Car Shuts Off While Driving But No Check Engine Light

Check engine light give peace of mind by warning about the underlying issue that occurred in the car’s system. But it can be concerning if the car shut off while driving with no check engine light. It can happen due to a bad crankshaft position sensor, faulty idle air control valve, or clogged air filter.

A faulty fuel pump or damaged alternator can also cause this alarming issue. So you should deeply diagnose and physically inspect to fix the problem instead of keep driving.

Causes of Car Shuts off While Driving But No Check Engine Light

Check engine light only activated when ECU gets enough time to log a fault. So, if something happens very quickly, it can stop the engine from running without triggering the CEL. In terms of the type of transmission, your car can stop suddenly if you have the wrong gear in the manual transmission.

In an automatic transmission, it could be empty engine oil in the sump, low oil pressure due to a faulty oil pump, bad alternator, or fuel pump. The engine can also stall suddenly due to a low level of engine oil, low coolant level, failure of the coolant thermostat, gearbox failure, or battery loose contact. Though stalling is rare for a modern car, if it shut off frequently, bring it to the service center.

1. Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor

If your car shuts off randomly while driving particularly without showing any check engine light, it can be the result of a damaged crank position sensor on the engine. It’s a common intermittent problem that doesn’t activate the check engine light. Overheat and vibration from the engine can cause the crankshaft sensor to lose calibration.

So the sensor can deliver an error code to the ECM and it can shut down the engine.  However, the engine should turn back on after a while. So, if your car shuts off when driving but starts back up, it’s a clear sign of a damaged crankshaft position sensor.

The crankshaft position sensor is placed on the engine block under and over the oil filter.it’s tough to handle this intermittent problem. So if it happens at random times, consult with an expert mechanic.

2. A Bad Idle Air Control Valve

A faulty idle air control valve can cause a vehicle to cut out and die. This small valve is found on the intake system of the engine and allows the air to enter the engine avoiding the mass air flow sensor and throttle body. It is controlled by the ECU and adjusts the air and fuel ratio based on inputs like intake air temperature.

However, the idle air control valve can clog due to age and stop working properly. If the idle air control valve opens partially or close completely, it can limit the airflow into the engine and shut off the car.

3. Clogged Air filter

Another minor problem that doesn’t cover by the check engine light is the clogged air filter. The air filter can become clogged due to driving the vehicle in a less clean environment and won’t be able to prevent debris from getting sucked into the engine. So, enough air won’t reach the combustion chamber which can result in the engine dying suddenly.

4. Faulty Fuel Pump

The fuel pump is one of the components that don’t give any sign before failing. When the fuel pumps fail, fuel can’t enter the engine. So, a bad fuel pump can shut off the engine suddenly while driving. If your car stopped running while driving and won’t start, check the fuel pump. To verify if the problem is related to the fuel system, use starter fluid. If the engine starts fine, the fuel pump needs service.

5. Bad Alternator

An alternator helps the battery to supply the essential electrical power to the vehicle to keep it running. It also helps recharge the battery to ensure sufficient power while starting the vehicle.

If your car’s alternator fails, the battery won’t get charged consistently and the vehicle won’t get enough power to keep running. Hence it can shut off the car suddenly while driving.

The sign of a damaged alternator includes headlights dimming, and the vehicle won’t start. If your car shut off while driving and the battery light comes on, it’s an obvious sign of a bad alternator.

However, you can drive the vehicle a few miles after alternator failure as the car will use reserve power to perform normally. Once the reserve is finished, the car will shut off.

How to Fix a Car That Randomly Dies While Driving

Your car can stall while driving without showing any check engine light due to plenty of reasons. So you should diagnose the car to find out and fix the exact reason and fix this concerning issue.

1. Use a Scanner

Get an OBD II scanner tool and plug it into your car’s port. Check the owner’s manual of your vehicle to find the port easily. Keeping the scanner attached, insert the key into the ignition switch and rotate it to the on position. The car’s dummy light should turn on the dashboard. Don’t run the car while scanning.

2. Read the Code

Within a few minutes, there should error codes show up in the onboard computer. If the faulty camshaft position sensor is responsible, the display should show the P0340 code. There can also be multiple error codes. If so, you have to work on the individual codes separately.

In this case, you should bring the car to the auto repair shop. Though it’s easier to fix the clogged air filter, bad alternator, or faulty fuel pump, replacing a bad crankshaft position sensor or idle air control valve requires skill.

3. Erase the Code

Before bringing the car to the service center, you can try to reset the error code and restart the vehicle. To do this, select erase code on your scanner and press enter. It may take a few moments to erase all the codes stored in the computer. But remember, resetting the code won’t solve the underlying problem.

So your car may shut off after a few miles, days, or weeks. It may put you in bigger trouble and cost more expensive repair. So it’s always best to inspect the car by an expert mechanic to make the drive safe.

FAQs

Final Words

So, if your car shut off while driving no check engine light, start troubleshooting with the fuel or oil level or clogged air filter. These minor problems don’t activate the check engine light while can shut off the engine.

But if your car stops randomly while driving look for more serious problems like a bad crankshaft position sensor or idle air valve. But don’t just restart the vehicle and decide to keep driving as it can cause severe problems.