# Car won't start after losing power on the freeway

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-losing-power-on-the-freeway/39295>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** l, saturn\
**Created:** [November 10, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-losing-power-on-the-freeway/39295 "2009-11-10T18:58:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jtm1110](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jtm1110](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtm1110)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-losing-power-on-the-freeway/39295/1 "2009-11-10T18:58:32Z")

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I have a Saturn L200 - 2004 with 150,000+ miles on it. Car had been running great with the exception of the clutch going out. My husband replaced the clutch and all was good. About a week later, I noticed that if I wanted to accelerate quickly, say to pass a car or enter on a freeway ramp, I had to really push the gas pedal hard. But, it would go. It seemed like the car mat was stuck behind the gas pedal - if you know what I mean, but it wasn’t. Anyway, 2 days later I was cruising down the freeway and the car just started to lose speed. I didn’t even notice it until the cars around me started flying by me. The radio was playing, heat going etc, but no power. I tried pressing on the pedal - which was hard to push in - nothing - just kept losing speed. I pulled over, the engine died and now we cannot get it started. It sounds as if it’s about to turn-over but never does. Anyone have any ideas?

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**Author:** ![jtm1110](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jtm1110](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtm1110)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-losing-power-on-the-freeway/39295/2 "2009-11-10T19:09:13Z")

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I failed to add that the fuel pump was tested and passed and the ignition module has been replaced.

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-losing-power-on-the-freeway/39295/3 "2009-11-11T04:21:52Z")

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Is there a CEL on?

“It sounds as if it’s about to turn over but never does”. Is the battery fully charged?

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**Author:** ![jtm1110](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jtm1110](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtm1110)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-losing-power-on-the-freeway/39295/4 "2009-11-11T17:54:50Z")

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Yes, it has a fully charged battery and there is no CEL on…

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-losing-power-on-the-freeway/39295/5 "2009-11-11T17:58:03Z")

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If you break your timing belt, this is what normally happens. Not sure if your car has one.

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**Author:** ![jtm1110](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jtm1110](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtm1110)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-losing-power-on-the-freeway/39295/6 "2009-11-11T18:03:32Z")

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thanks - we were hoping it wasn’t this ☹ Apparently, it has a timing chain…