2004 shuts off just driving down the road

[jimatty]

I have a 2004 Eddie Bauer - big engine - recently, while just driving down the road, the engine will shut off. When it does, the battery light will come on, as well as the check charging system warning, however, battery and alternator check good. There does not seem to be any pattern as to speed, what equipment is being used. When this happens, you can put it in neutral, turn the key all the way off and then restart it, while still rolling down the road. It will not restart, unless the key is turn completely to off. After it restarts, the battery light will come on and off for a while and the check charging system warning will come on and off. It may drive 3 or 4 days with no problem, but it might die four or five times in a trip of a couple of miles. You can start it and jiggle all the electrical wires under the hood and it won't die. But it sure seems like an intermittent electrical short of some type with the battery light and check charging system warning. It was throwing code for crankshaft sensor, so replaced that (and it was cracked) but then it died again next time I drove it. thought it might be key chip, but it does it with either key. Ideas?

 

[stamp11127]

First off, welcome to the site.

Second, please don't write long paragraphs. The ol'timers on here, myself included, have short attention spans and poor eyesight. Small paragraphs are fantastic. Notice how short mine are so far......

Third, the 03 and 04's have issues with the fuse box / fuel pump relay. You may want to locate where the relay is located in your owner's manual and smack it when it occurs again. If you have access to a fuel pressure gauge, you can monitor fuel pressure.

If the relay is going the fuse box is replaced or modified to take external relays. It depends on the skills of the owner.

 

[jimatty]

Thanks for the welcome! And the short paragraph suggestion! Will do!

I can see that the fuse box / fuel pump relay would cause truck to die - But would it also cause the battery light and check charging system to come on -to stay on for a little while after restarting - and to come on periodically after?

That was what made me think it must be a short in the charging system - although I've pushed and pulled on all the wires I could with the truck running and not been able to get it to quit like it does when driving.

Will check the fuse box - and fuel pump relay.

 

[docraymund]

There might be a loose connection somewhere especially if it dies after hitting a bump or a pothole. Check the line going to and from the PCM.

 

[jimatty]

The only thing which has made me think it is not a short is that it most often dies when it is just running down a smooth highway. No bumps that you can notice.

 

[jimatty]

Updated information - I've tried a scanner on the truck -

When the scanner starts testing I get a J1850 Fail

Then when I read codes:
P0320 Generic Current
Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit

Can anyone tell me what those things indicate - especially as it relates to the truck dying as it is running down the road?

 

[stamp11127]

J1850 is the protocol the electronic modules use to communicate with each other - the language.

P0320 is an ignition / engine problem.

P0320 - OBD-II Trouble Code

How's your electrical knowledge and troubleshooting skills?

 

[Jacobh93]

I will say that I had this exact issue in my 03. The fuse boxes have a 5 relays built into the board. The one for the fuel pump, for some reason, will scorch and slowly break down. Mine did it occasionally for a month, then started to do it over and over until it wouldn't run at all.

There is a check you can do with a volt meter if you're inclined. Google Expedition fuel pump relay and look for YouTube videos.

They sell the whome box on Amazon and it's simple to change. Just get the wires back in the same place.