Engine cutout (2003 V8)

[mustbemike123]

Ok, the other day I was driving and I pulled up to a stop sign. I went to start moving again and my car had suddenly achieved the acceleration of a snail. It took 100 yards for me to reach 20 mph. I differed how much gas I gave the car and my acceleration didn't change yet I could hear the engine revving up. For several stop signs I tried everything, including manually shifting down to first gear and starting like that. Nothing worked. I turned the car off, started it up again and it drove as normal. Any ideas why this could have happened?

 

[JP4RNR]

sounds like a glitch in the drive by wire electronic throttle system that was corrected by turning off the engine. Sort of like rebooting your computer. Anyone else have other ideas?

 

[mustbemike123]

Ok, sounds believable enough. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a big issue that could cripple my engine in the future.

 

[greasefingers]

This is really weird. The VSS (vehicle speed sensor) signal could have been lost, but I am just guessing. Glad to hear it re-booted properly. If it happens again then it would raise some concern.

 

[toybox]

This exact same thing happened to me once a couple of years ago and hasn't happened since. To correct it I did the same as you, I pulled over and shut the truck off then back on and everything was fine. If it ever happened again I was going to have them look at it.

 

[Fro-Runner]

This exact same thing happened to me once a couple of years ago and hasn't happened since. To correct it I did the same as you, I pulled over and shut the truck off then back on and everything was fine. If it ever happened again I was going to have them look at it.

It'll cost you some dollars now unless you purchased the extend warranty. Good information to others in the forum to know that this has happen to others with a solution found. It could have been a number of things from the said VSS here to the accel by wire (the V6 has electronic accel control) to the traction control detecting some wheel slippage from a dead stop. My biggest fear of an out of warranty breakdown is for an electronic issue.