Car shuts off while driving?

Tiny
KURBDOGG82
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 228,000 MILES
My car will suddenly shut off while driving, sometimes it starts right back up and sometimes it takes hours. Sometimes when I first start the car it will sputter and shake a little, but I'll turn off the car and restart it and it does fine. I've noticed my temperature gauge has been operating higher than normal, it's not overheating but it's running above normal.
Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 AT 7:29 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
This will probably be one of two things, either the fuel pump is going out or the crankshaft angle sensor needs to be replaced. When the engine stalls out, turn the key off on then back on again without cranking the engine over you should hear the fuel pump run inside the tank for about 5 seconds, if not the fuel pump or fuel pump relay has gone bad. If you hear the pump run, we need to check the ignition system for spark which this video will help with:

https://youtu.be/baq_aEWNQ0Y

This guide can help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-not-running-advanced

Here is how to change the fuel pump out and the relay location along with how to change out the crankshaft angle sensor in the images below.

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Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 AT 9:25 AM

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