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Car Engine Stalls and Runs Poor Questions Visit -
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category contains featured questions as
examples. They relate to most vehicles.
Question:
1995 GMC Jimmy, mileage: 189,000. Has been in the
shop numerous times and they can't seem to find the
problem.... service light goes on and when you start it
up in the morning you can smell the fuel and it sounds
like it wants to die out. Also, when you are
driving it, it seems like you do not go, like no gas.
And it spurts. It’s been on the computer numerous
times and it shows nothing wrong.
Answer:
Your stalling problem may be caused by the fuel pump.
Replacing it and the fuel filter should fix your
problem.
Question:
1999 Chevrolet Lumina APV mileage: 96,137. We have
had this van in and out of two garages and we need an
answer. When you go to start the van it does not
want to start, it use to do it when it was cold, now it
does it all the time, you have to pump the gas to get it
started after that it runs fine. Every thing has
been checked and we have been told there is nothing they
can do with it. The spark plugs have been change
because they were fouled out but that is not the
problem. Most of the time it would be cold out and
it would not start, it would just flood out and not
start at all.
Answer: First scan the PCM for
trouble codes using a hand held
engine scanner, Then repair codes by
replacing failed sensor as needed. If no codes are
present then try replacing
the fuel pressure regulator.
Question:
2002 Mazda Tribute,
miles: 78,900 Its been a great car, recently when
turning right the engine stalls, even more so when the
gas tank is half empty. Makes no difference what
the road speed is. Please help.
Answer:
You may have a cracked air intake boot, Inspect to
replace as needed, recheck system.
Question:
1999 Cadillac Sedan Deville mileage: 175,000. Once
the engine is warmed up, the car has a rough idle when
sitting with the car in gear. Occasionally, the
car will stall. Cadillac said the injectors and
computer control module needed to be replaced. The
extended warranty company wanted a second opinion, and
recommended a master mechanic in town. He has run
computer checks, ohm checks, and pressure checks, and
still can't determine the problem. I only
use super unleaded gasoline from either Mobil or
Chevron. I have tried fuel injector cleaner, and
that didn't help. There is no pattern of when the
car will stall. Occasionally it will idle fine,
then the idle gets rough and the car stalls.
Please help with any possible suggestions of getting
this problem fixed.
Answer: First scan the PCM for
trouble codes using a hand held
engine scanner, Then repair codes by
replacing failed sensor as needed. If no codes are
present try check for vacuum leaks.
Question:
2002 Ford Focus, mileage: 60,000. While traveling
down the road and without any warning, my car lost power
and died. The car is in general good repair,
although I was due for a tune-up and oil change.
After recovering my car, I tried to turn it over with no
luck. Almost seemed like no compression. I
pulled the distributor cap and tried starting it again
to see if the timing belt was broke. The rotor
turned. I pulled the oil filler cap off of
the valve cover and tried starting again and this time
could see the cam turn, so I ruled out a broken timing
belt. There was no loud noise/explosion when the
car died and no oil in the coolant and vice versa so I
ruled out head/head gasket problems. I jumped the
fuel pump via the Data Link Connector (DLC) and it
started. Just for back-up, I pulled the air
induction, shot ether in the intake, and tried to start.
Still no luck. Having had similar
experiences with other Fords, I deduced that it must be
the Ignition Control Module. I went ahead and
replaced this item (at a hefty price I might add) and
tried to start. You guessed it, nothing. I
checked for spark via the first plug wire and nothing,
so I then checked for spark directly from the coil,
nothing. I am beginning to think that it is the
coil. However, before I try another expensive shot
in the dark remedy, I was curious what you thought.
In addition, can I purchase a portable unit to scan the
car via the DLC? If so where? (Also, I
subsequently replaced the cap and rotor during all this
testing.)
Answer: First scan the PCM for
trouble codes using a hand held
engine scanner, Then repair codes by
replacing failed sensor as needed. If no codes are
present
check the EEC relay that powers the computer is probably
faulty. Replacing it should cure your problem.
Question:
1999 Pontiac Firebird, mileage: 130,000. After
replacing: ignition coil, m/c solenoid, plugs, wires,
distributor rotor & cap. My car has been fouling
plugs & running rich. It ran for 2 days, then
stalls when stopping & floods itself out. It will
not start until I replace the plugs (which smell of
fuel). The service engine light does not come on,
but choke light will, off and on. Any help will be
appreciated!
Answer:
Check the fuel pressure regulator as it may be causing
your problems. Check for fuel in the vacuum line between
the intake manifold and fuel pressure regulator.
Question:
1999 Jeep Cherokee, mileage: 92,000. My check
engine light comes on - the trouble codes say its
problem P0225 - idle air control sensor circuit.
The dealer and auto parts stores say there is no idle
air control on my vehicle. Then what is trouble
code P0225 Alternatively, are they wrong? In
addition, in the morning when it is cold, you can start
it fine but it will not stay running unless you hold
down the accelerator. It acts like an old car.
Once it is warmed up its ok. Please help - thank
you.
Answer:
The symptoms you describe could be a idle air control
motor failure. Your car does have a IAC located in the
intake manifold, near the throttle body.
Question:
1999 Chevrolet 1500 4x4 mileage: 179,000. First,
it is hard to start without pushing the pedal to the
floor, and then it will run but very erratic. I
have to keep pressure on the pedal to keep it running.
Even with pressure on the pedal it will just die.
The engine light does not come on until the engine
starts to run erratic and then dies. The
code reader says 12. My neighbor seems to think it
might be the catalytic converter. The Torque
Converter lock-up switch is disconnected and I even
tried the test with the ERG valve disconnected. It
has new wires and plugs, and O� sensor. There is a
tube that runs from the valve cover to what looks like
the Throttle Body, but when the truck is running it has
no vacuum. Any ideas?
Answer:
It sounds like the catalytic converter is plugged. Also
perform a fuel pressure test.
Question:
2004 Subaru Legacy,
mileage: 17,363. My car sometimes, hesitates,
lacks power, runs rough, idles rough, and starts then
stalls. I have put on new plugs. I have also
placed in my gas tank CD-2 fuel system treatment, and
STP Fuel Injector Cleaner. I would like to know
what else might cause this and what I should do to fix
it. Thanks
Answer: First scan the PCM for
trouble codes using a hand held
engine scanner, Then repair codes by
replacing failed sensor as needed. If no codes are
present we would suggest checking fuel pressure.
Question:
1999 Ford F150, mileage: 87,000. While idling the
engine, without warning, stalls. It restarts right
away. Driving on the road, you can feel the engine
cut off with a jerk intermittently but restart itself.
At a light or low speed, it just shuts down and has to
be restarted. I changed the oxygen sensor, plugs
and still no luck. Can you help?
Answer: First scan the PCM for
trouble codes using a hand held
engine scanner, Then repair codes by
replacing failed sensor as needed. If no codes are
present we would suggest a mass air flow sensor has
failed and operating out of range.
Question:
1998 Pontiac Bonneville mileage: 75,000. The
car has an intermittent hard starting problem,
particularly in hot weather. The engine cranks,
however there is no spark. The dealer replaced the
ECM, however the problem still occurs. The
car will always start after sitting for about five
minutes. Crank sensor magnets have been checked
and were ok. On occasion the car has stalled while
idling at a stoplight, however both times it immediately
restarted.
Answer:
Check the fuel pressure regulator as it may be causing
your problems. Check for fuel in the vacuum line between
the intake manifold and fuel pressure regulator.
Question:
1997 Buick Century mileage: 180,000. For a while
my car has been stalling while I'm driving it. It
can happen anytime, anywhere. I took it to my
mechanic who tried to get a code but could not get
anything. He thought it was an ignition module.
He put one in the car and it was all right when I
brought it home. However, the next morning
it would not start very well. Got it started but
then it stalled a couple of times that day while
accelerating. When it stalled, it took about 5
minutes to get it going which it wasn't doing before I
got it fixed. Took it back to the mechanic.
This time he got a code for a crank sensor. He put
one in and said to try the car. It still is doing
the same thing. Therefore, what could this problem
be because it is dangerous driving a car that stalls
like that?
Answer:
Your stalling problem may be cause by the fuel pump.
Replacing it and the fuel filter to repair your
problem.
Question:
1999 Chevrolet Corsica mileage: 141,000. Just
recently, during the first mile of the day, the car will
cut off. Sometimes, the car will start again
and run OK. Other times the motor will start and
run but the car will not go. I have had a mechanic
check it and he can find nothing wrong. ?
Answer:
Your stalling problem may be cause by the fuel pump.
Replacing it and the fuel filter to repair your problem. 
Repair Topics / Stalls / Stalls-1 / Stalls-2 / Stalls-3 / Stalls-4 / Stalls-5 / Stalls-6 / Stalls-7 / Stalls-8
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