Engine stalls

MONSTA1055

MEMBER
2003 CADILLAC CTS
87,000 MILES

Today, I drove my CTS on the freeway and as I drove up an incline, I heard a thump under the hood. No indicator lights came on, so I kept driving with no problems. When I approached stop/go traffic, it died and had to be towed. When tow was going to drop car off at the shop, he turned the ignition and started the car with NO PROBLEM. I chose to drive it home and take it to shop during the week and when I got to a stop light, it stopped again. It has a new battery (two months old). Could this be an alternator, fuel pump or electrical issue?

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

Did you make sure the battery cables are clean and tight?Before doing that I would have the computer scanned for codes. Then check the cables and have the alternator tested. Also if there are any codes please post the code numbers not code descriptions.

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Sunday, December 11th, 2011 AT 12:04 AM

MONSTA1055

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Yes, I checked the cables and they are tight and clean. I will need the shop to scan for code numbers and I will ask them for them when I drop it off.

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Sunday, December 11th, 2011 AT 12:10 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

Alright most auto parts stores scan codes for free.

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Sunday, December 11th, 2011 AT 12:15 AM

MONSTA1055

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Just got car back from shop. It was a bad crank shaft chip sensor. This was the only issue indicated during diagnostics. Interestingly, this was the 5th CTS the shop serviced with this issue. No recall notice found to indicate this is manufacturer's issue.

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Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 AT 3:20 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

There not going to have a recall on that you have a 2003 car with 87,000 miles on it. Engine sensors like that have a hard life most of the crankshaft sensors are actually inserted into the engine block where there bathed in hot oil and are subjected to all the temp from crank case temps. So yes alot of them will fail eventually nothing lasts forever. Hope this makes you have a better apreachaition for the hard life of the poor crankshaft sensor lol.