’s timing will be affected, and it may even lead the timing belt to slide partially.
Having a stretched timing belt can cause a reduction in power production, particularly when under high load. Other side effects include poor fuel efficiency and frequent engine misfires, which may cause the engine to shut down altogether. If the timing belt snaps entirely, the engine will stop functioning and not restart until the problem is resolved. If your engine is an interference engine, a damaged timing belt may do serious harm, mainly if it breaks while you are driving.
Overheat Has Built Up In The Engine
Overheating the engine is another frequent cause for a vehicle to stop running while still driving. There are various reasons why an engine may overheat, but the most common is a shortage of engine coolant or a problem with the coolant pumping around the engine. A faulty water pump, a snagged timing belt, or low coolant pressure may result in a lack of coolant flow. Engine overheating, coolant leaking, and exhaust steam are all signs of a malfunctioning water pump.
Engine temperatures may also be affected by coolant leakage. Radiator leaks, coolant hose ruptures, broken coolant reservoirs, and radiator caps are all familiar sources of coolant leaks. A faulty radiator cap may lead to severe issues that you may not be aware of until it is too late to do anything about it. Overheating, low coolant levels, ruptured radiator hoses, engine steam while driving, and coolant leaks are signs of a damaged radiator cap.
Failure Of The Car Battery Or Refusal To Charge
A car battery is continuously being drained by electronic systems and sensors that are now standard equipment on most modern cars. Car batteries go through many cycles throughout their lifespan, with thousands of charges and discharges. When the vehicle battery light turns on, it means there is a problem with the battery and should be addressed immediately. For a few weeks or months, you may be able to notice this on your dashboard before it begins to create serious issues.
In order to operate smoothly, the voltage of a fully charged battery should be about 12.6 volts, and while the engine is running, the voltage should be approximately 14 volts. It may harm the engine management system if the voltage is less than 10 volts. Engine performance may feel the consequences, and the engine may even shut down when idling or driving at a slow pace.
A Bad Engine Sensor Can Cause The Engine To Die While Running
Your car’s engine is controlled by an engine management system that receives data from several sensors. Vehicles that have failed to maintain proper engine sensors while in motion may come to a halt. Engine performance depends on a variety of sensors, some more critical than others. Sensors for the crankshaft and camshaft, manifold pressure, and fuel pressure are all part of the mass airflow.
This sensor is critical to the engine’s operation, and if it fails for any reason, the engine will stop running. Before the engine shuts down, a faulty sensor in the engine may cause the dashboard check engine light to flicker.
The Alternator Fails To Charge The Battery
The alternator provides most of the electrical power your car requires while driving, which also recharges the car’s battery. The ECU recognizes an issue with the quantity of power coming from the alternator, which is the first indication of a malfunctioning alternator before the engine shuts down. The vehicle battery light will flash on the dashboard. According to standard operating procedures, the alternator supplies the battery with between 13 and 14.8 volts. When the alternator fails, the car will not start, the headlights will dim, a warning light will illuminate on the dashboard, and the engine will shut down.
A car’s battery loses around 3% of its charge every time the engine is started. Hence, there is sufficient power to restart a machine if needed or provide more power when required. In order to prevent the battery from losing most of its remaining charge and causing the engine to act erratically or even shut down completely, be sure to keep the battery’s charge at a high level when driving.
Auxiliary Serpentine Belt Has Frayed Or Is In Poor Condition
Any time the engine is running, a damaged serpentine belt may be fatal. As long as the engine is running, the serpentine belt will continue turning the alternator as well. It enables the alternator to charge the battery by connecting it to the rotating crankshaft. The alternator will provide no power if it is not running properly due to a sliding or worn-out alternator drive belt. Having an erratic battery light can be due to an alternator belt slippage.
Certain cars are equipped with a separate belt that sonly drives the alternator and sometimes the air conditioning. The auxiliary belt on certain cars also drives the water pump, and it may also cause the engine to overheat and die while driving.
Steps To Take When Your Car Dies While Driving It
It is imperative that you put everyone’s safety first, including other drivers on the road. If your vehicle dies while you are driving it, follow these steps to have it fixed:
- Direct the vehicle to the sides of the highway and avoid being frightened out of your wits! Despite losing power steering and brakes, it is still feasible to pull over and bring the car to a complete stop using the brakes exclusively. It will simply be more challenging in the long run. Using the emergency brake is an option if you are having trouble slowing down. If you can not restart the vehicle straight away, try to park out of the path of other motorists to give you some space.
- Make an attempt to restart the vehicle. Assuming that you can successfully restart the car, the initial problem is still a strong indication that you should take it to a repair center to have it properly diagnosed and resolved.
- Make sure your emergency flashers are enabled. Safety is an essential consideration in this situation, as previously stated. It is best to use your flashers to alert other drivers that you are experiencing problems and ask for their consideration.
- Make a phone call for assistance. Request the services of a towing company to transport your vehicle to a service center for repairs. It would help if you got this issue resolved as soon as possible.
- Improve your car’s chances of surviving a dangerous incident
Final Words
Being informed of your car’s maintenance health at all times is essential due to the fact that there are many reasons that may cause it to die while you are driving. To avoid inadvertently shifting into the ACC position, avoid using hefty key rings, and always check your gas levels at all times, even while you are not driving.
It does not matter why your vehicle broke down on you; it is essential to get it checked out by a reputable mechanic. Their findings may assist in identifying whether the underlying cause is a minor issue or whether anything has to be addressed in order to avoid future damage or accidents.