What To Do If Your Car Died While Driving?

Would you be able to help yourself if your car died while driving? I wrote this article after realizing how significant it is to learn what to do in the event your car shuts off while driving and you are in huge traffic or on a road trip. There are many reasons for this headache, from simple glitches to more critical issues. Before panic sets in, knowing the steps to follow on how to fix and avoid such troubling situations on the road can really make a difference.

You should learn how to drive safely, every day or on a road trip. This article will give you some noteworthy tips and pointers that will be of much help to you if your car dies while driving. This is particularly important for everyday driving and road trips. I always recommend checking your car before leaving for a road trip; this can save you a lot of trouble.

Why My Car Died While Driving?

We will look at several things that may be the reason why your car died while driving, namely: dead battery, bad alternator, out of gas, bad ignition switch, bad fuel pump, or defective crankshaft position sensor.

Defective Crankshaft Position Sensor

When your car shuts off in the middle of driving, one cause you might not immediately consider is a faulty crankshaft position sensor. This sensor obviously plays a key role in tracking the speed and location of the crankshaft alongside the movement of pistons and engine valves. It ensures the precise timing for fuel injection and ignition, aiding in the engine’s peak performance.

Now, if the crankshaft position sensor fails, it leads to a series of problems. Firstly, your check engine light might flash on, which is the first sign of trouble. The sensor could start sending incorrect data about the engine’s position to the ECU (Engine Control Unit), and this could cause the tachometer to behave unpredictably. You might notice your car’s fuel efficiency drop or the engine run unevenly, which signals that something’s off.

To confirm suspicions of a crankshaft position sensor issue, using an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) scanner is a candid method. Connecting this tool to your car will pull any error codes from the ECU, and if you see codes between P0335 and P0338, it pinpoints a problem with the crankshaft position sensor. By all means, confirm your car’s manual to find the location of the sensor before trying to replace it.

Dead Battery

A dead battery is a common cause for your car to die while driving. The average battery lasts anywhere from two to five years. Some may last beyond five years. So it is important for you to take note of the lifespan of your car battery and remember to change it on time. There are some signs you can look out for that indicates it is time to change your battery.

● If your engine takes a little longer to crank and start, you need to check your battery
● You also need to check your battery to see if the battery or engine light comes on
● If your battery becomes swollen, you need to have it inspected
● If your battery is leaking, you need to clean it off
● If the battery fluid runs low, you need to have it checked

The signs above should not be ignored, or else your battery could die. If your car dies while driving and a dead battery is a cause, you will need to get it replaced at your local mechanic or order one online. Doing this before you head out on a road trip can save you from being stranded in the middle of nowhere.

The following video will help you to change your battery safely.

video

Bad Alternator

The alternator and battery work together to supply your car with electrical power. If your alternator is bad, then your battery will also go wrong. So, it is important to know if the reason your car died while driving is that of a bad battery or a bad alternator.

This video will help you to figure out which one is the reason your car died while driving.

A bad alternator will cause the battery light on your dashboard meter to flash. If this happens, it is important to pull off the road immediately and call your mechanic. You can get alternators to buy online.

Out of Gas

So, it just happens that your car died while driving. When it becomes evident, the fuel gauge is on E. If your fuel gauge is not on E but after checking, you are indeed out of gas; you will need to get your fuel gauge checked as it is giving incorrect readings. You can purchase a new fuel gauge online or go to your local mechanic. You will need to call your mechanic to top you up if you run out of gas or get a tow truck to pull you to the nearest gas station. This way, you can pretty much avoid having to push your car to the nearest gas station if it is accidentally turned off while driving.

Bad Fuel Pump

If your car died while driving, the cause could be a bad fuel pump. If your fuel pump goes bad, your engine will not restart. The fuel pump is responsible for taking gas from the gas tank to the engine of your car. Signs of a bad fuel pump may include loud noise from the gas tank, starting problems, backfires, reduction in acceleration and power, and inefficient fuel use. This video will help to identify if your fuel pump has gone bad.

Many factors may cause your fuel pump to go bad, such as using the wrong fuel. If your fuel pump has gone bad, you will need to get your car looked at by a mechanic. You can purchase fuel pumps here.

📖 Recommended Reading: If you’re looking for more useful information, check out Driving by Yourself or Hiring a Professional Driver

Bad Ignition Switch

If you have ruled out the other causes listed above as a reason why your car died while driving, you may want to check your ignition switch. You will need to check if the dashboard lights up when you turn the switch to the “ON” position. If the dashboard doesn’t light up, you can try a spare key if you have one. There are several other signs to look out for if the ignition switch has gone bad.

This video may help you to identify what is wrong.

The ignition switch is responsible for activating the primary electrical systems of your vehicle and the accessories of the car. Because the ignition switch wears out over time, vibrations, which can be caused by hitting a pothole or any other rough part of the road, may cause loss of power. This loss of power may be the reason your car died while driving. If this is the case, you may need to get a new ignition switch or get a mechanic to fix it for you.

Other Problems

Other problems could have been the reason why your car died while driving. Some of these problems include a defective speed system, a damaged sensor, a bad spark plug, an overheated engine, a damaged plug wire, a rotor, or a distributor. A mechanic will be able to find the source of the problem. Tire Works Las Vegas auto repairs can give you great advice for tire work.

4 Steps To Take If Your Car Died While Driving

Pull off the road carefully without panicking

Make sure to steer towards a safe area, especially if you are going fast and may need to use your emergency brakes. Do not panic, and try to stay calm while pulling off the road.

Try to restart your car

Once you have pulled over, turn off your engine try to restart it, and head to the nearest mechanic. Sometimes, a car may stall due to a temporary glitch or a minor issue that can be quickly fixed just by restarting. If your car starts again, that’s totally great. Yet, If your car does not start, or if you see smoke, flames, or leaking fluids, DO NOT attempt to restart it, as this could cause more damage or a fire.

Use emergency flashers to alert other drivers

Emergency flashers are your best friends when it comes to signaling other drivers that you are in trouble. Once you have pulled over, remember to turn on your emergency flashers so that other drivers can see you and know that there might be a problem and avoid hitting your car or causing a pile-up.

Call your emergency number or a roadside assistance service

Call someone to tow your car or call a roadside assistance service. In the United States, you can get roadside assistance services from AAA. The service is membership-based, either paid monthly or annually. But their prices are super affordable, and they cover the entire USA.

Conclusion – The Bottom Line!

So in this article, we established that the main reasons why your car dies while driving include a faulty crankshaft position sensor, a dead battery, a bad alternator, out of gas, a bad fuel pump, or a bad ignition switch. We learned that there are also other problems that could be the reason your car died while driving. And I also shed some light on 4 steps you can take when your car dies while driving. Remember to always stay calm, pull off the road safely, try to restart your car, use emergency flashers, and call for help if needed. Hopefully, this article will help you in case your car ever dies while driving. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.

Last Updated on June 27, 2025