'03 Chevy Cavalier loses power and Engine

Hi,

I'm likely to ask my mechanic about this when I get my car inspected
on Saturday, but I thought I would see what you all thought before
then.

My 2003 Cavalier has twice now completely shut off, (engine cuts,
power steering and brakes go, console loses illumination and stereo)
while going full speed on the highway. I found out that the hazard
lights still work when I narrowly avoided an accident this morning an
on ramp.

If I throw it in park and turn the key all the way off and all the way
back on, the engine works fine. This is what leads me to believe
there's a possibility my knee is turning the key back in the ignition
and losing power that way.

Has this happened before to anyone else? Does anyone know if the
symptoms I described sound like a simple case of unintentionally
shutting off the car with my leg, or a mechanical problem? Does
everything typically cut out like that by simply turning the key
backwards in Drive? (it may sound like a stupid question, but when in
park I don't lose my stereo or console illumination when I turn the
car off).

I appreciate any help you can offer.

-jb

Well as power steering and power brakes work because the engine is
running, those are red herrings. The lights and stereo might be a
little more telling.

When you sit in the driveway, do you find it possibly to purposefully
turn the ignition off with your knee? If not, it probably won't happen
accidental like.

Hazards are on a circuit that always has power. I'm pretty sure that
lights are too, although newer cars tight the lights through the
ignition to avoid leaving your lights on and killing your battery.
Radios usually go off with key as well.

It's possible that there's a bad relay somewhere, that's overheating and
cutting power to the car? I suppose it could also be a bad ignition
switch, or a connector coming loose? Difficult to diagnose with out
experiencing it.

Also, to test your drive vs park theory, sit in your driveway, with the
car in drive, your foot on the brake, and shut the engine off. Are the
lighting symptoms the same?

--Jason


wrote:
> Hi,
>

> I'm likely to ask my mechanic about this when I get my car inspected
> on Saturday, but I thought I would see what you all thought before
> then.
>
> My 2003 Cavalier has twice now completely shut off, (engine cuts,
> power steering and brakes go, console loses illumination and stereo)
> while going full speed on the highway. I found out that the hazard
> lights still work when I narrowly avoided an accident this morning an
> on ramp.
>
> If I throw it in park and turn the key all the way off and all the way
> back on, the engine works fine. This is what leads me to believe
> there's a possibility my knee is turning the key back in the ignition
> and losing power that way.
>
> Has this happened before to anyone else? Does anyone know if the
> symptoms I described sound like a simple case of unintentionally
> shutting off the car with my leg, or a mechanical problem? Does
> everything typically cut out like that by simply turning the key
> backwards in Drive? (it may sound like a stupid question, but when in
> park I don't lose my stereo or console illumination when I turn the
> car off).
>
> I appreciate any help you can offer.
>
> -jb

wrote:
>
> My 2003 Cavalier has twice now completely shut off, (engine cuts,
> power steering and brakes go, console loses illumination and stereo)
> while going full speed on the highway. I found out that the hazard
> lights still work when I narrowly avoided an accident this morning an
> on ramp.
>
> If I throw it in park and turn the key all the way off and all the way
> back on, the engine works fine. This is what leads me to believe
> there's a possibility my knee is turning the key back in the ignition
> and losing power that way.
>
> Has this happened before to anyone else? Does anyone know if the
> symptoms I described sound like a simple case of unintentionally
> shutting off the car with my leg, or a mechanical problem? Does
> everything typically cut out like that by simply turning the key
> backwards in Drive? (it may sound like a stupid question, but when in
> park I don't lose my stereo or console illumination when I turn the
> car off).
>
> I appreciate any help you can offer.
>
> -jb

When "going full speed on the highway", why/how are you bumping the
key? I suppose it's possible but it would take a good "bump" to do that
with a good ignition switch.

I'm going to guess that hte most likely culprit is the ignition switch
itself, especially if you have a heavy bunch of keys hanging there along
with the ignition key or you live in a humid area.
In the driveway in park, can you jiggle/wiggle the ignition key for
awhile and make it happen? If not, it means nothing much but if you
can, then you've located the problem. Careful, don't bend the key.

You provided pitifully little info though; key got a resistor in it?
What year/model? Etc. The answer is in the details. Let them take a
look around for you at the shop and hope they're honest. Get a
guarantee on their fix & ask for the old part back.

03 doesn't use a resistor in the key:

It's more than likely the passkey 3 system, with a magnetic ring in the
steering column and a magnetic insert in the lock cylinder.

The ignition switch on that, should be way down on the column, near the
brake pedal. If memory serves me correct.

I haven't been in my shop for over two months, but when I get there, I will
bring my information system home.

Right now, my kid needs me.

RK
"Twayne" > wrote in message
newsh6ij.1951$Ue3.1394@trnddc07...
> wrote:
>>
>> My 2003 Cavalier has twice now completely shut off, (engine cuts,
>> power steering and brakes go, console loses illumination and stereo)
>> while going full speed on the highway. I found out that the hazard
>> lights still work when I narrowly avoided an accident this morning an
>> on ramp.
>>
>> If I throw it in park and turn the key all the way off and all the way
>> back on, the engine works fine. This is what leads me to believe
>> there's a possibility my knee is turning the key back in the ignition
>> and losing power that way.
>>
>> Has this happened before to anyone else? Does anyone know if the
>> symptoms I described sound like a simple case of unintentionally
>> shutting off the car with my leg, or a mechanical problem? Does
>> everything typically cut out like that by simply turning the key
>> backwards in Drive? (it may sound like a stupid question, but when in
>> park I don't lose my stereo or console illumination when I turn the
>> car off).
>>
>> I appreciate any help you can offer.
>>
>> -jb
>
> When "going full speed on the highway", why/how are you bumping the
> key? I suppose it's possible but it would take a good "bump" to do that
> with a good ignition switch.
>
> I'm going to guess that hte most likely culprit is the ignition switch
> itself, especially if you have a heavy bunch of keys hanging there along
> with the ignition key or you live in a humid area.
> In the driveway in park, can you jiggle/wiggle the ignition key for
> awhile and make it happen? If not, it means nothing much but if you can,
> then you've located the problem. Careful, don't bend the key.
>
> You provided pitifully little info though; key got a resistor in it? What
> year/model? Etc. The answer is in the details. Let them take a look
> around for you at the shop and hope they're honest. Get a guarantee on
> their fix & ask for the old part back.
>
>
>
>