Help: Engine QUIT dead while driving - most warning lights lit on dash - won't start
 

Any advice would be welcome. Man this vehicle is pressing me. I give it a clutch and a crash box and its been all headaches. I was driving the other day enjoying the sound of the magnaflows and the clutchplay; then the engine literally just quit. Most of the dash warning lights came on in full Christmas Light effect.

Electrical seems to work (stereo, lights, etc) however when I crank the engine it never turns over. I would normally think fuel supply however with all the dash lights coming on, perhaps its an electronic problem?

Cheers

Alternator
 

Do a search for the word 'Alternator' and you'll find plenty of posts on the topic that will shed light (no pun intended) on your problem. At first blush, sounds like your alternator has failed, draining the battery. Even a dead battery has enough juice to power the dash lights and stereo and anything else that doesn't need amperage, but the battery is drained of the current it needs to turn over the starter. Replacing the battery may not be necessary (have it load tested) but if you JUST replace the battery without solving the charging issue, you'll drain the new one (or newly charged one).

I bet you broke a timing belt.....
Pull on of the t-belt covers off and check it...

The battery is good, it turns the starter, etc. Engine just doesn't actually fire. I get the normal 'starting' sound but just won't turn over. Could it still be the alt? As for the timing belt, I wouldn't have thought that would trigger all the dash lights, but I'll check it. Just replaced the belt 2K ago.

Just having the dash "lit up" doesn't mean the timing belt isn't broken. Does the dash look any different then if you just turned the ignition key "on" (versus all the way to "start")?
Anything else you can tell us about things you heard/saw when the engine died on you?
-Bill

Re: Help: Engine QUIT dead while driving - most warning lights lit on dash - won't start
 

When you first said it never turns over, I assumed the starter didn't engage. Since you say that you get the 'starter sound', but the engine doesn't turn over, I assume you mean that the engine doesn't start. I'm with Huck - check your timing belt. While you're at it, check the crank pulley.

OK, these are good points as I think all those lights do normally come up during that starter cycle, then they go off after it starts. I had substantial audio volume going when it quit, however I didn't feel anything at all. The tach literally just went from 3K while I was driving to zero in a very fast fashion...done. It didn't fight or wander to an off state, the engine just quit. Then consitently no starting, no 'almost starts' etc. Could it be fuel supply related? I'm just wanting to flesh out obvious stuff before I take it to the mechanic and he charges me money to point out something relatively straightforward. You guys are being very helpful in thinking it through.

Alternator or Timing Belt.

Have someone watch the front of the engine while you try to start it to see what moves (or what doesn't). Also have someone watch the tail pipes to see if there is any evidence of exhaust (might actually want them to put there hands over the outlets to see if they can feel any pressure pulses at all)
There is gas in the tank, right? You might also want to check that you're getting gas to the engine (disconnect the line coming out of the fuel filter - be careful! - and put it into a large bucket/can while you try to start the car)
-Bill

Thanks for all the advice, I'm going to work on it this afternoon and I'll advise what I find out. Yeah, there's gas in the tank.

As you say the tach reading went rom 3k to zero, quickly.

The crank position sensor pulse is used for ignition, fuel injection, and also to run the tach. If the sensor has died, the tach won't work. Turning it over on the starter, should have the tach showing some action. If it does not move, I would check the two crank sensors.

Harvey. ;)

UPDATE: The belt is good, I'm getting exhaust flow upon cranking, but no tach movement at all..not even a twitch. Sounds like it could be the crank pulse sensor(s).

Could be a well, "distributor" problem, even though it is distributorless, probably ahs something to do with the spark plugs not firing correctly.

Wouldnt codes pop up for the sensor going out?

Codes may normally pop out on the check engine light, however I still need to get my ODB II reader purchased. The check engine blinks aren't able to really get past the tranny related issues due to the crash box conversion and it being continually upset about that.