Sudden engine cutoff and now wont start

[amdforever2]

A 2008 Tiburon recently had body damage to the rear left panel repaired. After body shop declared it fixed the car drove for 15 miles or so then at highway speed instantly died. It didn't sputter then die the engine just stopped.

In my limited knowledge I thought there was a system where cars that think they've been wrecked shut off the fuel pump and perhaps with the recent body repair one of these sensors is reading incorrectly. I don't think that's the case. I also cannot seem to find any magic fuel pump reset button.

If the fuel line were clogging, or the fuel filter clogging, or the fuel pump failing, wouldn't that lead to a sputtery death instead of instant death with no ability to restart?

Starter is not the problem and electrical everything seems fine. It's as if the car is out of gas which it is definitely not so I think it is either no power to fuel pump (and if so why) or a fuel pump that failed instantly or a fuel pump that has power and works but the car has disabled it for some reason.


Any ideas?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Can you hear the fuel pump working when you turn on the key (but don't crank the motor)?

Edit - the other instant motor death I have encountered is broken timing belt.

 

[amdforever2]

Is the fuel pump starting an electrical humm? like dash lights up then humming sound?

 

[amdforever2]

The engine turns over would broken timing belt prevent that?

 

[CurseTheSky]

The fuel pump should sound like a somewhat high-pitched whine (maybe a hum) when you turn the key to on.

The reason the fuel pump could be suspected is because there is usually a fuel cut-off switch that triggers on impact (to cut off the engine and help prevent fuel from squirting everywhere in a collision). It may be as simple as resetting the switch.

As far as a fuel pump going bad, chances are it wouldn't just die like that, it would sputter for a bit. So if it isn't some kind of fuel cut-off / collision detection switch, I would look elsewhere.

 

[amdforever2]

The whine which I am pretty sure I know what you're talking about is not audible, but since its dead on side of highway currently there is a slim chance highway noise is just making me not hear it. If fuel pump makes no noise is it dead or just not receiving power for some reason? Also, I cannot locate any reset switch. Is there a chance such switch is on the pump itself?

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

What kind of noise is it making when you try to start it? does the engine turn over? if so is it just a constant ''whirrr whirrr whrrrr''?
Have you tried calling the shop you were just at?

 

[amdforever2]

it's not the whirr of a bad starter. it does turn over.


a shop today said it appears the whole ECU or ECM or whatever doesnt have any power.

 

[DaTT]

To answer an above question, Yes, the engine would turn over with a busted timing belt....well half of it anyways

 

[DaTT]

it's not the whirr of a bad starter. it does turn over.


a shop today said it appears the whole ECU or ECM or whatever doesnt have any power.

That's the brain, or the computer, in your car. If it is dead, then it won't relay any sort of information to anything. Spark, timing, a/f mix, which would result in a dead car on the side of the highway.