A car stalling is when your carâs engine suddenly dies. Itâs not a pleasant occurrence, but this post will help you learn what to do when your car stalls. Weâll also discuss the potential causes and youâll get an idea of the repairs you might need to do if your car stalls. Letâs begin:
What To Do If Your Car Is Stalling
If your car stalls, donât panic; panicking will not help anyone in this situation. If the car stalls while youâre driving along, hereâs what you need to do:
- Donât brake unless thereâs a car or an obstacle in front of you. Instead, let the car coast until you can find a safe space to pull over. If possible, find a parking lot to stop which will give you a lot of space and away from danger.
- If not, stop on the side of the road where safe. Donât forget to use your turn signals when you pull over.
- Once you pull over, engage the parking brake and turn on the hazard lights.
- Try restarting the car. Depending on the cause, you may be able to get the car running again and you may be able to get the car to the nearest repair shop.
- If the car wonât start, then call a towing service in your area. You can either tow your car to a repair shop or back home if you want to work on the car on your own.
If you happen to stall at a red light, turn on your hazard lights. Then push the car out of traffic so you can safely inspect the car or call for help. If the car wonât start again, then itâs best to call for a tow to get you back home or to the nearest auto repair shop.
Trying to troubleshoot the car on the side of the road can be dangerous. And even if you managed to stop at a parking lot, itâs best to do it at home since troubleshooting a car â especially a modern one â requires various tools and will take some time.
Potential Causes For Car Stalling
A car engine is very complex and thereâs a myriad of potential causes for your car stalling. Here are the potential causes:
1. Battery System Issues
Your car has a battery that it uses to start the engine and power accessories when the engine is off. Over time, this battery will lose its ability to hold a charge to a point where it can no longer support the car.
The battery is charged by an alternator. This device runs on the engineâs serpentine belt and it charges the battery as you drive along as well as power electrical accessories. When the battery is dead, it will overwork the alternator to the point it can no longer support the carâs essential components and causes the engine to die.
Car batteries typically last between 1 â 2 years, although some expensive and heavy-duty ones may last up to three years if your car doesnât have a stop-start system. If youâre due for a battery change, this might be the reason your car stalled.
If not, the battery may be dead because the alternator isnât charging properly. In this case, youâll need to either service or replace the alternator along with the battery.
2. Ignition System Issues
Your carâs engine runs by combusting the fuel and air mixture inside the engine cylinders. The engine uses an ignition system to create a spark in the cylinders and combust the mixture. This system consists of spark plugs and ignition coils which deliver power to the spark plugs. It will also have an ignition cable if your car happens to have a distributor-type coil.
Keep in mind that diesel engines donât have an ignition system. The high compression design of diesel engines is enough to combust the fuel and air mixture on its own. So, if you own a diesel, you can skip this section.
Anyway, if one of these components fails, your engine wonât have the necessary spark to combust the fuel and air mixture. In most cases, this will cause your engine to misfire and lose performance. But in severe cases, it can also cause the engine to die out.
Both the spark plugs and ignition coils will wear out over time. Spark plugs usually last for about 25,000 miles depending on the quality while ignition coils usually last for 100,000 miles. If youâre due for a change, this might be the cause.
3. Air Intake System Issues
As mentioned, your car runs by combusting the air and fuel mixture inside the cylinder. So, your car has an air intake system that delivers air into the engineâs cylinders.
This system consists of many components, including the air intake tubing, Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor, and the throttle body amongst others. If one or more of these components are faulty, the engine wonât get enough air and it canât combust the fuel to keep the engine running.
The problem could be as simple as a dirty and clogged air filter. The system has a filter inside the box to filter out dust and debris and prevent them from getting into and damaging the engine. Over time, the filter can clog up and prevent enough air from entering the engine.
However, it may also be something more complicated like a faulty MAF sensor or a bad throttle body. These problems will also prevent your engine from getting enough air which leads to the car stalling.
4. Fuel System Problems
Along with air, your car needs fuel to burn. The fuel delivery system essentially consists of the fuel pump, lines, and fuel injector. If the pump or injector is faulty, or the fuel line is damaged, then your engine wonât get the fuel it needs.
Additionally, the engine also has a fuel filter that filters out dirt and debris from the fuel before it enters the engine. This filter needs to be changed around every 30,000 miles. If they clog up, then it will result in low fuel pressure and not enough fuel entering the engine.
5. Engine Timing Issues
All internal combustion engines have either a timing belt or chain. The timing belt/chain synchronizes the movement and timing of various moving parts in the engine by connecting the camshaft and crankshaft.
We wonât get into the details, the gist of it is that the movement and timing of your engineâs internal parts have to be synchronized, and thatâs the job of the timing belt or chain.
Over time, the timing belt/chain will wear out, and eventually, the engine may desynchronize. This can result in the engine stalling, but worse, this can cause severe internal engine damage, and needless to say, those are very costly.
Timing belts usually last for about 60,000 miles. Meanwhile, timing chains usually last between 150,000 to 200,000 miles, although in some cars it may wear as early as 100,000 miles.
6. Internal Engine Damage
Another possible cause is damage to the internal components of the engine. This is more likely if youâre running an old car that hasnât been maintained properly. Newer cars shouldnât have damage to internal components unless itâs severely neglected.
Some potential problems include blown head gasket, damaged pistons or bad piston rings, or bent valves. But as mentioned, this is more likely in older cars or cars that are severely neglected.
Car Stalling: How To Diagnose
Diagnosing a stalling a car is not going to be easy. There are quite literally hundreds of components that can go wrong and cause the car to stall. The easiest way would be to check the battery system first:
1. Checking The Battery
So, how do you know if the battery is dead? Check electrical accessories in the car. Make sure the ignition key is in the âACCâ position, and see if the radio, windows, or lights work. If they donât work, then either your battery is dead or thereâs an issue with the electrical system thatâs preventing the flow of electricity.
The accessories may still work if the battery still holds a small charge. In this case, try starting the car and listen to how it cranks. If the crank is weak or the car doesnât crank, then you probably have a weak battery. This may also be a starter motor issue, but this wonât have caused the engine to stall.
If the car cranks fine, this means there was something else causing the car to stall. You can also check the batteryâs condition if you happen to have a multimeter with you:
If it happens to be a battery issue, you can get the car running again by jumpstarting the car. However, you will still need to replace the carâs battery afterward. Additionally, youâll need to check whether or not your alternator is working. If the alternator is faulty, youâll need to replace that as well. Otherwise, the new battery will die again very soon.
2. Scan The OBD System
If youâve established that the battery is fine, then itâs likely a problem with one of the engine components, such as the ignition, air intake, and fuel system. If the problem lies with these engine components, you should see a check engine light on your dashboard.
Your car has an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system. When something is wrong with the engine, the car will register a trouble code in the OBD system which triggers the check engine light. You can then scan the OBD system and find the trouble code.
The trouble codes wonât tell you the exact cause, but they will let you know whatâs wrong with the car and help to make it easier to diagnose. Hereâs how to use an OBD scanner:
Keep in mind this method is for cars after 1996 with an OBD-2 system. Cars before 1996 had OBD-1 systems and theyâre not universal. Youâll need to research further on how to use the OBD-1 system in your carâs specific make and model.
Anyway, once you find the trouble code, you can narrow down the possibilities and help you diagnose the problem. For example, the P0505 or P0506 codes mean that thereâs either a vacuum leak or a problem with the idle air control valve (IACV).
Either way, both of these problems relate to the air intake system and cause a less-than-optimal air to fuel mixture which can cause the car to stall, particularly when idling.
There are thousands of these trouble codes. So, take note of the codes you see in the OBD scanner, and then check what the trouble code means and research what the potential causes are.
Car Stalling: What If I Donât See A Check Engine Light?
Itâs unlikely that an engine problem wonât trigger a check engine light, but it can happen. This is where it gets tricky, as this means youâll have to troubleshoot on your own without the help of the OBD scanner.
We recommend watching the video above from ChrisFix if you have difficulties starting the car after it stalls. Or you can also read our guide on how to troubleshoot a car that cranks but wonât start. Chances are whateverâs preventing your car from starting, is the cause of your car stalling in the first place.
If you experience intermittent stalling, we recommend checking the fuel system. Intermittent stalling is usually caused by inconsistent and low fuel pressure, which can be caused by either a bad fuel pump or clogged fuel lines or filters.
Bottom line, troubleshooting a stalling car will be difficult and will take some time without the help of an OBD scanner. If you donât see a check engine light, then we recommend taking your car to a trusted repair shop and having a professional mechanic troubleshoot the problem for you.
Car Stalling: Repair Cost Estimates
So, after troubleshooting and finding out the cause, youâre going to want to repair it to make sure your car doesnât stall again in the future. Here are the repair cost estimates, depending on what you need to repair or replace:
1. Cost Estimate: If You Need A New Battery
Most car batteries cost between $50 to $250 depending on the type and quality. The labor cost of replacing the battery is usually included in the price, although some may charge as much as an extra $100 for the labor. You can easily replace the battery yourself to save money.
Keep in mind that you should check the alternator every time you change the battery. If the alternator isnât charging properly, then the battery will go flat again very soon.
If you have a bad alternator, youâre going to have to either rebuild or replace it. Rebuilding an alternator usually costs between $50 â $150, while replacing an alternator costs between $350 â $500 including labor.
Speaking from experience, rebuilding an alternator is more of a short-term solution. Thereâs a chance the alternator will fail again within a year and youâll need to replace them. If you have the budget, we recommend replacing rather than rebuilding the alternator.
2. Cost Estimate For Ignition System
As mentioned, the three main components in the ignition system that you may need to replace are the spark plugs, the ignition coils, and the ignition cables if you have a distributor-type ignition system.
Spark plugs are cheap to replace. A set of spark plugs are usually around $50 â $100 depending on the brand and quality. Although you may need to shell out more money if your engine has more than six cylinders as you need more spark plugs. The labor for a spark plug replacement is usually around $120 â $160 for most cars.
Meanwhile, the ignition coil is slightly more expensive. Whether you have a coil-on-plug system or a distributor-type ignition coil, it will set you back between $250 â $450 including labor. And if you need to replace the ignition cables, a set of them can cost anywhere between $80 â $300 depending on the make and model.
The good news is that the ignition system is relatively easy to work on and you can do it yourself to save some money. The video above shows how to replace the spark plugs and ignition coil in a coil-on-plug system.
A distributor-type coil isnât too difficult to replace either. The difference is that you need to mark the connections in the ignition coil to make sure the ignition cables are connected to the correct cylinders. As long as you have a set of common hand tools, you should be able to do the job yourself.
3. Cost Estimate For Air Intake Problems
The most common air intake problem that can cause a car to stall are a clogged air filter, faulty MAF sensor, vacuum line leaks, and a bad idle air control valve. Hereâs how much to fix them:
- A new air filter costs between $20 â $85, with another $40 â $85 for labor. However, replacing the air filter on your own is very easy: simply locate the air intake box, undo a few clips, open the air intake and replace the air filter inside it with a new one.
- MAF sensor costs about $300 on average to replace including labor. However, some cars may cost more than this. Replacing the MAF sensor usually isnât too difficult and you can do it yourself to save money.
- A vacuum leak that happens at the vacuum line will cost between $50 â $100. However, a vacuum leak may happen in other parts such as at the EVAP system. Read our guide to vacuum leaks to learn more.
- The idle air control valve (IACV) is the likely culprit if your engine stalls when idling. The IACV controls airflow for the engine during idling, and a faulty IACV might prevent the engine from getting enough air. It costs between $150 â $520 to replace them.
4. Cost Estimate For Fuel System Issues
As mentioned, if you experience intermittent stalling, itâs likely to be a fuel system problem. Here are the estimates to replace various fuel system parts:
- A faulty fuel pump will cost between $290 â $590 to replace including labor.
- Fuel injectors are more expensive and cost between $600 â $750 to replace on average, including labor.
- Fuel filters on the other hand typically cost between $15 â $60 for the parts, but labor may bring the total cost to between $100 â $300 depending on the carâs make and model.
5. Cost Estimate For Timing Issue And Internal Damage
This is where it gets really expensive and prepare your bank accounts. If you have an engine timing issue, the timing chain or belt will likely need replacing. Timing belts are still relatively affordable, usually costing between $300 â $500.
However, timing chains can get expensive. Itâs usually between $400 â $800. But some cars, especially cars with larger engines, can cost up to $2,000 to replace the timing chain. Replacing the timing chain wonât require specialized tools, but the complexity of the job means you wonât be able to do this at home unless youâre a professional mechanic.
Now, internal engine damage is where it gets really expensive. In most cases, youâll need an engine rebuild or replace the engine entirely. An engine rebuild can cost anywhere between $1,500 â $4,500 depending on the parts you need to replace and engine complexity. Expect luxury and performance cars to cost even more.
Meanwhile, an engine replacement costs about the same. However, you can save money by getting a used engine â if you manage to find one for your car. They usually cost between $500 â $1,500. The downside is that these engines may not be in great condition, and the warranty is much more limited.
Since this is a major repair job, youâre unlikely to be able to do this yourself as it requires a lot of time, skill, and specialized tools. If you canât afford the repair costs, then maybe itâs time to scrap your car.
Car Stalling: In Conclusion
Internal combustion engines are incredibly complex with hundreds of different components that work together to keep them running. As such, thereâs a lot of possibility on why your car stalled.
Our advice is to check the battery system first as thatâs the easiest one to diagnose. If the battery system is fine, youâre likely looking at an engine problem in which case you will probably see a check engine light illuminating.
This will make the diagnosing job a lot easier, as you can use an OBD scanner to pull the trouble codes from the OBD system. These codes will narrow down the possibilities and it will be much easier for you to diagnose the problem.
Once you find the problem, replace or repair the parts as necessary to prevent further problems with your engine. Hopefully, this has been a helpful guide and will help you prevent your car from stalling again in the future. Good luck!
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