# Car sort of "dies" while driving!

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sort-of-dies-while-driving/39286>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** accord, honda\
**Created:** [November 10, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sort-of-dies-while-driving/39286 "2009-11-10T15:40:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cmk1256](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@cmk1256](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cmk1256)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sort-of-dies-while-driving/39286/1 "2009-11-10T15:40:24Z")

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I have a 1991 Honda Accord, and almost always when I either take my foot off the gas, or press the break, or when the car just changes gears (I have an automatic), everything just stops for a few seconds. The radio or Ipod will turn off, the antenna will go down, my headlights will flicker, the windows will stop rolling, etc. It’s almost as if there is a short or something that makes it a challenge for the car to handle more than one task at a time. Any ideas what this could be?

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sort-of-dies-while-driving/39286/2 "2009-11-10T15:45:46Z")

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Sounds like it may be a bad ignition switch. Just an idea.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sort-of-dies-while-driving/39286/3 "2009-11-10T16:04:42Z")

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Also check the ground strap from the body to the engine.

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**Author:** ![Need\_A\_Horse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@Need\_A\_Horse](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Need_A_Horse)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sort-of-dies-while-driving/39286/4 "2009-11-11T00:50:51Z")

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I go with checking for bad ignition switch. If your key chain is swinging when you brake or slow down, that’s enough to break the circuit on a worn or broken switch. Try driving with just the key itself and nothing extra swinging below.