Engine and entire electrical system shut down while driving! Brake pedal was stiff, and could not depress. Could not steer. All electrical systems went dead. Luckily my wife was able to get it stopped without going through an intersection. She had her foot on the brake, but the car seemed to stop by itself, she was going about 30MPH.
Car was dead, but on the dash the picture of the key was lit up, check engine light was on, and a green light was on, on the start button. She tried to start it a few times, but could not depress the brake pedal. It would not start. She got out of the car to tell the car behind her that she was broken down. When she got back in the car, she tried a couple of times, and after 3-4 attempts to start. the brake pedal became operable again, and she got it started. She was able to drive the 7 miles home, at a low speed, fearing the same situation.
If she had been on the interstate doing 70MPH, she would not have had time to get off the interstate, with no brakes, steering or lights, this could have ended with catastrophic consequences.
Towed to the closest dealership, Obaugh Kia in Staunton, VA. They have contacted me this morning and can only find that computer code shows the cat. converter needs to be replaced, and needs plugs (which I just replaced last month, most expensive plugs I've ever purchased). They can find no information in the computers memory of an electrical failure.
My wife is terrified to drive it, until problem is fixed, as am I.
As far as I know, a catalytic converter has never caused an electrical shutdown.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Engine and entire electrical system shut down while driving! Brake pedal was stiff, and could not depress. Could not steer. All electrical systems went dead. Luckily my wife was able to get it stopped without going through an intersection. She had her foot on the brake, but the car seemed to stop by itself, she was going about 30MPH.
Car was dead, but on the dash the picture of the key was lit up, check engine light was on, and a green light was on, on the start button. She tried to start it a few times, but could not depress the brake pedal. It would not start. She got out of the car to tell the car behind her that she was broken down. When she got back in the car, she tried a couple of times, and after 3-4 attempts to start. the brake pedal became operable again, and she got it started. She was able to drive the 7 miles home, at a low speed, fearing the same situation.
If she had been on the interstate doing 70MPH, she would not have had time to get off the interstate, with no brakes, steering or lights, this could have ended with catastrophic consequences.
Towed to the closest dealership, Obaugh Kia in Staunton, VA. They have contacted me this morning and can only find that computer code shows the cat. converter needs to be replaced, and needs plugs (which I just replaced last month, most expensive plugs I've ever purchased). They can find no information in the computers memory of an electrical failure.
My wife is terrified to drive it, until problem is fixed, as am I.
As far as I know, a catalytic converter has never caused an electrical shutdown.
- Ed C., Lexington, VA, US