Third Coast Auto Group Official Blog
Common reason a vehicle stops while driving
By Product Expert | Posted in Tips and Tricks on Thursday, December 28th, 2017 at 11:36 pm
Cars are complex compilations of moving parts, which means that there are many ways for them to fail. One of the scariest things that can happen is for your car to simply stop running while you are on the road. Whether you are going 25 mph around a roundabout or flying at 85 mph down the highway, suddenly losing power in your vehicle can be terrifying. Here are a few reasons why your car could stop running while driving.
Reasons why your car could stop running while driving
Fuel Issues
Your car won’t run without fuel. While that’s easy to say, having no gas make it to the engine can literally cause your engine to stop. Sometimes this can happen because of a stuck fuel gauge (which doesn’t warn you that the car is running out of gas) or a broken fuel pump. In very cold weather, a frozen fuel line could also cause an issue.
Electricity
Your battery starts your car, but is also helps run your vehicle’s electronics (windows, doors, spark plugs) when the engine is idling. The alternator generates power from the engine to run the electric parts of a car. If your alternator dies while driving, you may just stop and be stranded, but a bad battery can also give you problems at low speeds.
Spark Plugs
The spark plugs in a gasoline vehicle light your gas on fire to create the combustion that drives the engine. Anything that interferes with the spark plugs doing their job can bring your vehicle to a stop. This can result from problems with the plugs, a camshaft sensor, plug wire, caps, rotors, ECU, crankshaft or distributor.
Timing Belt Breakage
Another common reason your vehicle may stop while driving is an issue with your timing belt or timing chain. This can make is so your engine cylinders don’t have the right timing to run.
If you vehicle has suffered from one of these issues, you will likely need to bring it into the shop for repairs. If you are in the market for a new-to-you used vehicle with accessible financing in the Austin TX area, consider Third Coast Auto Group’s selection of used cars, trucks, and SUVs.
