# Washboard roads turn off my car!

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/washboard-roads-turn-off-my-car/55780>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** intrepid, dodge\
**Created:** [September 30, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/washboard-roads-turn-off-my-car/55780 "2010-09-30T15:59:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dooley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dooley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dooley)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/washboard-roads-turn-off-my-car/55780/1 "2010-09-30T15:59:26Z")

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I have a 1996 dodge intrepid–generally very reliable until recently. We live in the country and our neighborhood’s dirt roads are horrible. Occasionally when I go over an extremely bumpy spot, the engine just shuts off. It’s not a battery disconnect b/c the radio, lights, etc. keep going. It usually works just to stop, take out the keys, and restart the car. Sometimes it takes a few tries. What could be causing this??

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**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/washboard-roads-turn-off-my-car/55780/2 "2010-09-30T16:01:24Z")

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First guess would be a loose ignition wire.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/washboard-roads-turn-off-my-car/55780/3 "2010-09-30T17:22:57Z")

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There’s clearly a loose connection somewhere in the ignition circuitry. My first guess would be somewhere in the steering column, perhaps in the key cylinder or the slideing connections that allow circuit continuity while turning the steering wheel. These are commonly called “clockspring mechanisms”, but I always disliked that term so I’ll avoid it.

In truth, I’m guess as to where the connection problem might be. But that’d be my first guess.