My engine stalls at idle or when slowing down?

Tiny
LEONA ARVIN
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 195,000 MILES
Acts like it is going to shut off when I stop or put it in park but does not.
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Saturday, October 28th, 2017 AT 5:59 PM

59 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Could be the IAC.

May need cleaning (or even replacing). Looks like this (the upper half will be showing) in this link.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/stall-at-idle

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/idle-air-control-valve-service

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

This thing controls idle.

While it is acting up, sometimes a nice tap on the metal part of the IAC will make it straighten up and run better.

This "better running" will possibly confirm that the IAC is indeed the problem. The "love tap" is not a fix just a test.

The Medic

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Saturday, October 28th, 2017 AT 6:44 PM
Tiny
STAN43351
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 102,000 MILES
My 2003 Dodge Caravan with 3.3 l V6 Flex stalls out when I run air conditioning on high with recirc on when I come to a stop. It starts right back up but when I put it in gear it stalls out again and I have to keep my foot on the gas to keep it running and get it to go. I have changed the crank and cam position sensors and the stalling problem has gotten better but it still does it so what else could be causing this?
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
It sounds like a vacuum leak, idle air control valve, or the throttle position sensor. Has the check engine light come on?

This guide can help you service the throttle bore

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

Let me know.

joe
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STAN43351
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No the check engine light has not come on since I replaced the cam and crank sensors.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
I would start by checking for vacuum leaks. Also, check the EGR valve to make sure it isn't carboned up and not working.

Let me know what you find.
Joe
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANGELAGRAHAM
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 83,000 MILES
My 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport has been giving me intermittent trouble for just over a year. While driving, the engine seems to be surging as though it is not getting enough fuel. The RPMs rev to 4000, especially when going up steep grades. When pulling out of the driveway, or accelerating after stopping at a stop sign, she sometimes stalls. After pulling her into park, she starts again right away. No lights have ever come on on the console, and when I have taken her to the Dodge Dealer and local mechanic nothing has shown up on their diagnostic equipment. No one can seem to decipher the problem. I have had the spark plugs and wires replaced, the transmission fluid changed, the fuel filter changed and have tried using fuel injecter cleaner. Nothing has rectified the problem. The oddity to it all is that she might work fine for weeks at a time, only to have the problem reoccur. I am at my wits end with this vehicle! Any suggestions?
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
On the fuel rail, that feeds the fuel injectors, where the fuel lines attach is the "fuel pressure regulator". A vacuum line attaches to this regulator. When the stalling condition exists, remove this vacuum line and plug the line with a golf tee or similar item. Then drive the vehicle and see what happens. Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AMY2977
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 220,000 MILES
I was just wondering if any one can help me figure out what is wrong with my van. Almost everytime I start it it will die out as soon as I put it in gear. I starts back up immediatly but will sometimes just die out again as soon as it goes in gear. Also it jumps a lot and the rpm's flucuate a lot when I stop at lights or go to slow down to stop at lights the sometimes it will cut out and sometimes not. I have put a computer on it but it is not sending out any codes everytime I take it to the place. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them. Also when I go to stop there is a jerking forward motion to I am not for sure if that is part of the same problem just thought I would give you all the details.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
You may have a bad IAC ( idle air control) but try cleaning the throttle body first. Remove the intake snorkel, have someone hold the throttle wide open for you and scrub the back side of the throttle plate and surrounding bore with an old tooth brush and some carb cleaner. Be sure to spray some into the small holes next to the throttle plate. That should help stabilize the idle. If it still has a problem, replace the IAC.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TADAM74811
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 73,000 MILES
My 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan with 3.3 engine stalls when first started unless you hold the gas pedal part way down and wait about 1 minute. It will also do this, and /or hesitate on initial accelleration when restarting after it has been parked a while. It all clears up after a minute, and the car runs great at rpms above idle. The engine does occasionally seem to misfire (sounds like it is going to stall) when idling at a traffic light with a warm engine. There are no codes, and I have had it to 3 mechanics including the dealer, and they can't figure it out. The upstream O2 sensor, and MAT and fuel pump and filter have been replaced. Fuel system cleaner seems to cause a small improvement and the 3M fuel system cleaner kit also seemed to help for a while.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Has the idle air control motor been checked or cleaned?
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TADAM74811
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
That was it. Pulled out the Idle air valve, and the valve was stuck tight. Cleaned it and it moves freely. Put it back in, and the trouble that 4 mechanics couldn't find is gone!
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Great. I'm glad to hear you got it fixed. Let us know if you have questions in the future.

Take care,

Joe
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
I just saw the positive feedback. Thanks! It's appreciated.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JASONBE91
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2003 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 250,000 MILES
My van stalls and lurches forward a couple of inches when I put it into gear (drive or reverse) when the engine is cold. When the engine warms up it seems to work and drive fine and I can put it into gear without a problem. Everything else seems pretty normal.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:35 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

This sounds like the torque converter is locked up when it is cold and stall the engine until it releases.

Does the transmission work correctly?

When was the last time you changed the oil/filter in the transmission?

Is the check engine light on? If it is, do you know the code? A parts store can read it for you for free.

Roy

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-service-an-automatic-transmission
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:35 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JASONBE91
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks for the quick reply. I just bought this van a couple of days ago. There is no check engine lights, and I have never even looked at the transmission fluid. The transmission did seem to have a problem downshifting when slowing the vehicle down quickly. (It would take a few seconds to down shift and the vehicle shuttered a little bit) I did not notice the downshifting problem when I bought the van. Thank you :)
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:35 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Then I would start by changing the transmission fluid and see if that helps the issue.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:35 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JASONBE91
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I took it to a mechanic and he said it was the torque converter. Thank you for the help.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:35 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 AT 11:35 AM (Merged)

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