Car Died on the Road

[96RedSE5Sp]

It just stopped running. ('98 SE Sport 6 Cylinder MTX - 33K miles)

My car had been running OK until yesterday. It had not been driven in a couple of days and when I tried to start it, it started right up but sounded like it did not want to turn over. This didn''t improve after driving it, stopping a few times and re-starting it.

After driving awhile yesterday, the tach started acting weird. The needle jumped around and eventually settled at zero. Then the engine started bucking and kicking, the car started losing power and finally died in the road.

The clock reset to 5:00 but still works. The horn, lights and radio all work but the starter now only clicks when I try to start the car.

I'm guessing its either an alternator or an electrical problem.

Any ideas?:shrug: Thanks.

 

[JesusFreak]

alternator!! same exact thing happened to me, tach went to zero, and car died, but could still move for about 20 feet unless i gave it gas!

 

[AliasJerk]

Alternator

Period.

 

[96RedSE5Sp]

Thanks. Thank you.

 

[zorrex]

Definitely the alternator. It no longer was able to keep your battery charged. That clicking when you try to start your car is not having enough voltage in your battery to turn the starter.

 

[FavoriteMystaque]

Could also be the battery, especially if it is original. With the low miles on the car, not as likely to be the alternator. Old batteries quit regularly..

 

[96RedSE5Sp]

Can a battery die while you are driving?

 

[JesusFreak]

if the altenator quit charging it, LOL

its the altenator, i went through the exact same thing, its the altenator!

 

[catfish]

if the altenator quit charging it, LOL

its the altenator, i went through the exact same thing, its the altenator!

ditto.

99.9% chance its your alternator. If you jump it and let it run till it dies, you'll likely see abs/airbag lights come on and if your moving the speedo will drop to 0. tach is generally the first to go though. the engine will probably idle fine but it will choke if you give it any gas.

 

[FavoriteMystaque]

Has the battery been replaced? Check the foglamp fuse (if you have them), it provides voltage signal to the alternator. It's true the alternator is the most common cause of your problems. If the car is running the battery will normally be charging 13.8-15 volts, if alternator not charging, the voltage will be 12.6 or less, until car quits.

 

[Canadian 98 CSVT]

The car can die/quit while driving if the battery goes bad. Happened to my sis-in-law in her old 93 Escort GT. Threw me for a loop, I figured the same thing, the alt! But the newer cpus in cars can trigger the car to quit without sufficient voltage off the battery. Usually its a free check at a parts store, and a hell of alot easier to change than the alt! :crazy:

 

[elraido]

The car can die/quit while driving if the battery goes bad. Happened to my sis-in-law in her old escort. Threw me for a loop, I figured the same thing, the alt! But the newer cpus in cars can trigger the car to quit without sufficient voltage off the battery. Usually its a free check at a parts store, and a hell of alot easier to change than the alt! :crazy:

That is the first steep I would try as well. I have the same problem right now with my old tracer sitting at my dads. Battary is shot. Cheaper to start here and see if it the problem.