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10 Reasons Why a Car Can Suddenly Stall on the Move

When your car stalls while you’re driving, it’s like the ride is over! It’s a problem that needs to be addressed immediately, as other systems shut down along with the engine. There are various reasons why this can happen. Some are quite simple and commonplace. Others are non-trivial and less common. Let’s look at the reasons why a car may stall while driving. And while you’re at it, why not take advantage of the exciting Richard casino no deposit bonus to add some extra thrill to your day?

1. The fuel pump is broken

When there is no or insufficient fuel coming out of the tank, the car may stall while driving. If the fuel pump that delivers fuel from the tank to the engine is broken, the pressure required for injection will not be available. And the engine will stall after running for perhaps a few seconds.

It also happens that the pump itself is in good working order, but the fuel inlet mesh in the tank is clogged, and it is unable to pass a sufficient volume of fuel.

In diesel engines and engines with direct two-pump injection, the problems listed here may be compounded by wear on the high-pressure fuel pump or its drive. This is not uncommon in high-mileage vehicles. In such situations, the pump must be repaired or replaced.

2. Problems with the idle speed regulator

An idle speed sensor failure can cause the vehicle to stall suddenly. The idle speed regulator is a small part that is responsible for the appropriate engine speed. It is installed in the bypass channel of the intake system and supplies a small amount of air when the throttle is closed. More air is needed to warm up the engine, and less air is needed when it reaches operating temperature.

This is what this part is responsible for. Its failure is a common reason why a car engine stalls. But only if it is injected. Due to a jammed idle speed regulator, the engine stops running when the accelerator pedal is released. If it remains with the stem extended, i.e. in the closed position, the car stalls at idle.

To understand that the problem is directly with the idle speed regulator, depress the accelerator pedal and crank the crankshaft with the starter. If the engine starts, but the number of revolutions increases, the idle speed regulator is damaged. In this case, it must be replaced.

3. Poor contact in the electrical circuit

The car starts easily, the engine runs smoothly, and the power does not drop. But while driving on a bumpy road, for example, the car hits a pothole and immediately stalls. Perhaps the problem is electrical – poor contact in the electrical circuit.

Most often, the mass is the wire that goes to the body. This problem can be easily solved by simply stripping or “pulling” the contact. Another option is to attach an additional wire from the power unit to the body.

The condition of other terminals and contacts in the electrical circuit is also important. They should not be heavily oxidised, dirty or burnt, and the braid should not have any mechanical damage. Such defects must be eliminated.

But while problems in the electronics, which can also be the reason why the motor suddenly stalls, are well detected during computer diagnostics, electrical problems are not detected during such testing. Therefore, visual inspection is the best option here.

4. Problems in the electronics

Wiring faults can affect injector operation. Electronic malfunctions are among the rarer faults that can cause the vehicle to stall. They are not easily classified. In modern cars, these faults include wiring faults that affect the injector.

In older machines, there may be a “floating” fault in the ignition system. To identify these problems, you need to conduct a thorough diagnosis of the individual components.

5. Poor quality fuel has been filled

The vehicle may stall due to poor fuel quality. Some cars are very sensitive to fuel quality. Therefore, if you put “bad” petrol or diesel in the tank, the car may not start because of this. If you do fill up with low-quality fuel, drain it from the tank and replace the fuel filter. In the future, refuel only at trusted petrol stations.

6. The fuel filter is heavily clogged

The electronic control unit in the vehicle can adapt to poor quality petrol. The engine will lose traction, its power will decrease, but it will most likely not stop working. Dirt in petrol or diesel is another matter.

If the car stalls at speed, it may be because the engine is running out of fuel. This means that the fuel filter is clogged, and it cannot pass the required amount of fuel through.

This problem is relevant for both domestic and foreign cars. But in older models, the fuel filter is clogged more often. It is necessary to remove the petrol pump, change the filter and flush the fuel tank if it is clogged.

7. The air duct is leaking

If the air duct corrugation is leaking, the vehicle can also stall. In this case, air is sucked in, bypassing the mass air flow sensor. As a result, the control unit receives incorrect data. The engine starts to run erratically, and the car stalls, both while driving and at idle speed.

The problem may also be that the air filter is dirty. In this case, it needs to be replaced. In addition, you should check the inlet to see if it is blocked by anything or if water has entered it.

8. The throttle valve is dirty

Defects in the air filter cause the throttle plate to become dirty. This can also cause the engine to stall while driving. The throttle valve serves to regulate the air supply to the engine. You also need to pay attention to the condition of the position sensor, which is a variable resistor mounted on the throttle axis.

If the throttle is dirty, it can “mislead” the electronics. Thus, in fact, the deposits block the channel cross-section, and it will seem to the electronics that the throttle is open.

If the flap is not closed, air will be sucked into the cylinders in excess, depleting the combustible mixture. It does not ignite, causing the engine to stall. In this case, the throttle valve needs to be cleaned from the inside with special car care products. If the position sensor is broken, it needs to be replaced. This procedure is simple and the parts are inexpensive.

The car may stall during gear changes

If the engine stalls during gear shifting, when the engine is losing speed, this may be due to a defect in the throttle damper. This is a part that helps the throttle to return smoothly to its original position without revs dips.

To make sure that the problem is directly in the damper:

  1. warm up the engine thoroughly;
  2. open the throttle with your hands and release it abruptly.
  3. if the damper is in good condition, the throttle will quickly return to its original position, but not quite. Then it will slow down and finally reach the dead centre in one or two seconds. If it returns to its original position instantly, the damper needs to be replaced.
  4. if your car is not equipped with a damper and it stalls only after the engine has reached very high speeds, the engine control unit may be faulty. But the unit can be “retrained” to behave correctly in such situations. To do this, gently ease off the throttle while driving at high speeds, and the problem will be resolved over time.

9. The vacuum booster membrane is damaged

In this case, the vehicle stalls when the brake pedal is applied. The braking system is also connected to the engine. A vacuum hose runs from the vacuum booster to the intake manifold.

If the diaphragm is damaged, it does not have time to create a vacuum when braking hard. This causes the combustion mixture to be severely leaned, as a certain amount of air from the brake system enters the mixture. This causes the engine to stall. Replace the gaskets, diaphragm, and vacuum hose.

10. Crankshaft position sensor is broken

The crankshaft position sensor is very important for the engine. If the machine stalls at idle speed, the crankshaft position sensor may be broken. Its readings are very important for engine operation. In order for the electronic control unit to deliver fuel and spark in time, it needs to understand the position of the pistons. Thus, if the crankshaft position sensor does not work, the car will not be able to drive. It is impossible to repair this part and it will have to be replaced.