Engine shuts off while i'm driving
 

Guys, this is my first post on the forum and I tried to search and PM for help.

Car - 2005 SS 350z 35th Ann, no mods yet.

My Z, keeps shutting off while i'm driving. This has happened 3 times in less than 24 hour span. I will be driving and the car will shut off, steering and brakes lock up. I restart the car and everything works and i'm rolling again.

I took it to the dealer and they say there is nothing wrong. I even allowed the tech to drive it home and asked him to drive "spirited". I would never do that to my baby if I wasn't worried about her.

Any help or advice for those Nissan "mechanics" would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

pat

I have 6MT and mine shuts off shifting into 5th at high speeds. Could one of your gears be stiff like mine causing mis shift?

Maybe its the idle? when you are inbetween shifts maybe the idle gets too low and shuts off??

I dont remember the exact gears i've been when the engine cut off, but I was never in 6th.

Also, the last time its shut off I tried to rev it past 4k in 3rd gear. The revs hit at wall at 3800 and car shut off. I tried to recreate that problem, no luck.

Man I am really at a loss and don't want to be in a bad position the next time this happens.

Try resetting your rev limiter on your digital speedometer display, maybe thats set at 3800-4000.

I know that you said you have no mods but---->>>>
 

You do not by any chance have a larger wheel upgrade do you?

-Mark

I still have the same stock wheels that come with the 35th. I thought it was the VDC cutting off the engine due to excess wheel spin, ****ty stock tires, but I was assured that is not possible. Also, it would explain the steering or brake lock.

About the rev-limiter, I haven't tried that but I thought that didn't have link to the engine?

.........that's not a rev limiter. That's the shift light indicator.


PRPILLAI: you are not shifting into neutral at high speeds are you?

looking back at it, i did once. i had to merge over two lanes quickly, got up to bout 55 in 3rd gear, then shifted into neutral to stop at the light. the car only stalled after i put into gear and went about 50 feet after the light.

i know all of this might not making any sense. I do appreciate everyones help!

THATS YOUR PROBLEM......... Dont throw it in neutral.. Just slow down and take it out of gear when your almost at a stop.. Otherwise without a reflash your car revs will drop to zero and car will cut off.. Its simple.. Reflash and keep throwing it in nuetral(reflash will keep your idle up at nuetral).. Or no reflash and slow down in gear......

This may be far fetched, but the owner's manual does say that the engine can turn off sometimes when going past an electronic metering device(like on some toll booths)...I guess it affects the electronic code in the key. It may not be the problem, but a clue to what is happening.

The VDC is HIGHLY possible & most likely the issue..
 

I have seen it here before even on new vehicles with no suspension or wheel changes. One guy showed up here, could turn his wheel all the way to the right, kick his front tire & the car would die or go into limp mode...

-Mark

i usually dont throw it in neutral. the other two time the car shut off i was in gear.

i read up on electronic meeting devices cutting power, but I wasn't near any toll booths or devices that I could see.

i'm getting the car back this evenning, dealership can't do a thing. I'm gonna ask them to reflash the ECU and double check the sensors. It all I can think of at this point.

i usually dont throw it in neutral. the other two time the car shut off i was in gear.

i read up on electronic meeting devices cutting power, but I wasn't near any toll booths or devices that I could see.

i'm getting the car back this evenning, dealership can't do a thing. I'm gonna ask them to reflash the ECU and double check the sensors. It all I can think of at this point.

the guys at nissan keep saying that the vdc can't cut the engine off. that's the first thing i thought of, those ****ty tires. i'm getting AVON's put on this afternoon.

If it happens in gear that is pretty wierd.. Anyways disconnect the batter for a few hours to reset the ecu.. Stomp the brakes a few times and the accelerator.. Connect the battery and tell me how it reacts then.. Also, if you dont want to disconnect the battery just do the technosquare ecu reset..

http://www.technosquareinc.com/350reset.htm

What does your car idle at?????????

I had a problem just like this.. I would throw it in neutral and it would die........ After my reflash from Uprev.. It has never done it again.. ever....... Knock on wood...

I also made it a habit to slow down in gear..

thanks man for the link. my z idles at or about 750 rpm.

Hey Mark, you should be resting up... :icon38: You need a break.. Your gonna age like I did in Iraq.. 1 year aged me 3 years there.. (also got that from a war study lol)..

Your idle is too low.. That is the problem.. Try the ecu reset and then if that doesnt work you have to pull your ecu to get it reflashed!! Or you will have that problem till.. Forever.. :(

My idle is at 950 now.. Its perfect!

I'm going to reset the ECU as suggested. Thanks guys, you're all better than Nissan techs any day! Much appreciated.