Tips

Four Reasons Why Your Engine Stalls

Your engine should never stall. If it does, there’s something wrong. University Auto Repair would be happy to inspect your engine to determine why it’s struggling and then recommend the appropriate repairs. There are four primary reasons why a vehicle’s engine will stall. Here is what they are.

1. Old Air Filter

To sound as if we’re teaching in Automotive 101 for just a moment, your vehicle needs air and fuel to start and run. Air mixes with gasoline so the spark plugs can ignite the engine and keep it running. You’ll notice on our list that one of three things is generally the reason why your engine keeps stalling. If your air filter is old it’s dirty, and a dirty air filter blocks the much-needed air your ignition system needs from making its way to the engine. Replace your air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles when needed.

2. Old Fuel Filter

Your fuel filter will get dirty over time, too, and it can clog completely. This, naturally, prevents fuel from making its way to your engine. All gasoline has a minor amount of dirt or sediment in it, even if you buy the premium kind with cleaner. This is why your car, truck, or SUV has a fuel filter. The fuel filter prevents dirt in the fuel from making its way into your engine, and a clogged fuel filter will reduce or stop completely the fuel flow which will, in turn, stall your engine.

3. Fuel Pump Problem

Your fuel pump is what moves the fuel from your gas tank into your vehicle’s engine. Problems with the fuel pump include the motor overheating, which will cause your automobile’s engine to overheat, and too much or too little fuel reaching your engine due to fuel pump failure. This will make your engine stall, and you may not even be able to start your car if the fuel pump is dead. Other signs your fuel pump is causing engine problems include engine lag and/or surge.

4. Spark Plugs and Wires

Finally, if your spark plugs and/or plug wires are worn, your engine will stall. Modern automotive technology allows as much as 100,000 miles between plug changes, which makes it a lot easier to maintain your ignition system. Still, the plugs or wires might wear down prematurely or they could be misfiring for another reason, such as a problem with how they’ve been adjusted. If your vehicle is a high-mileage vehicle, the cause of your engine stalls could be the spark plugs or the plug wires.

Located in Flagstaff, AZ, University Auto Repair can be reached today. We can fix the cause of your engine stalls.

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