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YOUR RESEARCHEngine shutdown at highway speed
Reported or suspected cause
tensioner or something broke
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No successful repair reported for this finding.
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1
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Leading evidence: 'tensioner or something broke' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'tensioner or something broke' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check fuses, relays, and anything else' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion · Original poster
This just happened, and I'm going to start by checking the fuses, relays, and anything else that anyone can recommend......
Disconnect between the battery snd rear of the car
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Suggestion
No starter or solenoid click maybe the starter positive cable has come loose or disconnected between the battery snd rear of the car.
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I have a 2004 996 C2 Cabrio with 120K miles.
Driving along at highway speed, the engine suddenly lost power and died, just like I had turned the key off, but some of the warning lights on the dash remained. There was no noise, bang, grinding, or anything like that. I had it towed home, where I dropped the pan and its clean as a whistle....there are no bits of metal or anything else in there.
I think I have averted the IMS issue, but not 100% sure. The IMS bearing is original and has never been changed.
Right now the car will not even crank, I get a flashing brake light, and all the other normal lights that appear upon turning the key, but that's it. I think it may be the immobilization computer or DME, or one of the relays that is preventing the start. If the engine was locked up and that is what was preventing the start, I think I would be able to tell, no?. Right now, when I turn the key, I hear no starter / solenoid click or anything......just quiet! Seems like an electrical issue....that's what I'm hoping for anyways!
This just happened, and I'm going to start by checking the fuses, relays, and anything else that anyone can recommend......
To note:
-Battery is new, just got it tested, and it's fine.
-Tried both keys, same results,
-It's a convertible, so more prone to allowing water to enter and damage the DME/immobilization device.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Regards,
OJT
Yea, try turning the engine with a ratchet on the crank bolt. If it doesn't rotate, you are in trouble. If it does, then hopefully it will be something electrical.
My brother had a similar thing happen to his Honda Odyssey van a few weeks back, something to do with the timing belt broke, it wouldn't turn over, the shop replaced the starter, still couldn't turn the engine over and they figured out it was something to do with the timing components. He sold them the van. I suspect a tensioner or something broke.
No starter or solenoid click maybe the starter positive cable has come loose or disconnected between the battery snd rear of the car. This would also lead to abrupt engine shut down with power at the front fuse box.
The only other thing that comes to mind is the ignition switch, although I have never heard of one going south with those symptoms. Yes
Maybe a bad crank sensor. I had a similar situation in my audi one day. I was on my way to work on the highway when it randomly shut off on me. Pretty scary as I was passing a construction zone when it happened and the shoulder had just opened up so I had just enough room to pull over safely. Also had a few similar occasions in my 996 but luckily those happened at a stop light. I would also have issues starting it back up after the engine was hot and would sometimes have to wait for it to cool a bit before it would start back up. Just my .02 but worth knocking it off the list of possibilities.
Assuming you were in gear at speed when this happened, the engine already turning quite a bit by the time you came to a stop. I agree with CPS, battery cable, ignition switch, etc. Could it be timing chain or something else, sure, but you might have heard or felt some vibration.
