Car - what if engine suddenly quits

[Oz_Kioti]

I have a Ford cab/chassis with 4.0 litre straight 6 engine. The other day, after several recent starts, it just wouldn't start again - no cranking, no clicks, nothing - but after removing and replacing the 60A ignition fuse (fusible link) all was good. After starting, just for interest, when the fuse was removed, the engine quit.

So obviously there were dirty contacts on the fuse which had been in place 20 years. It's a 2004 model.

So - question is (and I have not tried it): what do you lose if the fuse contacts go bad (or if the fuse blows) when driving, and the engine just quits? Power steering and brakes are the two immediate problems which spring to mind, but is it possible to steer without power steering, and would there be any braking action at all?

I'm thinking maybe just pull and replace all the fuses? Anyone here experienced this scenario?

 

[MTGreen]

I'm not familiar with that model on your side of the planet, but on road-going vehicles sold in North America brakes and steering are hydraulically and mechanically connected respectively and will both work with the engine not running or providing the vacuum/hydraulic/electric assist (the "power" in "power brakes/steering") but with increased pedal/steering effort on the part of the operator. This is easy to test in your driveway with the key on engine off.

Note that many slow moving vehicles that are not designed for on-road use such as the tractors many of us have on TBN have purely hydraulic steering which will not work (steering wheel completely disconnected from the steering axle) when the hydraulic pump is not running.

 

[dodge man]

The steering and brakes will work, they will just be really stiff. If the vehicle has a vacuum canister that will hold enough vacuum for one or two stops with power brakes.

 

[sea2summit]

If you have a dirt road or empty pavement do the experiment. Get up to a fair speed, put it in neutral, turn off the engine (but make sure you don't lock the steering!) and react. It's going to feel a lot like driving a side by side or an old non-power steering truck.

 

[Oaktree]

If you have a dirt road or empty pavement do the experiment. Get up to a fair speed, put it in neutral, turn off the engine (but make sure you don't lock the steering!) and react. It's going to feel a lot like driving a side by side or an old non-power steering truck.

Can you do that with a modern vehicle that has pushbutton start? I didn't think the engine would turn off unless it was in park.

 

[sea2summit]

Can you do that with a modern vehicle that has pushbutton start? I didn't think the engine would turn off unless it was in park.

Your 2004 cab/chassis has a pushbutton start?

 

[Rockbadchild]

Like other has said they will work, they will simply be very stiff and slow to respond, You will need both hand to turn and all you weight to push the break pedal, that's if they are hydraulic... if it's electric steering and now I believe they even do electric break (not likely for a 2004 model) I am not sure but I would expect the battery would provide enough power to operate them.

 

[JeepHead]

Brakes and steering will still work. Don't forget that parking brakes will work also when needed.

 

[orezok]

Can you do that with a modern vehicle that has pushbutton start? I didn't think the engine would turn off unless it was in park.

There was a lawsuit in San Diego a number of years ago when an off duty Police officer had his Explorer ( I believe) go into a run away. He tried to stop it by pushing the start button, but no luck. Why he didn’t just put it in neutral, I don’t know. He stayed on the brakes until they failed and he crashed and was killed. Major lawsuit.

I don’t know if it was as a result of that crash or it existed previously, but if you need to emergency shut it off, hold the start button for 30 seconds.

 

[LouNY]

I'm not familiar with that model on your side of the planet, but on road-going vehicles sold in North America brakes and steering are hydraulically and mechanically connected respectively and will both work with the engine not running or providing the vacuum/hydraulic/electric assist (the "power" in "power brakes/steering") but with increased pedal/steering effort on the part of the operator. This is easy to test in your driveway with the key on engine off.

Note that many slow moving vehicles that are not designed for on-road use such as the tractors many of us have on TBN have purely hydraulic steering which will not work (steering wheel completely disconnected from the steering axle) when the hydraulic pump is not running.

Many tractors with hydraulic steering will still turn with the engine off if the steering motor is in good shape. It is very stiff and it will need to be rolling or in the air but most will still turn.

 

[not2old]

Can you do that with a modern vehicle that has pushbutton start? I didn't think the engine would turn off unless it was in park.

I hadn't thought of that. My Grand Cherokee won't turn off unless in park but all my other vehicles will. I've had to turn off the engine while driving at least three times in my life. Another thing to add to my list of problems with modern vehicles. My wife's biggest complaint with my CTS-V coupe is that it is very difficult for her to reach the emergency door release if I'm stopped and leave the car. If the fob isn't nearby, she can't operate the windows or open the door. She's gotten highly upset several times.

 

[ericm979]

One of our cars has a similar problem. On road trips I give a second fob to my wife so she can get in/out without me.

 

[dodge man]

You can’t get out? One of my vehicles has the fob you just have to have it with you. You don’t get locked in, you just lift the inside door handle and it unlocks and opens.

 

[Oaktree]

Your 2004 cab/chassis has a pushbutton start?

And where in your post did you mention you had a 2004 vehicle? 'Most everything made in the last 10 years or so does.

 

[sea2summit]

And where in your post did you mention you had a 2004 vehicle? 'Most everything made in the last 10 years or so does.

You posted it in your post???

 

[Oz_Kioti]

Here in Australia, it was a Ford BA series, RTV variant. The RTV apparently stood for Rough Terrain Vehicle - beefed up & raised suspension, diff lock, under-body guards, different diff ratio, 4 speed automatic, 1 tonne carrying capacity and drives with the comfort of a normal car. Fantastic vehicle? You betcha! Mine's a 2004 build, bought at a government auction for used fleet vehicles in 2006. It was pretty high mileage for an 18 month old vehicle - 123,000km - and it had been used by the MRD (Main Roads Department) as a "scalies" vehicle (used for carrying portable weighing devices to do roadside checks on possibly overweight trucks, semis, etc). Now at 20 years old, it still has less than 180,000km on it, so a very low mileage unit! Love it!

 

[JeepHead]

Here in Australia, it was a Ford BA series, RTV variant. The RTV apparently stood for Rough Terrain Vehicle - beefed up & raised suspension, diff lock, under-body guards, different diff ratio, 4 speed automatic, 1 tonne carrying capacity and drives with the comfort of a normal car. Fantastic vehicle? You betcha! Mine's a 2004 build, bought at a government auction for used fleet vehicles in 2006. It was pretty high mileage for an 18 month old vehicle - 123,000km - and it had been used by the MRD (Main Roads Department) as a "scalies" vehicle (used for carrying portable weighing devices to do roadside checks on possibly overweight trucks, semis, etc). Now at 20 years old, it still has less than 180,000km on it, so a very low mileage unit! Love it!

View attachment 850845

This looks like something that would be built in the backwoods of Southern Indiana!

 

[Ken]

I have a Ford cab/chassis with 4.0 litre straight 6 engine. The other day, after several recent starts, it just wouldn't start again - no cranking, no clicks, nothing - but after removing and replacing the 60A ignition fuse (fusible link) all was good. After starting, just for interest, when the fuse was removed, the engine quit.

So obviously there were dirty contacts on the fuse which had been in place 20 years. It's a 2004 model.

So - question is (and I have not tried it): what do you lose if the fuse contacts go bad (or if the fuse blows) when driving, and the engine just quits? Power steering and brakes are the two immediate problems which spring to mind, but is it possible to steer without power steering, and would there be any braking action at all?

I'm thinking maybe just pull and replace all the fuses? Anyone here experienced this scenario?

Several years ago (30) Driving on the interstate in Arizona. about 65+ mph the rear tires locked up and burned tire streak to the side of the road. Opening the hood saw the fan/ Airconditioning belt wrapped around the front crank pulley. Had to use the knife to cut the belting and remove the belt.
To get to the service station would increase speed to about 70 then coast until about 30 and keep this up until being able to replace the belts.
the engine quickly heated and then cooled while doing so.
the belts had steel cords
ken

 

[CliffordK]

Sometime in the early 2000's, I had a friend call me with her car that had died while driving down the freeway due to a dead ignition fuse. Potentially a dangerous situation, and very frustrating for the driver.

 

[von-mil]

My 1995 Chevy shut down while driving with no absolutely no warning or signs of problem. The ignition module had failed and left me stranded.