Engine stalls can occur for many reasons, including failing sensors, compression issues, and problems within the ignition system. Unfortunately, today’s vehicles are designed with such a high level of complexity that troubleshooting the issue is difficult. There are many parts that can potentially contribute to the stall.

With this in mind, we’ll explore your car’s engine, ignition system, and other components. We’ll approach them with the goal of understanding which parts can play key roles in preventing your vehicle’s engine from running. The circumstances under which stalling occurs will, in part, dictate the components to check. This will become clearer below.

Check For Sufficient Fuel

Your engine obviously needs fuel in order to operate. But even if it receives fuel, the volume may be insufficient to keep it running. If your engine stalls while you’re driving, and the reason is due to insufficient fuel, the fuel pump is likely failing.

The pump is responsible for creating pressure in the line. If it fails, the pressure will dissipate, and your engine will receive too little fuel. This causes a stall. You will be unable to restart your car.

If your engine stalls when you try to cold start it, the problem is still likely to be too little fuel. But in this case, the fuel pump is unlikely to be the culprit. Instead, it may be a failing airflow sensor (described in more detail below) that is delivering bad data to your vehicle’s powertrain control module (PCM). This might be leaning out the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders.

Look For Ignition System Problems

There are several components that comprise your vehicle’s ignition system. These include the ignition coil, distributor, distributor cap, rotor, and spark plugs. These parts work together to perform a primary job: to ignite the air-fuel mixture in your engine’s cylinders. It accomplishes this task by transferring an electrical current from your ignition coil to your spark plugs. The transfer of the current depends on each part along the way.

If any component in your ignition system fails – or even falters – the current will be interrupted. This will cause your engine to stall. Related to this issue is the operation of your crankshaft position sensor (CPS). This is a sensor located in your engine that monitors your crankshaft. It sends the data to the PCM, which uses it to control ignition timing. If the CPS fails (due to wear and tear, or prolonged exposure to high temperatures), your PCM may lower your car’s idle, causing your engine to stall.

Are Your Car’s Sensors Failing?

Your vehicle is equipped with several sensors that deliver important data to your PCM. The PCM acts upon this data to ensure your engine runs efficiently. If any of the sensors malfunction, the computer will receive compromised data, or none at all. As you might suspect, this can lead to problems with your engine’s performance.

For example, the mass airflow sensor (MAS) is tasked with monitoring the amount of air that flows into your car’s engine. It relays this information to the PCM, which makes changes in the amount of fuel sent to the cylinders. If the sensor become contaminated, or it fails, the PCM may lean out the air-fuel mix.

The manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor also plays a key role. It monitors the load placed on your engine and sends the data to the PCM. The computer uses the information to optimize ignition timing. As with the MAS, a failing MAP can cause the PCM to lean out the air-fuel mix, and thus cause a stall.

Other factors that can cause stalling include worn spark plugs, vacuum leaks, a faulty exhaust valve, and even a failing coolant sensor. In most cases, troubleshooting the problem requires the expertise of a trained mechanic.

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We all know what neglect can do to the human body. Eating the wrong foods, smoking, and not exercising can cause you to become sluggish and ill health can result. The same holds true for your car. Not maintaining its internal systems can lead to catastrophic failure, which means it may no longer run at all. Here are a few general tips for keeping your car going with proper maintenance.

1. Everyone knows you need to put gasoline into your car or it will stop running. Not everyone realizes how critically important oil is to the life of an automobile. Engine oil has a limited life span and after a time, starts to “carbonize” and lose its lubricating quality and effectiveness. If you fail to change the oil, carbon deposits will start clogging the oil pick-up screen, causing the oil supply to the engine to decrease and causing friction. It’s also important to check the oil level periodically to keep your car running smoothly.

2. On a very hot day, the human body needs water so it doesn’t overheat. For your car, the same concept is in effect. Make sure that the coolant level is at maximum to keep your engine from getting too hot, which will affect its performance.

3. Several parts of your car’s engine need to be checked out by a professional mechanic periodically, since your engine will not function well if these areas are neglected. Components such as fuel and air filters, timing belt, and spark plugs should be part of your car’s routine tune-up.

4. Make sure battery terminals aren’t loose or corroded and check for cracks, leaks or damage. If there is an acid leak from the battery, have it replaced right away, as acid can destroy any other components nearby if left unchecked.

5. Address the minor things that may come up with your car before they escalate. Let’s say you hear a tapping noise in the engine or your car is “pulling” to one side. Have it checked out even if you feel it’s not very significant. Many people ignore the “check engine” light on the dashboard to their detriment. That light is telling you that there is an issue with the engine that needs your attention. Having a once-over can give you peace of mind so that it doesn’t become a bigger issue later.

You really don’t need to be a mechanic to take care of your car properly. If you perform all the preventive maintenance that is recommended, you’ll keep it going well into the future. Just as you keep your health on track with check-ups, taking care of your car before there’s a problem can keep it going for years to come.

Ruth Williams is a journalist with many interests which include online degree programs and online degrees for working women.

When this time of year comes around again in Utah, I get excited. On the one hand, the snow no longer interferes with my daily life, but it still caps the scenic mountains all around us. Also around this time of year, it is a good idea to have your car inspected by a Utah car service center. All the snow, ice, potholes and cold temperatures have, no doubt, taken their toll on your car. Although the signs of trouble aren’t always noticed, they are usually there. If not, then why would summer be the busiest time for Orem, Utah auto repair shops?

As most know, your tires are very important to the ability to travel safely in a car. It is usually not very difficult to notice problems with your tires, but driving through snow makes tire problem recognition fairly difficult. Now that the roads are smooth and dry, pay attention to which side of the road your car is pulling to. Try to listen for unusually loud noise coming from your tires. Extreme temperatures are tough on rubber, so take a look at the side walls of your tires to make sure there are no cracks or damage. Potholes and Utah ice can do a number on your suspension, too. If you bottom out while going over the slightest bump, go to an Orem auto repair shop and have your struts checked out.

After a big snowfall, most with smaller cars have to wait until the snow plows clear a path and melt the ice with the salt. This is a welcome service to most, but be careful that the salt doesn’t ruin the metal parts and the paint job on your car. If it is washed off within a reasonable amount of time, it rarely causes problems. But when the road salt is allowed to cake onto the inside of a fender well, it can deteriorate whatever paint is there. If you ask a mechanic that specialized in Orem, Utah auto repair, he’ll probably tell you that the best way to avoid damage to a paint job is put on coats of wax. And the best way to protect the metal underneath the car is to pressure wash it every once in a while. If you haven’t done either of these in while, any Utah auto service center can help you.

On a less cosmetic note, check the hoses, belts, wires and anything else that is wrapped in or made out of rubber. As stated in the paragraph about tires, rubber does not like really cold weather. It becomes brittle and it cracks. If you’re taking a trip to Moab, Yellowstone or California, you do not want a belt or hose to go out on you. Car repair shops in Orem, Utah will be much more convenient for you than some random mechanic on the way to California.

This article wasn’t meant to give you every symptom of disrepair that can exist in your car. It was simple meant to tell people in Utah to pay their car service center a visit soon after a hard winter like this one to make sure the car will survive until next winter.

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When driving a car with a manual transmission, you know that the clutch is an essential part of the vehicle’s operation. It decouples the engine from the transmission, allowing the car engine to move independently.

Cars with automatic transmissions lack a clutch that would otherwise disconnect the engine from the tranny. They use a torque converter (TC) instead. It is a donut-shaped component that is located directly between your car’s engine and transmission. It transfers torque to the wheels of your vehicle. The faster your engine spins, the more torque the TC sends.

To illustrate, suppose that you were stopped at a red traffic light. While your engine idles, it moves slowly and sends a small bit of fluid to the torque converter. Even though the TC uses that fluid to send torque to your wheels, the small amount requires only light pressure on your brake pedal to prevent moving forward. If you were to accelerate, your engine would spin faster and send more fluid to the TC. In turn, the torque converter would send more torque to the wheels. You would need to apply more braking power in order to stop your car.

A Look Inside The Torque Converter

The TC is comprised of three main parts: the pump, turbine, and stator. The pump is made up of fins. Fluid enters the TC through the component’s middle and is flung outward by the pump’s fins as it spins. As the fluid exits, it creates a vacuum that draws more fluid into the torque converter.

The turbine, made up of blades, is attached to your vehicle’s transmission. As the turbine spins, it spins the tranny. The spinning activity is created by the fluid which enters the turbine from the outer perimeter and exits near the middle. However, before it exits, the fluid needs to change the direction in which it is flowing. That causes the turbine to spin.

Between the pump and the turbine lies the stator. It is responsible for changing the direction of the fluid (again) as it leaves the turbine on it way back toward the pump. The manner in which it accomplishes this is abrupt. The stator uses a clutch to connect to your transmission. As a result, it can only rotate in one direction. As fluid comes into the stator from the turbine, its direction is brusquely changed.

The activity taking place within the torque converter plays a dual role while you’re driving. First, it decouples the engine from the transmission, which allows you to bring your vehicle to a stop without letting the engine die. Second, it transmits torque to the wheels as you press down on your accelerator. That allows you to gain speed.

Late-model vehicles have an additional component on the torque converter called a lockup clutch. This allows the left and right sides to lock together, effectively rotating at the same rate. The result is better fuel efficiency and less slippage.

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Everyone’s life now-a-days revolves around their car. They use it to get to work, get home, take their family where they need to go, and to get away from it all. Without our cars we are in so much trouble. So what happens when your vehicle starts to make noises? Well, you start to worry. Is it just a normal wear and tear noise or is there something wrong with it?

Make no mistake machines have all kinds of noises and cars are no exception. As they get older they make more noises and these noises are divided between good and bad. Good noises are what you’d expect to hear out of your car. If your vehicle is over ten years old then it’s going to make some form of creaking, grinding, or vibration that’s related to its age. These are often non problematic and just the noise that your car makes.

Bad noises are noises that occur when they shouldn’t. Grinding, vibrations, and other noises can indicate problems if they happen when they shouldn’t and you might want to get your machine checked out. Typically you can make an educated guess of where the problem is based on where the noise is coming from and what happens when the car makes the sound. This may sound difficult to pin down but it’s easy when you think about it.

When your car is making sounds while you are braking it’s most likely a brake problem. Either your brakes are low, or they’re completely worn out. If you hear a noise while you go over bumps or into dips then you will need to have your suspension checked out. Whether you hear these noises in these places or somewhere else it’s a good idea to have your car taken in to have it checked out.

You’re going to want to catch any problems you car my have as soon as possible. You don’t want to wait until the small problem has caused a more serious and expensive problem. Your car may stop working causing you some serious headaches, or it can even malfunction while you’re driving your car causing a car accident.

Most engine related noises that aren’t healthy are usually accompanied by a performance impact. These can be poor gas mileage, rough acceleration, very hard starts, not starting, and rough idling. None of these are to be played around with and if something is happening you should address it. The average family only has one car and can’t afford to buy another, or do without it.

There are a few things you can do to keep these things from happening though. First off change your oil when you’re supposed to and get the tune ups at recommended dates. Have your brakes, suspension and undercarriage checked every few months for problems. Finally drive easy, your car is your friend and if you take care of it it will take care of you.

Knowing your life depends on your car running at it’s best its easy to see why taking care of it is so important. Keep it in good shape, and have it check regularly. Also, make sure to listen and feel for any problems that may arise. If changes or noises pop up take it in for a check up asap.

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