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.