What You Need to Know About Engine Stalling

Information on Engine Stalling

When you stall, it usually means you’re procrastinating on your homework. When your car stalls, it means the engine has died, which can be a really frustrating and even scary experience. In fact, your car engine can even stop running while you’re driving. But don’t panic, because we’re here to thoroughly prepare you for a car engine stall in the event it ever happens.

Why is my car stalling?

Car engines quit because of an airflow, fuel or mechanical issue. Some common reasons for motor vehicle stalls include:

An empty gas tank or fuel mixture with too much moisture
A faulty fuel pump, alternator or EGR valve
A dead battery
A dirty air filter
Low fuel pressure (if your car only stalls on inclines this may be the case)
Problems with releasing the clutch (manual transmission vehicles only)

safe-driving No, not that kind of stall.

Stalling in Manual vs Automatic Transmission Vehicles

If you have a manual transmission, your car is more likely to stall. Why? Because with a stick shift, it’s all about that clutch. If you forget to engage the clutch or switch into the neutral gear when stopping, you can cause the engine to stall.

safe-driving How you feel when your engine stalls at a light.

Meanwhile, automatic vehicles use what’s called a torque converter to manage transmission fluid and keep your engine running while at a stop. If your torque converter fails, the engine can stall out. Torque converters can fail for many reasons, including dirty fluid, overheating and problems with stall speed, which is the RPM at which your torque converter shifts power from the engine to the automatic transmission. In order to check your torque converter, you might have to perform a stall-speed test.

How to perform a stall-speed test

First, find out what your car’s RPM should be, then locate your tachometer (tool that measures RPM).
Place immobilizers behind your wheels to prevent them from moving. Crank that parking brake.
Press the foot brake all the way to the floor and start your engine. Vroom, vroom. Change gears from park into drive, but instead of hitting the gas pedal, do not take your foot off the brake. We’ll repeat: do not take your foot off the brake!
Keep pressing the brake pedal, but use your other foot to engage the accelerator pedal for a maximum of five seconds. Check your tachometer for the stall speed and see if it reads lower than it should be.
If you need to get a new torque converter, visit an auto shop. Or, if this whole process sounds like something you totally want to avoid, just head to a mechanic and ask them about performing a stall-speed test for you.

What Happens When Your Car Stalls?

If the engine quits while you’re driving, the car will first lose power steering and then power brakes. Your first course of action should be to apply the foot brake and steer gradually over to the side of the road. Then, turn on your hazard lights and try to restart your car. If you cannot restart it, call an auto mechanic or friend with jumper cables for help.

If your engine stalls out, use these tips so that you don’t feel scared or stuck. With your newfound knowledge, you’ll be able to diagnose the problem or find someone who can help.