# Car suddenly shuts off **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet, classic\ **Created:** [October 23, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511 "2023-10-23T21:46:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stinky1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Stinky1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Stinky1)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/1 "2023-10-23T21:46:56Z")
Car is a 2004 chevy classic with the 2.2l ecotec… About 276k on the clock. I clocked out of work earlier and was rolling through the line in the parking lot waiting my turn to get out. While I was stopped for a brief moment, suddenly and without warning or any other issues, the engine cuts clean off as if I turned the key off. It didn’t bog down first, the RPM just dropped cleanly and it died. I’m assuming it’s not a fuel delivery issue based on that, I’m also assuming it’s cam/crank sensor related. That’s why I come to you guys though because I know it’s bad to assume lol. This isn’t the first time this happened. It happened a few months ago during the summer in the same exact parking lot right as I was leaving work. The first time I chalked it up to a fluke because it turned right back on and ran without issue. Same thing this time around. Drove it home no problem. No check engine light, no codes, except for a stored bank 1 sensor 1 code which I’ve had for a while now. I’ve also got a very intermittent p0172 that comes and goes. Don’t have it now and it’s been at least a month since I saw that code pending. How do I go about this? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/2 "2023-10-23T21:54:22Z")
When someone came to the shop with that symptom, the first thing I suspected was a bad crank sensor The problem is, to test for a bad crank sensor it has to fail at that time. So, all you can do is replace it and see if that fixes the stalling. Because one these times, the engine is going to shut off and not restart. > **[Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor Symptoms & Problems](https://www.1aauto.com/content/articles/bad-or-failing-crankshaft-position-sensor-symptoms)** > > Problems with the crankshaft sensor will often present as problems with engine timing. If you think your sensor has failed, here are some common symptoms of a bad crankshaft sensor that can help you in determining whether or not it has failed. Tester ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/3 "2023-10-23T21:56:20Z")
Many possibilities, but my guess is a faulty ignition switch. Try driving using only the single key, nothing attached or dangling. Eventually you won’t be able to restart the engine. That seems bad, but it is actually good b/c your shop should be able to figure out the cause. It’s possible sometimes for a diy’er to determine if the cause is spark or fuel, but the problem would have to be manifesting at the time. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/4 "2023-10-23T22:32:49Z")
That was exactly my conditions. Replaced a lot of stuff and with two shops, never did solve the problem. You might get lucky with rhe crank sensor. Lots of other stuff to try but would be nice to see the fuel pressure and if you lost spark when it happens. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/5 "2023-10-23T22:42:13Z")
> [@Stinky1](#): > > engine cuts clean off as if I turned the key off. IIRC there was a spate of bad ignition switches on some GM cars some years ago. Yours might be part of a recall or other special GM program; your VIN will determine that. Even if not, that switch could be bad. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/6 "2023-10-24T00:38:30Z")
> [@shanonia](#): > > IIRC there was a spate of bad ignition switches on some GM cars some years ago. Yours might be part of a recall or other special GM program; your VIN will determine that. Even if not, that switch could be bad. | MAKE (MFR) | MODEL | YEAR(s) | | --- | --- | --- | | BUICK (GM) | LaCrosse | 2005-2009 | | BUICK (GM) | Lucerne | 2006-2011 | | CADILLAC (GM) | CTS | 2003-2014 | | CADILLAC (GM) | DeVille | 2000-2005 | | CADILLAC (GM) | DTS | 2006-2011 | | CADILLAC (GM) | SRX | 2004-2006 | | CHEVROLET (GM) | Camaro | 2010-2014 | | CHEVROLET (GM) | Cobalt | 2005-2010 | | CHEVROLET (GM) | HHR | 2006-2011 | | CHEVROLET (GM) | Impala | 2000-2014 | | CHEVROLET (GM) | Malibu | 1997-2005 | | CHEVROLET (GM) | Monte Carlo | 2000-2007 | | DAEWOO (GM) | G2X | 2006-2007 | | OLDSMOBILE (GM) | Alero | 1999-2004 | | OLDSMOBILE (GM) | Intrigue | 1998-2002 | | OPEL/VAUXHALL (GM) | GT | 2006-2007 | | OPEL(GM) | GT | 2008-2010 | | PONTIAC (GM) | G5 | 2007-2010 | | PONTIAC (GM) | Grand Am | 1999-2005 | | PONTIAC (GM) | Grand Prix | 2004-2008 | | PONTIAC (GM) | Solstice | 2006-2010 | | SATURN (GM) | Ion | 2003-2007 | | SATURN (GM) | Sky | 2006-2010 | ---
**Author:** ![Stinky1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Stinky1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Stinky1)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/7 "2023-10-24T12:16:21Z")
Great info here guys. I think I’ll replace the crank sensor as suggested and hopefully it solves it. Seems pretty cheap. There a relearn procedure? As for the ignition switch, I think it has actually been replaced once before so It shouldn’t be the original. I tried jiggling the key around a little bit while it was running to see if I could get something interesting to happen but nothing. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/8 "2023-10-24T14:01:05Z")
That makes sense. No relearn needed. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 4:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/9 "2023-10-24T16:56:04Z")
On my Pontiac the sensor had to be synced to the pcm with a tech 2. So it was not a diy job. Might want to check if chev is the same. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2025, 4:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/10 "2025-02-09T04:46:51Z")
If the engine shuts off while driving down the road, it could be caused by a bad crankshaft position sensor. And when they do start to fail, it doesn’t always turn on the Check Engine light. > **[Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor Symptoms & Problems](https://www.1aauto.com/content/articles/bad-or-failing-crankshaft-position-sensor-symptoms)** > > Problems with the crankshaft sensor will often present as problems with engine timing. If you think your sensor has failed, here are some common symptoms of a bad crankshaft sensor that can help you in determining whether or not it has failed. Tester ---
**Author:** ![glasspilot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/glasspilot/32/27886_2.png) [@glasspilot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/glasspilot)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-suddenly-shuts-off/193511/11 "2025-02-09T13:12:51Z")
With that many miles another possibility is a bad fuel pump. Hopefully you have a hatch underneath the rear seat so you can get to it easily. My old 1999 Monte Carlo had no hatch and you had to drop the fuel tank, a much bigger job.