Howdy fellas. I've lurked on here off and on over the last few years and I was hoping I could get some help. I've done a few searches but nothing that I've found addressing what I've got going on.
Background - 2003 P5 w/ 154,XXX, 5-speed. I'm the original owner and I've kept up w/ maintenance. No modifications with the exception of a k&n drop-in filter a few years back. This car has been extremely reliable the 10 years I've had her (except for it eating headlights).
Two days ago, I was driving back to TN from Kentucky when the car broke down. I was on a 2 lane driving between 50-55 and in 5 gear. The engine was not under much load as I began to coast down hill. Then, I heard a dull pop from the engine compartment, CEL came on and the car lost revs. I shifted into neutral and blipped the throttle a couple of times, but the engine did not respond. At about 30 mph, the engine cut off and I coasted to the shoulder. Opening the hood, there were no leaks, no smoke, no blown belts, etc - it looked like it should. Three hours later, a co-worker and myself had it on a dolly headed home.
Upon looking closer the next day, the timing belt is still intact and the cams still rotate. The fuses are all good and the ECU has been reset. The car will crank and has compression, but will not catch. It feels like a carbureted car where you want to pump the throttle while cranking. I do not own a code reader and have not read it yet. I've got a sneaking feeling there is something in the electrical system preventing it from getting spark, but I'm at a loss as to what.
I'm getting close to the end of my diagnostic knowledge and I figured I'd ask the internet for suggestions before I haul her over to a shop and get sold an exhaust bearing or a gallon of turn-signal fluid.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys
Background - 2003 P5 w/ 154,XXX, 5-speed. I'm the original owner and I've kept up w/ maintenance. No modifications with the exception of a k&n drop-in filter a few years back. This car has been extremely reliable the 10 years I've had her (except for it eating headlights).
Two days ago, I was driving back to TN from Kentucky when the car broke down. I was on a 2 lane driving between 50-55 and in 5 gear. The engine was not under much load as I began to coast down hill. Then, I heard a dull pop from the engine compartment, CEL came on and the car lost revs. I shifted into neutral and blipped the throttle a couple of times, but the engine did not respond. At about 30 mph, the engine cut off and I coasted to the shoulder. Opening the hood, there were no leaks, no smoke, no blown belts, etc - it looked like it should. Three hours later, a co-worker and myself had it on a dolly headed home.
Upon looking closer the next day, the timing belt is still intact and the cams still rotate. The fuses are all good and the ECU has been reset. The car will crank and has compression, but will not catch. It feels like a carbureted car where you want to pump the throttle while cranking. I do not own a code reader and have not read it yet. I've got a sneaking feeling there is something in the electrical system preventing it from getting spark, but I'm at a loss as to what.
I'm getting close to the end of my diagnostic knowledge and I figured I'd ask the internet for suggestions before I haul her over to a shop and get sold an exhaust bearing or a gallon of turn-signal fluid.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys
It should cost the same as any other reader... Cool thing too with whichever reader you get is that you can actually read all sensor parameters as you drive (or crank it) too 
