My car just died last night as I was driving down the street. About every light on the dash came on and my tach went to 0. I put it in N and restarted the engine everything was fine after that. Has this ever happended to anyone else? The car had been running for about 5 mins. I have a 99 Accord EX-V6 AT.

 

two possibilites right now
#1 try playing with the key while the car is on. If it shuts off or otherwise acts goofy then you need to replace the electrical side of the ignition switch.
#2 did the door and brake light indicators come on as well as other lights? If so you may have a bad alternator.

 

MooGoCow3 is right its a lock its one or the other.

You can get the ignition switch done for free its a Safety Recall 02-031

Safety Recall: Ignition Switch
(Supersedes 02-031, dated September 17, 2002)

BACKGROUND

Electrical contacts in the ignition switch can wear
prematurely due to high electrical current passing
through the switch. Worn out ignition contacts could
cause the engine to stall without warning. Although the
engine will restart in most cases, a vehicle that stalls
while driving increases the risk of a crash.

VEHICLES AFFECTED
• 1997 Accord (L4)
• 1998–99 Accord (L4 and V6)
• 1998–00 Civic
• 1997–99 CR-V
• 1997–00 Odyssey
• 1997–99 Prelude

As for the alt my dealership charges 198.31 with a thirty dollar core

GOOD LUCK

 

Well I did notice that all of the lights on the dash lit up, but the door/trunk lights were still lit after the others stopped blinking and went out. What does that tell you?

Man I hate buying used cars. You always know there is some reason that the previous person is getting rid of it. I have a warranty on the powertrain, but not anything else. The car was purchased 3 weeks ago, do you think that the dealer will fix it?

 

I have played around with the ignition and have not been able to get the car to fail like it did before. Does that mean the alternator is bad? I don't really see how this symptom would tie back to the alternator, but I am a Honda novice. I have had bad alternators before and it simply resulted in a slow death for the vehicle until it wouldn't run or charge the battery.

 

Being you have a 98-02 .. I am going to say it is the recall on the ignition switch. It can easily be tested with a continuity tool. Just trace the iginition switch (where you put the key) .. to the fuse box and pull the plug out. Then follow your manual on how to test it. If this is the problem, Hodna will gladly fix it for FREE.

I also had the vehicle shut down while driving. Turned out the antiseize used on replacing myspark plugs had melted and gunked up on the ends of all the spark plugs .. putting out any spark it tried to create. I just had to get new spark plugs and I was good to go.

I would DEFINITLY check that ignition switch tho b/c I have read OVER AND OVER aboutt this SAME EXACT incident on your 98-02 vehicle and it always turned out to be the recall on the swithc. I guess what happens is there loses contact inside the swithc (where the key goes) .. and acts like you took the key out. As long as you have the $20 electrical tool to test it and the manual .. it is a very simple procedure.

 

just sign up for owner's link and when you put in your vin, it will tell you if the recall has been done....