2001 Acura CL car randomly stalls

Hi agreement,

When does the stalling occur?
When engine is cold, warming up or hot?
Slowing down? Stopped? While cruising?

What is the idling speed?

There is no apparent pattern with the car stalling. I can be traveling at any speed and in any type of weather. The timing can be after I have operating for a while or shortly after starting the car up and driving a short distance. I rarely have an issue starting the car in the morning or after sitting.

When the car stalls is slows down. The radio, ac/heat, and all other lights and electronics remain operable. It usually restarts after about 3-5 minutes.

Please advise. My safety is at risk!

Hi agreement,

The best possible way is to test the vehicle for fule or ignition issues when it happens.

I can only suggest that you check the main relay for fault. Older models tends to have problem with it but for newer models the cases are not many but they still do have problems.

When engine stalls, were the dash indicator lights showing? It might be a fault with the ignition switch.

the dash lights do stay on when it stalls. Thus, the ignition switch has been eliminated.

Is it possible for the primary oxygen sensor to be at fault? I am now considering the main relay but it does not seem to be temperature sensitive. The car does not seem to be a problem with starting - not even in very hot temperatures.

The problem has persists for about 4-5 months now and it is getting worse - stalling more and more. It occurred after the fuel injectors were cleaned by valvoline.

1 mechanic is absolutely certain it is the 02 sensor; another is absolutely certain it is the fuel pump; and another is certain it is the main relay.

Please advise

It is not going to work with so many certain answers.

I would suggest putting the vehicle on a diagnostic scanner to go through each component to test if any is performing out ogf specs. O2 sensor can be tested with the diagnostic.

Without any raw data to back up there is no certain answers.

When vehicle stalls and cannot start, check the fuel rail for pressure while cranking, that is the best way to verify it it is the main relay or fuel pump.

Can the 02 sensor be diagnosed without the check engine code coming on?

A scanner/"acura-honda" diagnostic machine has been applied to the car and nothing came back.

Is this becoming a manufacturer's problem such that the car has a problem that is not showing up on the diagnostic? Acura has checked the car and advised me to change the spark plugs. It has 79,000 miles! The car stalled while it was in their possession and they claim they cannot find the problem at all.

Hi,

A diagnostic scanner should be able to check the O2 sensor raw data. No Check engine code does not mean all the sensors are ok. sometimes they are working but out of specs and in such cases, the ECM would not detect any fault.

Btw main relay does not need to be temperature related, it can happen any time and after driving, the heat bulid-up can cause it to fail intermittently.

I am having the exact same problem on my 01 Acura 3.2 CL.

Over the last 6-8 months it has randomly stalled. Twice on the freeway while accelerating, a few times in slow stop-and-go traffic, and a few times when I park for a few minutes and return, it won't start. It always will restart after waiting about 5 minutes. There is no check engine light and the battery stays on. I have had it looked at with no luck yet. Were you able to find out what was wrong with yours?

The shop diagnosed it as being a problem with the Crank Shaft Sensor by elimination. Does this sound right?

The crankshaft sensor is one of the main sensors and if it fails, vehicle would stall with no start condition.

However this item should trigger a trouble code but I would not rule it out though no trouble codes are retrieved.

I am facing the same problem with my Acura CL from last two months.. i have taken it to diagnose but no luck, they couldnt identify it yet. Any other way to find the problem.Thanks in advance

When this was happening to me about 3 months ago, I ended up taking my car to my old mechanic who I trust very much and he was sure it was the main relay. Sure enough, he put the part in and its been running great since.

Thank you for the feedback, it is greatly appreciated.

At least it confirmed my suspicion of the main relay.

Have a nice day.

Chelsea...what did the problem end up being with the cl