My car keeps dying every once in a while. It happens usually when I brake to stop. I had the air filter changed, I got a new muffler, etc. What could be causing this and how do I stop it. It died when I was on a steep him, and I rolled into the middle of the intersection and almost got hit. I don't want to get into an accident, I can't afford it.
It's not the battery; that's to start the car. It's probably not your alternator either (that is what provides the "juice" to the car) because while a bad alternator can cause the car to turn off when you stop, it would happen EVERY time you stop.
Is your car automatic or standard shift? Anyway, it could be several things. Your idle could be set too low. When the car is not in gear (moving forward basically for an automatic), the car is fed a minimal amount of fuel to keep the engine running. In automatic cars, there are many other things that can fail in this system; between the idle and normal driving - so keep that in mind. The car's thermostat can also effect the idle (when the car is cold, the idle is set to higher in that it takes more to rev the engine at a cold temperature than at a warm one). Does the car cut off when it's cold or after it's been running for a while? My last car would cut out after it the engine got warm because (get this) it had a sensor where if the car would overheat, it would just shut off (better than burning your engine out). Easy fix though - needed to add more coolant to my radiator. Morale of the story is with new cars, you have to real careful when making conclusions as to what is wrong. There are sensors/electronics everywhere that will cause your car to shut down as a precaution. Another (but unlikely) scenario is that your fuel pump could be going (although in my experience, when a fuel pump goes, you car shut off and stays off - it's not a gradual thing unfortunately!).
Supaman answered Tuesday December 14 2004, 8:12 pm: its not your battery, you dont need pimp my ride, and you do not need another car, most likely it is your carbuerator, you prolly say "what the heck is that." well get someone around you that knows alot about cars and ecspecially your idle cause thats your problem, your idle is to low, you can ajust the idle by little screws on your carburetor DONT AJUST THEM YOURSELF YOU WILL SCREW YOUR CAR UP make sure its someone who knows cars, but tell them to higher your idle and you will be set, you should idle around 750-1500 rpm's depending on the car. but mess with the idle and it should work...HAVAE FUN
chrissie9503 answered Sunday August 1 2004, 10:56 pm: You need to do further research to see if your vehicle is equipped with a idle air control valve. This is one of the main culpret that cause cars to die when idling or coming to a stop. Fords are bad with this issue. [ chrissie9503's advice column | Ask chrissie9503 A Question ]
MFS answered Wednesday June 16 2004, 11:29 pm: air filter and muffler won't do crap for this...
I'm guessing something a little more critical is the issue - a line/hose or electrical part. I assure you that I am the last person you want looking under your hood, but I do know when you should have your car looked at by someone that knows what they're doing.
Wouldn't you rather pay a mechanic now, than have to pay insurance premiums and purchase a new car later, after this one causes a major wreck? [ MFS's advice column | Ask MFS A Question ]
bAhAmAmA0250 answered Wednesday June 16 2004, 9:31 pm: So sell the car for the parts maybe somebody wants the parts of it and then save up and keep the money for a new car from the old car and have a garage sell and sell old things but make sure they are worth something and use that towards a new car-trix [ bAhAmAmA0250's advice column | Ask bAhAmAmA0250 A Question ]
advicegiver answered Wednesday June 16 2004, 9:27 pm: if you have a friend who is a macanic ask him to do it for free or ask yo mommy for some money!!
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