Q: My car engine shuts off after the engine is warm.
On January 2, Monday evening, I was coming home from work when my engine just shut off. I was able to steer into a McDonald's parking lot. I tried to start it again it started up but as I tried to drive it the engine shutoff again. I tried it again and it didn't start. After approximately 2 3 hours I started it and was able to drive home. I have driven the car only a couple of times around my neighborhood without any problems but the weather has been cold here so the engine really hasn't had a chance to warm up. Some people have told me it's probably my fuel pump
My car has 151000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Recommended Services
| Ignition Coil Replacement | $132.12 - $587.62 | Get a Quote |
Hi There, What you are describing sounds like an ignition coil pack that may be failing. Ignition coils are prone to this type of erratic functioning or heat cycling when they are beginning to fail due to the temperature fluctuations under the hood which ultimately cause them to shut down causing the car to only run after cooling down for 30-40 minutes. Ignition coils are coated with a varnish-like insulation that becomes brittle over time after being stretched then contracted repeatedly The insulation develops small fractures that open when heated and close when cooled. When open, they allow shorting of coil windings and decrease or eliminate the coil’s ability to function. This process will repeat itself continuously until the coil ultimately fails completely and must be replaced. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your ignition system.
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing