Car stalls when RPMs drop below 500 mark

NICOLESMITH

MEMBER
2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
134,000 MILES

I have an 01 Chevy Cavalier Z24. When I brake to slow down, if my rpms reach the 500 mark, it usually stalls my engine. I can try to rev my engine, if I catch it in time, to get it above the 500 mark and the car won't stall. While driving, I can feel the delay in my car shifting gears as well. I just took my car to a mechanic to get a new O2 sensor. Had my car tested and the O2 sensor was the only thing that read bad. So now I'm once again stumped.

10 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

If you turn on the ac does the idle problem go away?

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Friday, August 17th, 2012 AT 7:55 PM

SATURNTECH9

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Also which engine do you have?

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Monday, August 20th, 2012 AT 11:00 PM

SATURNTECH9

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Same model year etc?

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Monday, August 20th, 2012 AT 11:15 PM

NICOLESMITH

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2 POSTS

It's a 2.4 as well. I have to leave my a/c on at all times for extra assurance but the problem still occurs with the a/c on too. Just not as quickly as with it off. Still have to rev engine to prevent the stalling when braking.

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Tuesday, August 21st, 2012 AT 12:36 AM

SATURNTECH9

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If the problem doesn't go away with the ac on its not the problem I thought it was. Do you have any codes in the computer?I would also try removing the idl air control valve and cleaning it.

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Tuesday, August 21st, 2012 AT 12:42 AM

NICOLESMITH

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I'm not sure about the code thing. But also, my mechanic had asked me today if the stalling occurs after my car warms up and it does. I don't know if that would help in answering or not. They're gonna take another look at it Thursday.

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Friday, August 24th, 2012 AT 10:44 PM

SATURNTECH9