MIL lives in an old peoples' apartment complex, her neighbor has issues with her (2003?) Saturn SUV. She can drive about 5 miles then the thing shuts off. I asked "like someone flipped a switch or does it die a slow death choking its was to the curb?" She said like someone threw a switch.
THEN, once it sits for a few hours it fires right up like nothing happened.
When it happens idiot lights come on, no gauges. No CEL and there are no codes.
I was thinking a bad gas cap vent would shut it off but then come back to life once the tank vents and equalizes pressure, what do you think?
Thanks, Dan
Crank position sensor? It's early and I've had VERY little sleep the last few days, so I'm just shooting in the dark.
Clogged fuel filter only because I had that happen with a rusty K10 once.
Moisture. Coil pack cracked? No CEL, still check for codes that may be stored as soft codes.
I had a Voyager that exhibited these exact symptoms, turned out to be the hall effect sensor. I have no idea if the Saturn VUE has one of those but I would check the crankshaft position sensor if it does not.
Wouldn't these things show up with a scanner?
Sorry, I missed the no CEL part.
Check the battery cables. I've seen that many times. Not many other things willkill the engine like that and not leave a code behind
I was thinking valet key.
Battery or battery wiring issue
A coil or something fails when it gets hot then works after it cools. Problem is, which one.
I had that happen on a 95 9C1. It ended up being a failing fuel pump.
My money is on bad battery connection as well, my Suburban exhibited the same thing until I cleaned and properly tightened the cables. Tiger Mom was not amused when she was stranded at an intersection one day.
In reply to 914Driver:
Regardless of whatever the cause is, if it has a CVT transmission it's not long for this world regardless.
Data log and see what stops working.
Battery & fueling is where I would start then start looking close at harness pinch points.
