What are the causes of a car engine cease?

If you mean "seize" then one reason is a lack of adequate lubrication between a moving part and the surface it moves on. This can mean too little lubrication per se or a breakdown of the lubricant film between the parts due to excessive temperature or pressure. Another reason is that overheating can cause one or all of the parts concerned to expand so far they inhibit any movement. For example, a piston could expand so far it can no longer move in its cylinder.