Like any other mechanical structure, cars are prone to malfunctions due to problems with one or more of their parts. Among the more specific issues is when the vehicle dies while idling and then restarts afterward. There may be various factors contributing to the engine’s inability to sustain power at low speeds. In some instances, troubleshooting a specific issue necessitates the assistance of a technician.
Why did the car shut off while idling? It may be very inconvenient to handle if you come to a halt at a red traffic light. It occurs when your car stalls out at an inconvenient moment. Consequently, you are responsible for keeping the line of vehicles stopped at the busy intersection.
If it occurs often, it should serve as a warning indicator. There’s a problem with the engine, unfortunately. It no longer can regulate the idling speed of the vehicle. What’s more, whenever something like this occurs, you have to question what the underlying reason could be?
Hence, it’s time to figure out what’s causing the vehicle to shut off when it’s just idling there!
Stalling in Manual vs. Automatic Transmission Vehicles
Automatics
The torque converter, which is found in automatic cars, manages transmission fluid and keeps the engine running when the vehicle is idle. Engine stalling may occur if the torque converter fails to function properly. One of the most common causes of torque converter failures is filthy fluid, although it may also be due to high temperatures or an issue with the torque converter’s stall speed. You may need to do a stall-speed test on your torque converter to ensure it’s working properly. How to do it is as follows:
- To begin, read your car’s owner’s handbook to see the recommended maximum engine speed, then look for your tachometer, a tool that measures RPM.
- Make sure your vehicle is immobilized with immobilizers installed behind the wheels. Set the parking brake all the way down.
- Apply pressure on the foot brake and ignite your vehicle’s engine. Put the car in drive, but rather than depressing the gas pedal, keep your foot firmly on the brake. Don’t let your foot go off the brake.
- Hold the brake pedal down with one foot while using the other foot to engage the acceleration pedal for a period of up to five seconds and observe your stall speed on your tachometer. Lift your foot from the accelerator pedal first, then the brake pedal, after you’re done driving the vehicle. After then, it’s safe to release the parking brake.
- To replace a torque converter, take your vehicle to an auto repair shop. Alternatively, if the whole procedure seems like something you’d rather not deal with, ask your technician about having a stall-speed test performed for you. A torque converter replacement may be mandatory, depending on the results of the inspection.
Manuals
Cars with manual transmissions are more susceptible to stalling. How so? Thus, with a stick shift, everything is dependent on the clutch. Leaving the clutch out or failing to put the car in neutral before you stop increases your risk of having the engine stall.
Common Causes Of A Car Stalling At Idle
EGR Valve Has Become Clogged
Exhaust Gas Recirculation is referred to as EGR if you’re unfamiliar with the term. A little portion of exhaust is recirculated back into the combustion chambers, as its name implies. By doing so, will lower the temperature within.
Carbon dioxide (C02) is the majority of the exhaust gas, an odorless, colorless gas that does not ignite. When circulated in combustion chambers, it helps to keep them lower by not burning as hot as oxygen does.
Depending on the EGR valve’s obstructed, it may get jammed open or closed, preventing exhaust gas from flowing. As a reason, the air or fuel ratios in the combustion chambers may be affected, potentially resulting in reduced power. If it doesn’t have adequate power, your car will stall out while you’re idling.
The diagnostics of a clogged EGR valve, on the other hand, is a little more complex. It makes things more complicated, and the indications may be mistaken for those caused by other faults such as defective spark plugs, dirty fuel filters, or malfunctioning fuel pumps.
Even if it is a clogged EGR valve, you don’t have to spend $400-$500 to replace it, and you may quickly clean it out at yourself.
Sensors for Oxygen or Mass Airflow that are Not Working Properly
There are several sensors throughout your car. They are all responsible for transmitting specific information to the Engine Control Module. The ECM then uses this information to control the engine’s operation in order to guarantee that it is running at peak performance.
In several cases, the reason why a vehicle engine stops while idling may be traced to two of these sensors. The oxygen sensor is found in the exhaust manifold, and it’s the first thing you’ll notice. Secondly, there’s the mass airflow sensor in the intake air duct, somewhere to the left of your engine.
It monitors how much air is exiting your engine, whereas the second one measures how much is entering. With this information transmitted, the ECM may adjust the amount of air delivered to the combustion chambers, increasing or decreasing its capacity.
A faulty sensor may be sending erroneous information to the ECM. If this occurs, your engine may not get enough air, which is necessary to function properly. Your vehicle may stall while it’s idle if there isn’t enough air flowing through the engine to keep it going.
Buying new oxygen or mass airflow sensor is expensive. Both an oxygen and mass airflow sensor cost approximately $200 and $300, respectively.
Problems with the Fuel Delivery System
A vehicle stalling out when idling may be caused by a variety of factors, as previously stated. Another reason is a shortage of fuel, which means if there is a problem with your fuel delivery system, your vehicle may not start.
Any parts of the fuel delivery system have the potential to create this problem. Using the fuel pump as an example, it is responsible for transferring fuel from the gas tank to your engine.
Another component is the fuel filter, which removes hazardous particles from the gasoline before it enters your vehicle’s engine. Eventually, it will get clogged, and not enough fuel will be capable of reaching the combustion chamber.
The fuel filter is the most likely culprit, and it can be replaced for anywhere from $50 to $150. These only last around two years, so if you’re having issues with it now, it’s probably not a short-term problem.
Transmission that is Not Functioning Properly
When driving a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the torque converter takes the role of the manual clutch and is in charge of delivering power to the engine. Unless the torque converter is malfunctioning or the transmission fluid level is low, the converter will fail to perform its function. The vehicle will lose power when traveling at low speeds, leading to an engine idling. If the torque converter solenoid is faulty, the problem will persist.
Problems with the Wiring Harness
The possibility of a misfiring ignition is also another intriguing issue to consider. It may cause your vehicle to stop while idling and then restart. A rusted or loose wiring harness can result in a loss of voltage in your car’s ignition circuit, which may lead to an idling.
Assuming the wires in your car’s wiring harness are loose or rusted while the engine is idle, you may be confident that they are the source of the stalling problem. There will be a loss of voltage owing to an unstable connection with the vehicle’s ignition circuit when the car speed drops down or when idling. As a result, the engine will not have enough power to keep running.
It is expected that the engine would shut down at some point while idling since the engine’s vibration will create an unstable connection to the ignition system, resulting in a loss of voltage and power needed to keep such an engine operating for an extended period.
How to Fix When A Car Shuts Off While Idling?
As soon as you understand what causes a vehicle to shut down while driving or idling, you can start looking at possible solutions. Many people believe that putting in the finest 5×7 speakers or other gear causes all of these problems. However, this is not the case. The source of the issue is under the hood, and it is there that you will discover the answer as well.
Here are some simple fixes and tweaks you may make to your car to stop it from stalling:
Check the Fuel or Electrical Systems
A car’s engine fails to operate if it can’t ignite fuel in the cylinders. It is due to a shortage of gas or electrical charge. Checking these components can help you rule out the chance of your vehicle turning off while you’re driving.
Also, old carburetor fuel systems have much fuel flowing through the cylinders, so be aware of that. It is known as flooding when this occurs.
Adjust The Timing Of The Distributor, Injector, Or Ignition System
You’ve probably noticed that your vehicle will stop when idling but restart when you switch on the ignition. An issue of this kind necessitates the inspection of three crucial components. For starters, check to see whether your car has a distributor. You’ll have to tinker with the timing by using the proper tools.
Fuel injection is the vehicle’s next major component. Use a mechanic’s scope or a screwdriver to look closely at this component. It’s common to hear a snapping or clicking noise from injectors when they’re functioning right. However, the absence of any sound suggests that the injector is defective or broken.
The ignition control system of the vehicle should be the final thing you inspect. This module is in charge of regulating the time of the voltage output. Additionally, it guarantees that the current flowing to the spark plugs produces enough spark to ignite the air or fuel mixture effectively.
Drive Your Car On A Steep Hill
If your vehicle suddenly dies while idling, try driving it up and down a steep hill many times until it starts working again. It will allow you to determine whether or not the engine performance of the car has changed. If the vehicle continues to stall, it can only indicate one thing; your fuel filter is clogged or jammed.
Good news! Replacing a gasoline filter is not only affordable, but it’s also simple as well! Finding its whereabouts is all that’s needed to complete the quest. For certain vehicles, you may find the fuel filter in the gas tank itself. As a result, you may have trouble getting to the filter.
Reduce the Engine Idle Speed Setting on Your Vehicle
Dieseling is a term you may be familiar with. Even when you switch off the ignition, you may find yourself in this scenario where the car continues to run for a little longer after you shut it off. However, this is not the case while driving a fuel-injected vehicle. If the ignition is switched off, the engine and the fuel supply to the spark plugs are both shut off. You may have to modify your engine’s idle speed if it isn’t a fuel-injected car.
Conclusion
Those as mentioned above are the factors why your vehicle shuts down when it is idling. I’ve also spoken about the many approaches that may be used to resolve the problem.