Engine Unexpectedly Shut Down

Sitting at a traffic light the other day, car had been running and idling fine, when all of the sudden the engine shut down.

It wasn't a prolonged shut down, like being fuel starved. It was more like an electrical problem similar to if I had just turned off the ignition. The car started right back up and no problems since.

The only other problem related to this was back in the Fall, but that time the car would crank over, but not start. Never found out exactly why it didn't. The last thing I did before it started was wiggle the bulkhead connectors. Wondering if what happened the other day was related.

During the car's restoration, everything was replaced new and has 13,000 miles since the resto.

Ever had your car just shut down like that? If so, any idea, aside from the bulkhead, that I should look for? And if it is the bulkhead, what section or wire(s) should I focus on?

I have, but it did not restart. Lucky you. Good luck with it. Sorry I can't be more help other than the obvious. Loose distributor wires, ignition switch, grounds...

I had the crank over no start issue, it was the reluctor to pickup gap, was around .022 when it should be set at .008 with a brass feeler gauge.

With the car running, grab the ignition switch connector at the base of the steering column and wiggle them around. My car did this and it turned out to be that connector. Wiggling the connector around made the car die. All I had to do was "adjust" the terminals so they fit tightly together. If that test turns out OK, do the same thing with the bulkhead connectors.

to keep a car running only the coil positive primary terminal (fed thru the ballast) & the blue/yellow main feed for the ECU (4 pin ECU/dummy 5th pin ECU) need to have fire, this'd be the blue wire circuit ign1 (run) terminal interface at the bulkhead. I ain't sayin ign (& In fact I think fuel,not starvation but percolation like from E10) but I wanted to ans your Q

I had the same issue with my Dart. Turned out to be the bulkhead connector.

With the car running, wiggle the wires going to the ballast resistor & if it sparks & shuts down, this is the problem. I had this happen to my old '71 Charger R/T & messed around replacing things for 2 weeks before discovering it was the $3.00 ballast resistor.

Check the connections on the ammeter too, maybe they are not tight and you get intermittent power. I had to have mine towed home one night as I had no power to anything.

Thanks guys! Will do all of the above and let you know when I find the culprit!

[quote) In fact I think fuel,not starvation but percolation like from E10 [/quote

What I thought. My Bee was stalling while sitting at a light. Switched to 100% gas and problem went away. Now running FAST EFI and back on 10% ethanol.