Girlfriends car is having problems..

So my gf has a honda passport, dunno what year. Early 2000s probably. It has been having problems starting and it has died on her when driving about ten times now. SHe has taken it to get looked at like three times now. Had the alternator replaced once and it still shuts off on her and won't start. I haven't looked at it yet but it happened again tonight, and her and her friend had to push it down the road to her house. First time the battery cable wasn't on all the way, then she got the alternator replaced. Now I'm gonna go look at it tomorrow and see what is wrong. She doesn't have any money to put into it and can't afford to trade it in for something different. Some advice before I go and fuck with it would be great. If you have any questions Ill ask her.

 

def sounds electrical. possibly ignition circuit? check the battery... what engine does that have in it?

 

Do a battery load test with a carbon pile.

 

She doesnt even know what year it is lol. All I know is it is a v6. She says the lights wont come on when she turns the key. My buddy works at ford and I may have him come look at it with me. She cant afford to put anymore money into it at all so I'm hoping it isn't too bad.

 

She thinks the battery is dead right now, so that might be why the lights won't turn on. I would know a lot more if I looked at it myself but this is just info I'm getting from her. Her and cars should just stay away from eachother lol

 

i believe its going to be the 3 liter v6. i will put money on it being the ignition or battery.

 

That sounds right. I don't know enough about cars to know what would be wrong with it other then the alternator, starter, or battery. She can't even afford to have people look at it anymore. She has replaced the alternator battery and rear bumper all in the last month or so

 

wouldnt be the starter if its dying while she is driving it/it cranks over when charged...

 

Yeah thats why I didn't think it was the starter. The alternator just got replaced (with a used one) so I didn't think it would keep doing this. I'm pretty sure the battery is brand new but I don't see how it would be dying while she is driving, unless the connections aren't on right again. That's about the most knowledge I have on what it could be.

 

iac sensor?? started and dying

 

Okay so the car is a 98. I have been googling common issues and these are a few I found

Check ignition coil for cracks
replace ecm
loose wire connections in engine bay or under dash

I don't think the ignition coil being cracked would cause it to die when already running... so that's out. I read a couple about the ecu board being cracked. I'm not sure where it is located but I guess if you tap it, you will know if it is cracked if your car is running? Ill check the wiring and fuses. Also going to first check the battery, and make sure the alternator is secured correctly. My mom got hers replaced and they forgot a couple bolts, causing it to do the same thing and not start half the time.

 

It sounds like you have a parasetic draw, try checking your wires connecting to the ecm.

 

battery voltage

alt voltage

voltage drop starting circuit
voltage drop charging circuit

start there

 

You and your voltage drops.

 

Tells you a lot lol and it's fundamental to the rest of the electrical system.

 

I had bought my ex wife a 01 Honda Passport V6 4x4 auto when we were still married. It had all sorts of BS problems, and electrical was one of them. The MAP sensor would get fouled up bad, make the thing run like crap, and die on her. Also the intake manifold leaked, the flex joint on the exhaust rusted away, the rear trailing arm mounts rusted away, had to have transmission rebuilt, never figured out what the deal with the wipers were, but they didn't have enough power to wipe all the way. The window and door switches quit working and the sunroof broke. But I tell ya, the paint stayed shiny. Those Passports/Rodeos, were horrible vehicles, that's why Honda dropped them from their line up. I would suggest to check all the ground connections to make sure that they are all in good condition, pull the MAP sensor and clean it with MAF cleaner(It's on top of the manifold, back toward the fire wall, on the driver side), if there is an aftermarket radio, make sure that the wires for it are in good order, shore up any other problems it has, then sell the POS. Trust me, sell it. Good luck, and also check the recall info for those rear trailing arm mounts, that may be a good way to get rid of it too.

 

Dunno, but sounds like the computer is going south. Buddys car did this, crap out while running, computer would shut down fuel delivery now and again. Was a bitch to figure that one out.

 

Clean the battery terminals and make sure they are tight. Might be shorting out somewhere when going over a bump or something.

 

Some Hondas were having problems with the ignition switch. Jiggle the key in the ignition while running kind if rough and see if it shuts off. If that doesn't work, grab the wires on the back side of the ignition cylinder and give them a jiggle.

 

I agree I get a kick out of how you always suggest it haha