Engine shut off while driving

Hey everyone, looking for some ideas on an engine stalling issue.

I was running to lunch this afternoon and was driving down the road at about 20-25MPH and heard a clunk, looked down at the cluster and noticed the 4WD lights flashing and the oil light on, at the same time I realized I didn't have power steering so I hit the hazards and pulled over.

I still had all electronics so I turned the heater and radio off to get ready to get out of the truck to check things out when I noticed that the engine wasn't running. Turned the key and it started right up so I drove another 5 miles home without issue.

Currently at a quarter tank of gas, to make sure I wasn't out of gas I drove around the neighborhood for 15 minutes later this afternoon and the truck never died. No check engine lights, no pending codes.

Currently thinking it could be a fuel pump or fuel filter issue, checked my fuel trims when I drove around but they were normal I think (between -10 and +10)

Anything else I should check while I'm looking everything over?

Thanks

 

Have you checked for codes?
You may want to check the grounds on the back of the right cylinder head as alot of stuff grounds there including the 4wd system and ignition coils.

 

Check the grounds. Bad grounds can cause some strange behavior.

 

Silly question I'm sure but the serpentine belt is still there?

 

No current codes and none pending, I'll check the grounds and the one on the back of the cylinder head specifically. Serpentine belt is still there as well

 

bad grounds?

What year, model, motor do you have?

if v6 could be fuel pump resistor, fuel pump relay, or fuel pump.

 

Sorry should have added that info, truck is 2005 dclb, 1grfe, going to check the grounds out here shortly

 

Definitely check for codes first. From there I would definitely check for a fuel issue, especially if you have a fuel or lean related code. Check fuel pressure and if you have a gauge, hook it up and take it for a spin and see what happens when you drive in the conditions that caused the truck to die earlier.

Grounds is a possibility, but I'd be more inclined to tell you to check the battery terminals first and make sure they are on the posts right and secure.

So I would do things in this order:

- Battery terminals check
- Codes
- If nothing, check fuel pressure and check it while driving

- if that's all good then start doing a deep dive into dirty grounds
- also, I would do myself a favor and check the overall charging system, alternator, and battery

 

Miles?

 

My buddy had the same issue on his VW jetta. It was a loose terminal on his battery coupled with the battery going bad.

 

Oil lights on and you didn't check the oil? Probably first thing I would do..... then ground wires etc.

 

Appreciate the responses everyone, going to look further into it tomorrow, grounds seem good so far so I'll check alt and fuel pressure as well.

To recap, no codes are present, oil was checked after the initial drive and it was at the correct level.

240k miles on the truck as well.

 

Oil light comes on if there is no oil pressure. no oil pressure is generated with engine not running.

 

original fuel pump? If so thats likely the cause.