Car intermittantly dies after starting...

[AJacksA4]

Hey guys,

So this all started after I replaced my thermostat. Sometimes, when the engine is warm, when I start the car and put it in drive the engine shuts off. Now usually I can just throw it in park and start it up like normal but today was different. The car died after throwing it in drive, and when I tried cranking it again, the engine sputtered and could barely stay running on its own. It kept shutting off after 5 seconds of struggling.

This happened 5 or 6 times, then while it was sputtering I mashed the gas and put it in gear. That seemed to do the trick and it ran completely fine from that point on. I was able to drive 20 miles home. Car ran perfectly. Since then I've started it up and its been firing up as it should.

Anyone have any ideas as to what the issue could be or experience this before? I scanned but no codes came up. No CEL. Nada.

I am beginning to think its an issue with the alternator. The car cranks fine, it doesn't struggle. Battery is 2 years old. I took the alternator out to do the thermostat, I was pretty thorough about reinstalling everything including the alternator.

Thoughts?

[pinalloy.com]

Hey guys,

So this all started after I replaced my thermostat. Sometimes, when the engine is warm, when I start the car and put it in drive the engine shuts off. Now usually I can just throw it in park and start it up like normal but today was different. The car died after throwing it in drive, and when I tried cranking it again, the engine sputtered and could barely stay running on its own. It kept shutting off after 5 seconds of struggling.

This happened 5 or 6 times, then while it was sputtering I mashed the gas and put it in gear. That seemed to do the trick and it ran completely fine from that point on. I was able to drive 20 miles home. Car ran perfectly. Since then I've started it up and its been firing up as it should.

Anyone have any ideas as to what the issue could be or experience this before? I scanned but no codes came up. No CEL. Nada.

I am beginning to think its an issue with the alternator. The car cranks fine, it doesn't struggle. Battery is 2 years old. I took the alternator out to do the thermostat, I was pretty thorough about reinstalling everything including the alternator.

Thoughts?

It did happen to me last year, and I went to car shop and they told me it was the spark problem. You probably need to go to check with your local car shop.

[AJacksA4]

It did happen to me last year, and I went to car shop and they told me it was the spark problem. You probably need to go to check with your local car shop.

Did they replace anything?

[Low and Behold]

Did you remove your drivers side intercooler hose when you drained the coolant?

[AJacksA4]

Nope, I didn't touch the intercooler piping or disconnect the intake manifold hose

[camyz125]

Have you had any rain/wet weather recently? I had an issue where a relay under the hood/near the ECU was getting wet and causing the car to die similar to how you described.

[clumsyme]

Hey guys,

So this all started after I replaced my thermostat. Sometimes, when the engine is warm, when I start the car and put it in drive the engine shuts off. Now usually I can just throw it in park and start it up like normal but today was different. The car died after throwing it in drive, and when I tried cranking it again, the engine sputtered and could barely stay running on its own. It kept shutting off after 5 seconds of struggling.

This happened 5 or 6 times, then while it was sputtering I mashed the gas and put it in gear. That seemed to do the trick and it ran completely fine from that point on. I was able to drive 20 miles home. Car ran perfectly. Since then I've started it up and its been firing up as it should.

Anyone have any ideas as to what the issue could be or experience this before? I scanned but no codes came up. No CEL. Nada.

I am beginning to think its an issue with the alternator. The car cranks fine, it doesn't struggle. Battery is 2 years old. I took the alternator out to do the thermostat, I was pretty thorough about reinstalling everything including the alternator.

Thoughts?

I just got over this issue. I might be able to help you trouble shoot it.

Do you only have the issue restarting when the engine is hot?

How many miles are on your car?

[AJacksA4]

Have you had any rain/wet weather recently? I had an issue where a relay under the hood/near the ECU was getting wet and causing the car to die similar to how you described.

No the first time it happened, it hadn't rained for a couple months.

I just got over this issue. I might be able to help you trouble shoot it.

Do you only have the issue restarting when the engine is hot?

How many miles are on your car?

Yup! Only when the engine is hot. On cold starts there are never any issues. Currently sitting at 65k

[clumsyme]

No the first time it happened, it hadn't rained for a couple months.



Yup! Only when the engine is hot. On cold starts there are never any issues. Currently sitting at 65k

Check your in tank fuel pump. I can pm you some videos of what it looked like when my car was doing it.


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[oVeRdOsE]

same as op here.
It's really random. Start the car, then when I let the ignition key, the car dies.

But I have the thermostat engine light. Too lazy to change it right now. I'll do it in the same time as the timing belt.

Will follow this thread.