Car Died While Driving and Won’t Start [Causes and How to Fix It]

Having your car dead or not starting at all is a very annoying experience. The worst of it all is to have your car die while driving it on the highway or in a very crowded street. This is a common experience for many drivers, which happens when least expected. This may be due to numerous factors ranging from easy to complicated causes. In this article, we are going to know the causes, what to do if your car dies while driving and won’t start, and how to fix it. You will also learn how to diagnose the issue before you seek help from a professional.

What Would Cause a Car to Die While Driving And Not Start?

Running Out Of Fuel: This might sound ridiculous, but this happens to many people. Drivers often forget to refuel their cars and run out of gas in the middle of the road. Another cause of this is when the fuel gauge is not giving the right reading. For instance, it shows you that you have a half tank of fuel remaining, but the tank is empty.

Bad Fuel Pump: Another widespread cause for the engine to stall is if there is a problem with the fuel pump. The fuel pump’s job is to deliver fuel from the fuel tank to the engine to complete the combustion process. The fuel delivered, however, should have a certain pressure as well as a certain flow rate.

If the pressure or the flow rate is below the required level, the car stalls and stops working. You may also have a problem with the fuel filter. The filter is located after the fuel pump to purify the fuel before it gets to the engine. It removes any impurities and stains which may block the fuel line and make the fuel not get to the engine.

Malfunctioned Ignition Switch: The ignition switch is the main gate that connects the current coming from the battery to the car accessories and starter for the car to start. If you have a problem with the ignition switch, your car might stall because the internal contacts are worn out. This leads to voltage loss due to heat and hard vibrations. Wearing out of the ignition switch is common for high mileage and aged cars. This causes low-quality contact between the two contacts.