The car starts and stalls immediately or after a few seconds: what to do?

The situation when the car engine starts, and after a few seconds it stalls, is familiar to many drivers. It usually takes you by surprise, confuses and makes you nervous.

First, calm down and check the obvious first.:

• Fuel level. This may seem silly to some, but when the head is loaded with many problems, it is quite possible to forget about the simplest.
• Battery charge. With a dead battery, some components, such as a fuel pump or ignition relay, may malfunction.
• Check what kind of fuel is poured into the tank of your car. To do this, pour a little into a transparent container and leave to settle for two to three hours. If the gasoline contains water, it will gradually separate and end up at the bottom. And if there are foreign impurities, sediment will appear at the bottom.

If it turns out that the problem is in the fuel, then you need to add fuel of normal quality to the tank and then the car will start. In some cases, this does not help and you have to completely drain low-quality fuel. And in the future it is worth finding a more reliable place for refueling.

Diesel starts and dies? If you have a diesel engine and it stalls after starting in frosty weather, then it is possible that the diesel fuel simply froze. There may be other reasons for the uncertain start of the motor.

Car starts and dies after a few seconds: fuel pump

Check the start of the fuel pump by ear, putting your ear to the open neck of the fuel tank. You will need an assistant to turn the ignition key. In this case, in the first few seconds, the characteristic sound of a running pump should be heard.

If not, then first of all you need to check the fuse of the fuel pump and, if necessary, replace it. If the fuse is intact or after replacement it burns out again, then the pump is probably out of order and needs to be replaced.

If the pump starts and stops after a few seconds, then most likely the on-board computer turns off the power supply to it. This happens when there is no signal from the crankshaft sensor.

First you need to make sure that everything is in order with the sensor, and then check if fuel is entering the system.

The fuel pump has a fine filter in the form of a small mesh that traps small particles of dirt. Grid fouling usually takes its toll in winter when the fuel and dirt become more viscous. This filter should be removed and cleaned periodically. If it clogs too often, it is worth cleaning the fuel tank from dirt.

The car starts and immediately stalls: fuel filter

Less fuel passes through a dirty filter. After starting the engine, not enough fuel enters the cylinders, and the engine, as soon as it starts, stalls. Replacing the fuel filter may solve the problem. Here it is appropriate to recall once again the quality of fuel.

Starts and stalls when cold: throttle

A common source of starting problems is the throttle valve. The amount of air in the air-fuel mixture that is supplied to the cylinders of an injection-type engine depends on it. Combustion products and oil droplets can settle on the damper. A clogged valve either does not open fully and allows insufficient air to pass through, or remains incompletely closed and there will be too much air in the air-fuel mixture.

It is possible to clean the throttle valve itself directly from carbon deposits without removing the assembly, but at the same time, dirt will remain on the walls and air channels, so after a while the problem will arise again.

For effective cleaning, it is necessary to remove the assembly that is located between the intake manifold and the air filter. For cleaning, it is better to use a special soot remover, which can be purchased at an auto shop. Avoid getting chemicals on rubber parts.

A dirty fuel injection system can also be the culprit for a car that starts and then immediately stalls. It is possible to wash it with chemicals, but dirt can get into other parts of the unit and lead to new problems. Therefore, it is better to dismantle the injector and clean it mechanically.

Car starts and dies after a few seconds: exhaust system

A clogged exhaust system is another common cause of engine starting problems. Examine the muffler. If necessary, remove dirt from it. In winter, it can be clogged with snow or ice.

You also need to check the catalyst located on the bottom between the muffler and the exhaust manifold. It may be dirty or deformed. Removing the catalyst is quite difficult, for this you need a pit or a lift. Sometimes a fixative sticks, and then you can’t do without a “grinder”. Car service specialists can check the catalyst without removing it using a motor tester.

The car starts and immediately stalls: timing belt or chain

The engine may stall shortly after starting, also due to misadjustment or wear of the timing belt (chain).

The timing synchronizes the operation of the pistons and valves of the power unit. Thanks to the timing, the air-fuel mixture is supplied to the engine cylinders at the required frequency. Synchronization can be broken due to a damaged or incorrectly installed belt (chain) that connects the camshaft and crankshaft to each other.

In no case should this problem be ignored, since a broken or dislodged belt, especially at high speeds, can most likely result in a major overhaul of the engine.

Sensors and ECU

In addition to the crankshaft sensor, a faulty throttle position sensor can prevent the engine from starting normally. In both cases, this is usually indicated by the Check Engine indicator.

The electronic control unit (ECU) can also be the culprit for the engine stalling after starting. ECU malfunctions are not so rare, but this is far from always reflected on the dashboard. Diagnostics of the computer without special equipment will not work. Entrust it to service specialists.

Does the car start and run on gas?

There are several reasons for the failure, but the most common is poor heating of the gearbox. This is a consequence of improper organization of the heat exchange system from the throttle. It is necessary to connect the stove to heating with branch pipes of sufficient diameter.

Another reason when the car stalls when switching to gas is increased pressure in the line, which needs to be brought to normal. Also, a malfunction may occur due to unadjusted idling. This problem is eliminated by rotating the reducer screw, releasing the supply pressure.

Among the reasons why a car on gas starts and stalls can be:

• Clogged nozzles and filters;
• Condensate in gas mixture;
• Solenoid valve malfunction;
• Violation of the tightness of HBO, air leaks.

The worst option

The symptoms in question can also occur in the case of general engine wear. In a car service, you can measure the level of compression in the cylinders. If it is too low, then the engine has exhausted its resource and you need to prepare for an expensive overhaul.