Why Me? Why Now?

[mustangapril]

was dropping my mom off at the airport after spending 3 weeks with me and helping with the baby when my car just stopped running! I was driving along and it stopped and the check engine light came on. I have no idea what it might be....all I know i that I was having a hard enough time saying goodbye to my mom and this happens with my baby in the car.....

any ideas what it may be? yes, i have gas in the car lol but im wondering, could it be a fuel problem?

 

[Mustangless]

did it start back? Pull any codes?

 

[Yellow302]

id start with

Fuel pump
Fuses (easy and happens)
ignition coil.

all will have the car dead with no starting

 

[94GTCoupe]

cant rule out a bad PIP in the dizzy.

pull codes first,then check for spark.

to check for spark,you can pick up a spark tester at Harbor Freight(under $5),put it inline between the coil and dizzy and try to start the car.if none or very intermittent spark,could be the PIP

has it done this before?
when you try to start it,does it just crank and crank?
after cooling off,will it start?

 

[Zero Signal]

Honestly, I'd just pay a mechanic to diagnose it before you throw money at it with new parts. I did that before, and it was $60 well spent on an overheating problem (bad sensor wiring).

 

[mustangapril]

Just went out to the car to see if it would start and now it won't even try to turn over just clicks. Alternator??? Starter????

 

[madams74]

Well, you need gas and sparks. Sounds like fuel pump or an ignition module to start.

 

[HISSIN50]

If it just clicks, put a battery charger on it or use a jumper battery (if doing the latter, be aware of proper battery cable connecting, to minimize the chance of explosion). Once you get it where it will turn over, then run codes and check for spark and injector pulsing like the guys noted.

Since you got the car home from the airport, you might find it's a battery or battery cable issue. The cold weather can stress both.

FWIW, the 30 dollar LCD code reader might be money well spent. It's very easy to use and pays for itself vs having a shop pull codes (if they charge you, and your car is mobile).

Good luck.

 

[stangster50]

haha... had that happen this morn to my ranger.... was a crappy terminal... had to jump it, was driving to work, turned on the heat, truck dies... jumped it, drove to work, replaced terminal.... fixt.

 

[Zero Signal]

Yeah, a low battery/bad connection sounds very likely at this point. Clean all the crud off the battery terminals (take them off to do it) and put them back on nice and tight. Then get a jump and let it run for a good 5 minutes or take it around the block. If it still just clicks when you go to restart it, have the battery tested at Checker or Autozone as it may be bad.

If jumping it gets it started and it dies after a few minutes or right away, it's probably a bad alternator. But it's more likely the battery or simply corrosion at the terminal.

 

[mustangapril]

argh not getting any spark so it's one of the parts I already replaced not long ago = ( one was good, the other one replaced and STILL nothing....

 

[HISSIN50]

If it won't turn over, how do you know there's no spark?

 

[mustangapril]

it's back to trying to turn over.....