It can be frustrating to drive your car for miles on the highway only for the car to lose power and stop completely.
An understanding of how the engine works will reveal possible solutions. Your car needs fuel, coolant, engine oil, and electricity to operate.
The absence of any of these will cause the car to stall.
Reasons why your car engine starts then stops
There are obvious reasons you must first diagnose:
Lack of Fuel
Your car needs fuel to run. Your fuel gauge should give a low fuel warning, but there are times when the fuel gauge is faulty. In this case, you will assume you have fuel when there is none. During extremely cold weather, the fuel system can freeze, which will prevent fuel from reaching where it is needed.
In other cases, the car will stall due to a fuel pump leak. The internal combustion unit requires a certain amount of fuel to keep the car moving. A fuel leak means too little fuel is heading to the combustion chamber. It is extremely dangerous to travel with a leaking fuel pump.
Anti-Theft Alarm System
Car alarms can range from simple to complex. There are alarm systems that cut off the engine power during unauthorized entry and prevent the car from moving. You may need to dismantle the alarm system and disconnect it. Some alarm systems come with manuals that you can use to learn how to reset the alarm.
Dirty Fuel Filter
If the car stops after turning the ignition, the problem could be a clogged fuel filter. The issues are not serious, and you can use a carburetor cleaner to clean the fuel filter system. First, disconnect the air filter outlet, and when the ignition system returns to the on position, spray some of the carburetor sprays through the throttle body.
If that doesn’t work, you will need to replace your fuel filter and check the fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, and ballast tank.
Faulty Spark Plugs
The internal combustion engine operates by igniting an air/fuel mixture. The spark plugs provide the spark for this ignition. The pistons move up and down, causing movements in the crankshaft and wheel axles. When the spark plugs are faulty, there is a lack of ignition, and the car stops moving. A faulty camshaft sensor, crankshaft, rotors, camshaft sensor, or ECU can also interfere with the effective operation of the spark plugs.
Alternator Problems
The car uses both the battery and the alternator to keep moving. Both power most of the car’s electrical components. The battery is needed to provide current to the stator, which starts the engine. The alternator then takes over and keeps the car moving. If your alternator is not working, the car may stall.
Engine Control Unit (ECU)
The ECU is a computer system that controls various engine functions, including the fuel injection system. Since a vehicle needs fuel to move, any interference from the ECU will cause the car to stop after starting. The ECU controls engine components through a series of sensors. Over time, the sensors become faulty and transmit incorrect information to the ECU. You will need to take your car to a repair shop when this happens.
Fuel Injector
The fuel injection sensor is closely related to the ECU. Fuel is injected into the internal combustion chamber under high pressure. A sensor is attached to the fuel injection system, and this constantly sends information to the ECU. The ECU will adjust the fuel pressure accordingly based on the information from the sensor. If the sensor is not working properly, the car’s engine will stop running after starting.
Faulty Ignition Switch
If your ignition switch is damaged, you can start the car normally, and after driving a few kilometers, the car stops completely. You will notice a loss of power before the car stops. With a faulty ignition switch, you will need to check the wear on the switch contacts. Your mechanic can help you.
Other points to check are the throttle body. After repeated use, the throttle will start to malfunction due to carbon buildup. You can use carburetor cleaner to remove carbon deposits.
For ignition problems, you will need to open the engine and inspect each spark plug. What you are looking for is the gap between the electrodes. A good spark plug will have a grayish color. If the plugs are wet, it means too much fuel is entering the combustion chamber, and this interferes with ignition.
You will also be asked to check the operation of the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV). The system is vital for regulating combustion gases from the engine to the intake manifold. If the valve becomes faulty, too much air enters the intake manifold, and this will cause the car to stall.
Finally, you need to check the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems. The EGR helps reduce engine temperatures by reintroducing exhaust gases. Carbon deposits can block EGR valves, causing the car to stall. There could also be leaks that cause acceleration problems. You can remove the EGR unit and inspect it for leaks; carbon deposits can be removed with a carburetor cleaner.
Conclusion
Having your car stall in the middle of a journey can be frightening. It can be due to various malfunctions of engine parts. The first part is to rule out obvious causes like lack of fuel, faulty alarm system, fuel pump leaks, and a damaged radiator.