Engine stalled while driving

Sooner or later, every driver can get into a situation where the car, which a few moments ago obeyed all commands, suddenly stops responding to pressing the gas pedal, and red lights light up on the dashboard. The engine has stopped working, the car is losing speed. what to do in such a situation?

Most importantly, don't be nervous! Turn on the hazard warning lights, depress the clutch pedal and, using the momentum of the car, try to carefully move to the edge of the roadway and stop as far to the right as possible at the curb, and if possible, outside the roadway.

WARNING: Be aware that when the engine is not running, the effectiveness of the vehicle's braking system is reduced and braking may require more force on the brake pedal. The same thing happens with power steering.

Apply the parking brake. If the vehicle is stopped on a slope, use the wheel chocks. In difficult traffic conditions and on country roads, set an emergency stop sign, as provided for by the Rules of the Road. Now you need to identify and fix the problem that has arisen.

There are two main reasons:

– the ignition system does not work;

- the power system does not work.

First, find out if there is gasoline in the tank. Turn on the ignition and look at the fuel gauge. If the gauge needle shows fuel and the fuel reserve indicator light in the instrument cluster is not lit, it can be assumed that there is gasoline in the tank.

Open the hood and carefully inspect the engine compartment. Pay attention to the integrity of all units. Check if all the wires are in place, if there are broken, burnt, damaged insulation. Inspect the gasoline hoses, the fuel rail for gasoline leaks.

WARNING: If gasoline is leaking, do not start the engine under any circumstances until the problem is completely eliminated!

Inspect the expansion tank of the cooling system for leaks of coolant. Also check the oil level in the crankcase. If everything is in order, proceed to the checks of the ignition and power systems that are described earlier, but first check the condition of the timing belt. If the belt is broken, the engine will not start for no apparent reason.

In addition, the sudden stop of the engine and the inability to start again can be caused by a failure of the crankshaft position sensor or disconnection of the wiring harness block from it.

In addition to the described, a specific reason for stopping an engine equipped with a variable valve timing system may be a failure of the solenoid valves of the system or the control unit.