Engine dies

Hi,

1999 CV @ 126000

Engine stops during driving

Symptoms:

- driving as normal
- preparing to make a turn
- turn signals flashes faster than normal
- engine rpm whine appears on FM radio
- Traction Control light comes on then off, then all dash lights come on, engine stops, and dash lights go off.
- Turn off car, wait 2 minutes, car restarts and operates fine

Removed computer, verified contacts to computer were clean and tight, but no change.


Thanks for your help

It's possible that there's something wrong with your alternator assembly. It could be the rectifier pack (i.e. the diodes) or the voltage regulator or the alternator itself. If you have one of those places nearby that will do a free alternator test, I'd have it checked out.

If the fault is intermittent then it might check out ok but still give you odd symptoms occasionally, in which case I'd carry a multimeter with me and check the system voltage when the fault appears.

On a healthy electrical system, with the engine idling, the voltage at the battery terminals should be around the high end of thirteen-point-something volts, and with the engine revved to a fast idle that should climb to around 14.4V and then settle at that voltage regardless of further increase in engine speed (the voltage regulator clamps the upper voltage threshold at that level).

When the fault appears, I think you'll find one of those voltage readings will be different to normal.

There's also a chance though that it could be a bad ground connection so I'd start by cleaning the battery terminals - clean the mating surfaces of the terminals and connectors with a wire brush, and smear them with petroleum jelly or dielectric grease prior to reassembly to inhibit future corrosion. You'll have a heavy-duty ground strap running from the battery negative terminal to the engine block, and again I'd clean it and apply some protection at the point where it bolts to the engine. There's probably a similar ground lead which bolts to the firewall, and if so then I'd clean that one too. Also check that the connections at the alternator are clean and secure, especially the ground connection.

There's a bad connection someplace. I'd go with Selectron on a bad battery connection to starter or ground. For everytning to go bad and have all the dash lights come on seems to me to be a bad ground. Anyway, good connections at the battery and ground are normal maintenance items that should be performed regardless of what the car is doing. Do the most simple and obvious cures first.