Stalling with a CEL

[Vicinity]

Odd new behaviour with the LSC thats happened twice yet. If I'm going stupidly slow (like 1 mph) and turning the wheel, the wheel starts resisting, and then locks up. I think the engine stalls out and I get a CEL. I just take the key out and back in, starts right back up. Trouble is the CEL comes off. Maybe I should go replicate it with the scan gauge in some place with no traffic?

Thinking bad alternator?

 

[Generalee0527]

Sometimes a power steer pressure sensor can fail to signal mo' power Scotty.

 

[dDUBb]

The CEL is not the cause of the stall - it illuminates when the ignition switch is supplying it with power. Unlikely you will find a code or history code unless the CEL was lit before the stall.

There are no power steering sensors.

 

[White Lincoln]

Odd new behaviour with the LSC thats happened twice yet. If I'm going stupidly slow (like 1 mph) and turning the wheel, the wheel starts resisting, and then locks up. I think the engine stalls out and I get a CEL. I just take the key out and back in, starts right back up. Trouble is the CEL comes off. Maybe I should go replicate it with the scan gauge in some place with no traffic?

Thinking bad alternator?

I would run codes and see what codes might show up. First thing I thought of was low idle, but then again. Check your voltage on your battery to see if your altenator is putting out enough voltage. Should be 13 - 14vdc.

 

[theterminator93]

The PCM can compensate for a lower than expected idle but only so quickly (it's better at lowering RPM than raising it IME), especially when it needs a lot of extra air to compensate for abnormal loads. Stiff lower ball joints + old power steering fluid is a simple recipe for that.

Start by flushing the fluid and rack for fresh Mercon V. If you don't know when the LCAs/ball joints were last replaced, they could be getting tired and stiff as well.

 

[Jim3inVirginia]

I don't remember if the check engine light is among the warning lights come on when the engine stalls, just by virtue of key on engine off prior to the systems running checks during startup. But expect that a bad alternator will not cause the check engine light to come on, that the problem is most likely either related to the alternator not putting out enough juice or power steering resistance is dragging the engine more than it should and causing the stall at low idle.

 

[dDUBb]

The last time I had a bad alternator (voltage regulator) on a Mark; it was putting out 17-18 volts .. made the electronics go haywire. I mean the car still drove but it was an interesting experience. If the alternator failed for low output, chances are it wouldn't start right back up after stalling. You know a bad alternator in a Mark when electronics turn on and off while driving.