Easy step by step guide on how to repair an automotive engine that stalls at idle, this information is presented in order of popularity and pertains to most vehicles.
Difficulty Scale: 4 of 10
Begin with the vehicle on level ground engine off (cold) with the emergency brake set.
The "check engine" warning lamp is warning the driver there is a problem which could pertain to the engine stalling at idle. Learn more
Step 1 - When a vacuum hose breaks or cracks it
can fall off causing the engine to lose vacuum and stall at idle. Vacuum hoses are
meant to transfer engine vacuum to various accessories such as a brake power booster.
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more
Step 2 - If an air intake boot becomes torn or
disconnected it will cause the engine to stall at idle. An air intake boot is used
to transfer air from the mass air flow sensor to the throttle actuator.
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Step 3 - When an idle air control valve fails
it will cause the engine to stall at idle. On an older engine, an idle air control
motor is responsible for setting the idle speed of the engine.
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Step 4 - Coking is a tar like substance impedes
air flow which disrupts the integrity of the computer system and can cause the engine
to stall, and may have hard starting as well, this condition naturally occurs in
the intake system of over time.
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