Weird... car dies and won't even crank. Then starts like nothing happened.

[TFENT]

Morning gentleman…

Got a new one for you to ponder with me. As I do almost weekly when the weather is nice as it was this weekend I take the beast out for a cruise. So last night I am pulling into a driveway with my right turn signal on and the dash starts freaking out, head lights start flashing on and off, and it just dies…

I was on the phone at the time and thought for a brief moment I stalled it out from choosing the wrong gear but then reality hit me. I turned the key over and nothing… everything else was functioning as normal. Gauges, lights, flashers, signals, instruments, radio, ect. All working normal, it just wouldn’t even crank. I popped open the hood to inspect the new battery and no loose cables, all was fine. Tried the key again, still nada. I sat there pissed off for 5-10 mins and was just about to call a tow truck and tried it one more time. Spun right up like nothing happened at all. Drove it around the block, no problem. Parked it for an hour then drove 30 miles home. No problem.

What just happened???

[TFENT]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

It thought you were stealing it

This will be a good one for sure....I shall watch closely

Truth be told... I drove it like it was stolen

[jonszr1]

almost the same thing happened to me , with the exception of the lights flashing etc. you might want to check the little pill on your key, on my car that little pill lost its abality to work . it could also be dirty . i ended up getting 2 new keys made and allways keep 2 ignition keys on my key ring just in case .hope this helps

[TFENT]

Originally Posted by jonszr1

almost the same thing happened to me , with the exception of the lights flashing etc. you might want to check the little pill on your key, on my car that little pill lost its abality to work . it could also be dirty . i ended up getting 2 new keys made and allways keep 2 ignition keys on my key ring just in case .hope this helps

New key. less then 1000 miles old.

[Ccmano]

Check the obvious stuff first. If the whole dash was blinking in and out, it sounds like an electrical supply, main connector or ground issue. Check the battery connections and grounds first. Sounds to me like a ground or the main harness connector through the firewall.
H

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by Ccmano

Check the obvious stuff first. If the whole dash was blinking in and out, it sounds like an electrical supply, main connector or ground issue. Check the battery connections and grounds first. Sounds to me like a ground or the main harness connector through the firewall.
H

Altho Hans is not stupid. Wish we'd get a better emoticon.

[bobbyhi]

My first thought was a ground issue but why would it start after sitting for awhile? Same thing with the wiring harness. Why not the coils are over heating?? But that normally doesn't shut the engine down. Even though the keys are new the whole ignition switch in the steering column could be shot. Just replaced that in the Caddy last week....

[rhipsher]

Chances are you need a new starter. Mine started pulling that crap and I put a new starter in and it never happened again.

[TFENT]

Originally Posted by rhipsher

Chances are you need a new starter. Mine started pulling that crap and I put a new starter in and it never happened again.

You had the same symptoms??

[tccrab]

Dumb question, but when you pulled into the driveway, was there a bump or a curb that you had to go over?
My WAG (Wild Azzed Guess) would be flexing of the frame could have put extra tension on some wiring or connector and momentarily interrupted a important ground or caused a plug to wiggle slightly in a socket.
If the headlights went on and off then it's probably something to do with the battery cables or a ground.

I'm thinking that this one will be tough nut to crack, I wish you the best of luck.

TomC
"Crabs"