WTF? car shut off @ 50 MPH

A

Alex_01LS

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Twice now, when driving slow, the car just shut off -CHECK TRACTION CONTROL

I will get a flashing PATS light and have to fiddle with the keys to start it once out of every 20 or so times (not sure if that has anything to do with this)

But today I was doing 50MPH and i heard a beep then RPM dropped to 0 then warning light "Gear Select". After the car stopped it said Check Tracion Control. anyone know wtf is goin on here? other than that the car runs great! I just had the Coils/plugs replaced, transmission was rebuilt a year ago.
 
I would say a PATS problem.. If you have to fiddle with the keys, kinda sounds feasible.. Like when driving, it maybe 'looses communication with the chip' and in turn shuts the car down because it thinks you are a robber..
 
FASTLLS said:
I would say a PATS problem.. If you have to fiddle with the keys, kinda sounds feasible.. Like when driving, it maybe 'looses communication with the chip' and in turn shuts the car down because it thinks you are a robber..
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Sorry, no. The PATS will not stop a running engine. That's a built-in safety feature.
 
The PATS light doesn't flash out 16 after the rapid flashing stops does it?

If it does, then I suspect that either your PCM relay is failing or the relay socket is loose or corroded. (Your symptoms sound like an electrical power issue with the PCM.)
 
joegr said:
The PATS light doesn't flash out 16 after the rapid flashing stops does it?

If it does, then I suspect that either your PCM relay is failing or the relay socket is loose or corroded. (Your symptoms sound like an electrical power issue with the PCM.)
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what do you mean flash out?

do the PCMs go bad or is it the relay? I know the PCM on my Cobra was like 400 used :( dont want to have to shell out that kind of dough. is there anything I can check as far as loose conneections? is it on the passenger side kick panel?

thansk for the help/advice!!!
 
Alex_01LS said:
what do you mean flash out?
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When it happens, watch the PATS light on top of the dash (the red one, near the windshield in the middle of the dash). It may flash a code; for 16, it'll flash once, pause, then flash six times. It will probably pause then repeat the pattern, but I've not seen a PATS error code myself, so I can't swear to that.
Alex_01LS said:
do the PCMs go bad or is it the relay?
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It sounds like a problem with the relay or the connection to the relay, not the PCM itself.
 
Alex_01LS said:
what do you mean flash out?

do the PCMs go bad or is it the relay? I know the PCM on my Cobra was like 400 used :( dont want to have to shell out that kind of dough. is there anything I can check as far as loose conneections? is it on the passenger side kick panel?

thansk for the help/advice!!!
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It the relay or relay socket, not the PCM.

Turn the key to run. If the problem is happening at the time, the PATS light will flash rapidly for a while. When the rapid flashing stops, it will flash out a two digit code and then repeat it a few times. 16 would be one flash, pause, six flashes, slightly longer pause, repeat.
 
OK - I will check the code, I've done a few searches and sorry to sound stupid, but where is the relay located? how do I clean the connetions - will electrical contact cleaner do?

thanks again guys!
 
Alex_01LS said:
OK - I will check the code, I've done a few searches and sorry to sound stupid, but where is the relay located? how do I clean the connetions - will electrical contact cleaner do?

thanks again guys!
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Relay 14 in the rear power distribution box (if gen I is the same # as gen II).
 
Frogman said:
Could it be something as simple as a bad ignition switch? I've seen those fail if people have 4 bricks worth of weight in keys on their keychains.
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The PATS light wouldn't have flashed then.
 
I changed the relay on Friday and havent had any issues since- I will update thread if anything changes. so far the relay seems to have done the trick
 
Frogman said:
How does a software flash tighten this loose wire behind the dash you speak of?
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haha funny:p
of course that would be physically impossible, digging alittle deeper.......

one or more, of the wires going to the odometer broke close to the harness connection. the pats systems deactivated the car when the wire broke. had to buy a new odometer and flash the pats
 
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