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Stalls while driving

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi Keith,

Thank you for the donation.

Symptms seems to be due to power interruption. When the engine stalled, did the dash indictor lights turn on immediately? If not, you cold have a failing ignition swith. Check if the ignition is hot to the touch when engine is running and when it fails.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 7:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEITH N
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Hi. Thanks for the reply. Yes, the dash lights all come on immediately when the engine shuts off. I will check the heat of the ignition swith. (I imagine you are talking about on the steering column - please clarify if not.)

Keith
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 7:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Yes, it is the switch at the end of the key cylinder inside the steering column covers.

At base of the switch there are soldered points, look out for signs of melted or disfigured solders. That would indicate the contacts internally are working at high temperature.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 7:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEITH N
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  • 4 POSTS
I'll check out the ignition switch, but does it make sense that a bad ignition switch would only cause a stall when I am accelerating or giving more gas to go up a hill? Is there anything else that you can think of? Thanks.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 7:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEITH N
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  • 4 POSTS
Is there anything in the transmission - any sensor etc, which - if it malfunctioned - could cause the engine to just shut off like this? I have not had any transmission problems - just trying to think of ideas since it mostly gives me problems when I am accelerating normally from a stop or turn.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
No, the transmisison does not have anything that would cause the engine to shut off.

Apart from loose wires/connectors etc, only th eignition switch is the most likely cause.

During acceleration or turn, something could be not contacting well and the jerking movement causes the intermittent power supply failure.

I would suggest checking the battery to see if it is secured. There are instances of the battery terminals shorting resulting in engine cutting off due to movements.
Check for wires that could be swaying around due to vehicle movements.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DWALTO02
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Keith!

I have the exact same problem. My mechanic changed the crankshaft position sensor, checked the ignition key, and nothing. Mine stalls about 1/day and can do it just going straight at highway speeds too.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Dwalto02, if you can, I would hook up a live scanner and take it for a drive and see what happens and monitor the scanner when the problem occurs.

These kinds of problems are very difficult to diagnose, even in person. A test light, live scanner, and voltmeter can be priceless in figuring out what's wrong.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JLA5474
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  • 7 POSTS
I have searched many post with this same problem but still haven't seen an actual fix for this issue. Many possibilities but nothing really makes sense. What I'm really curious about is why does the problem start after someone changes the alternator and battery? Something is shutting down the PCM and resetting the computer by turning the key back while in neutral will start the van right back up. So the question is what is causing the PCM to shut down the ignition system? What are the possible sources that can do this? If anyone has a solution I would greatly love to hear it. Oh and mine is an 03 LX, I have changed the alternator with a brand new (not rebuilt) OEM motorcraft, battery, crank and cam sensors. The odd item I found is it will run great with the alternator disconnected. Unfortunately this is the third alternator I installed since the problem started. Thanks
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)

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