# Why does my engine stop while driving? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 26, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-engine-stop-while-driving/135405 "2019-02-26T14:34:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pdavis242b\_148774](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e79b87/32.png) [@pdavis242b\_148774](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pdavis242b_148774)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-engine-stop-while-driving/135405/1 "2019-02-26T14:34:37Z")
My car: 1998 Nissan Pulsar n15 LX Sedan 1.6L incline 4 bcan15 While I’m driving my engine will stop, then I have to wait five minutes for it to start again. It happens more in hot weather. I don’t get any warning-lights leading up to it. I’ve been having this problem for three months and just the other day I discovered my battery was flat. This is another clue because I definitely haven’t done anything that would cause that (i.e. I haven’t left the lights on at all) and the battery is less than 6months old. I realise this could be an alternator problem but I recently had it replaced so are there any other possibilities? I saw a mechanic and he told me, next time it doesn’t start, it might help to hit the accelerator pedal. If this means anything to anyone: It did not help. Thankyou. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-engine-stop-while-driving/135405/2 "2019-02-26T14:54:59Z")
> [@pdavis242b\_148774](#): > > then I have to wait five minutes for it to start again Does it crank (the motor turns with the starter) but not start? If that is the case, it sounds like a classic ignition system problem. Car gets hot, ignition component stops working when hot, car cools down, and will now re-start. When the car stops, you need to try spraying some starter fluid into the engine when you try and start it. If it fires up, it is a fuel problem. If it doesn’t, check to see if there is spark. If this is already too deep for you, you need a better mechanic and time to leave the car with them to sort out the reason why it stops. ---
**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 26, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-engine-stop-while-driving/135405/3 "2019-02-26T20:49:23Z")
A failing crankshaft position sensor can cause the engine to shut off while driving. [https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/nissan,1998,200sx,2.0l+l4,1316743,ignition,crankshaft+position+sensor,7196](https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/nissan,1998,200sx,2.0l+l4,1316743,ignition,crankshaft+position+sensor,7196) 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:** [February 27, 2019, 4:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-engine-stop-while-driving/135405/4 "2019-02-27T04:41:38Z")
If it stops for no reason, then cranks ok and starts up fine in 5 minutes, unlikely to be a battery or alternator problem. Good idea to check that the battery posts and connectors are clean and tight though. I’ll venture three guesses - ignition switch – try driving w/just a single key in the ignition as an experiment - Tester’s idea above, crank position sensor (known to be heat sensitive) - Ignition module, also heat sensitive All three of those would show up as a “no-spark”, so ask your shop to check for spark if you can get it to them when this is happening.