My dad has a 2005 Acura RL with over 220k miles. Looks almost exactly like the one you recently reviews not long ago. Last week while driving on the highway, the car completely shut off. Not just the engine, but everything inside as well. It was a very scary experience considering the fact he almost got in a major accident with semi trucks. My dad had someone plug in a scan tool on the car, but nothing came up. He just changed the oil, and spark plugs and plans plan on taking it to Acura so they can try to find and diagnose the problem. I don’t think it’s the battery because just one week prior to the incident my dad put in a brand new one. What do you think could’ve caused the car to completely shut off wile driving on the highway like that? This is very strange. Thanks Scotty I love the content!
If your dad is like me he wasn't sitting in his recliner a week ago, watching a Matlock rerun, and was suddenly inspired to buy a new battery for the car.
There was probably some issue/symptom.
It looks like the "issue" has gotten worse.
It sounds like your dad had a total power failure.
That seems like either that Main 120 amp fuse in the underhood fuse box or the alternator.
Sometimes those Main fuses will get "wonky" when they're failing from age (in your dad's case bouncing around under a hot hood for 1/4 million miles) and they fail slowly/intermittently.
Other times a failing alternator can fry them.
They only cost about $10 bucks. Easy to replace.
I'd examine the Battery Ground connections at the engine and body, and the Positive Battery cable connections to and from that underhood fuse box and from it to the alternator.
If they were tight with no rust or corrosion, I'd replace the 120 amp main fuse and hope it starts/runs so I could get back into my recliner before 10 am. (that's when Matlock is on)
1. Loose battery terminals.
2. Electrical problems.
3. Stuck throttle body: may be too much soot accumulated there over such miles driven.
4. Leaks in the EGR vacuum system: the engine misfired, shaked, and eventually stalled.
This happened to me about 25 years ago. Car would die all of a sudden in major traffic. I cannot recall the car model,etc, but it turned out to be either the camshaft sensor or crankshaft sensor (cannot remember which one). It took several tries and part replacements for them to properly diagnose the problem.
