Q: The car turns off suddenly, no check engine light

asked by on May 24, 2016

Hi. My car is in a very good condition and regularly maintained. It doesn't have the check engine light on or anything, but lately it started turning off for no apparent reason. I totally shut off while I was driving. I had to pull off from the highway and turn it on again. It has about 80,000 miles on it. Is it the battery or something more serious? I appreciate your help.

Car is stalling Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hi there. If the vehicle is just randomly turning off like this, it is almost always caused by a bad crank position sensor on this engine. This is very common and it will not turn on the Check Engine Light when it is intermittent. I typically monitor the engine speed with a scan tool when the problem occurs, but intermittent problems can be tough. If you are going to have this repaired, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair your stalling issue.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

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


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Side of my car is touching the ground
Nissan just issued a recall NHTSA Campaign #15V573000 dated 9/17/2015 that the dealer will replace the two front coil springs. You should have or will receive the recall from Nissan. You should contact your dealer and schedule the repairs as...
Where is the vehicle identification number located?
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is one of the most important identifiers about your car. It provides information about the manufacturer, the make and model, the year, where it was assembled and more. You’ll also find that it’s required in...
New starter doesn't crank.
The starter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/starter-replacement) isn't the only portion of the starting system that must be operating properly for your engine to crank. The battery and the rest of the starting circuit must be in operating properly, too. In addition, an engine...
Loss of engine oil in Toyota Corolla
It's got to be burning it. If you don't see it leaking on the ground and you lose oil, then the only possible explanation it that it is burning it. First, change the PCV valve. They cost five to six...
Small Evap emissions leak on a Subaru Impreza
The gas caps are really common for the P0442 code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0442-obd-ii-trouble-code-evaporative-emission-control-system-leak-detected-small-leak-by-spencer-clayton). A gas cap costs like eight bucks. Get another gas cap and put it on and pray that it's that. Because if it's not that, it is generally time...
Crank shaft wobbly
Hi there. On the "front" end of the crankshaft is a harmonic balancer held on by one large bolt that is torqued to 132.8 ft. lbs that is pretty tight. It's not too likely that the bolt is "loose". The...
What are the signs my Timing Chain needs to be replaced?
Hi there. The noise that you are hearing could be either the timing chain or the variable valve timing solenoids. If the sound is constant and rattles easy and does not bog down the engine, then the timing chain is...
I have a 08 Chevrolet Impala and the service tire monitoring system came on. What should I do?
First, be sure that the alert you are seeing is not due to actual low tire pressure. Using a tire pressure gauge, if you do find low pressure in one or more tires, you should consider the possibility of a...
While I was driving, the vehicle will not drive and while I hit the gas it will just revv not move.
If the vehicle is in gear and acceleration of the engine does not produce forward movement, there is likely something wrong with the transmission and/or the torque converter. The origin of the fault could be electrical or mechanical. There is...

Related articles

How to Buy a Good Quality Crankshaft Harmonic Balancer
It It sounds musical, but what it really does is disperse vibrations that travel through the crankshaft to prevent damage to it and other vehicle components. The harmonic balancer, or vibration damper, is made up of two masses that vary...
Infiniti Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Program
Drivers Drivers who are in the market for a used Infiniti vehicle may want to check out cars under their certified pre-owned program. Many manufacturers have a certified pre-owned (CPO) program, and each one is set up differently. Read on...
How to Replace a Crankshaft Position Sensor
The crankshaft position sensor, along with the camshaft sensor, helps the vehicle determine top dead center, among other engine management tasks.