Engine shuts off when transmission is shifted into reverse

H12

MEMBER
2006 FORD ESCAPE
3.0L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
200,585 MILES

Problems started sometime this week. When I put my SUV in reverse to leave my driveway, the engine just shuts off. I called my mom. We ran down a list of things that could be wrong. Finally, my mom told me to jiggle my battery cords. This worked?
After having to do this maybe 5 times, I decided to take it to an auto shop. They've had it for three days now. All they say is "we weren't able to get to it today" or "we looked at it and couldn't figure it out." Should I give them more time?
The spark plugs, three coils for the motor, air compressor, brake lines, brake pads and rotors have all been replaced. The battery is charged, there's a full tank of gas in it, and the motor oil is fine. The cords secured on the battery. What could be wrong with it?

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

If wiggling the battery cables worked to get it started then we have a loose connection or a coincidence.

Does it stall every time you put it in reverse or is this hard to duplicate? If it is hard then that is most likely why the shop has not been able to find it.

If this is something that you can get to act up, just ask them if they have experienced it and cannot get it to act up. If not, maybe you can go down and show them what it is doing and what you did to it started again.

In most cases there if the engine is running fine then I suspect the torque converter is locked up and causing the engine to stall. They should monitor the torque converter slip percentage with a scan tool which should be 0 in reverse.

Let's start with all this and go from there. Thanks