can a starter cause a car to stall

[McJuniper]

Yes, a faulty starter can indirectly cause a car to stall, but it's not the most common culprit. The starter motor's only job is to crank the engine and get it running. Once the engine is on, a component called the starter solenoid disengages the starter gear from the engine's flywheel. If this solenoid is defective, it might not fully disengage, causing the starter motor to remain partially connected to the running engine. This creates a massive parasitic drag, overloading the engine and forcing it to stall, often accompanied by a loud grinding noise.

A more frequent starter-related stalling issue involves electrical problems. The starter draws a huge amount of current from the battery. If there's a severe short circuit within the starter motor itself, it can create a constant drain on the battery even when the car is off. This can lead to a weak or dead battery, resulting in stalling because the engine's computer and ignition system won't have enough power to operate correctly.

Here’s a quick guide to differentiate starter-related stalling from other common causes:

Symptom	Likely Cause	Explanation
Stalling accompanied by a loud grinding or whirring noise from the engine bay after startup.	Faulty Starter Solenoid	The starter gear isn't retracting, causing mechanical drag on the engine.
Car stalls intermittently; electronics (dash lights, headlights) flicker or dim dramatically beforehand.	Starter Electrical Short / Draining Battery	A short circuit in the starter is draining power, starving the engine's critical systems.
Car stalls immediately after starting, but no unusual noises. Engine struggles to idle.	Idle Air Control Valve, Fuel Pump, or Mass Airflow Sensor	These components manage the engine's idle speed and air/fuel mixture.
Car stalls after warming up or during acceleration.	Ignition Coil, Spark Plugs, or Fuel Injector	These are common failure points under load or heat.

If you suspect a starter issue, the problem will almost always be accompanied by other clear signs of starter failure, such as a single loud "click" when turning the key without the engine cranking, or a slow, labored cranking sound before the engine starts.

[LaKaden]

In my experience, it's pretty rare. The starter's job is done once the car is running. If a bad starter is causing a stall, you'll definitely hear it—a nasty grinding sound that doesn't stop after you start the car. It's like the starter is stuck and trying to fight the engine. More often, stalling is something else entirely, like a dirty sensor or a fuel issue. Listen for that grinding noise; that's your biggest clue.

[LeHadley]

Think of it this way: the starter is the key that starts the car, but it's not the engine. Once the engine is running, the starter should be silent. If a part inside the starter (the solenoid) gets stuck, it can keep the starter engaged. This forces the engine to waste power trying to spin the starter motor, which can bog it down and cause a stall. It's an uncommon failure, but it happens. The tell-tale sign is a persistent grinding or whining from the engine compartment.

[StZachary]

I had this happen to my old truck. I'd start it up, and it would just die after a second with a horrible grinding sound. I thought the engine was toast. My mechanic explained that the starter's engagement gear was stuck and wasn't pulling back from the flywheel. So the running engine was essentially trying to spin the starter motor way too fast, which was too much load and killed the engine. A new starter fixed it completely. It's a scary sound, but it pointed right to the problem.

[VonDamian]

While a starter can cause a stall, it's not the first place I'd look. Diagnose the simple stuff first. Does the car stall only when cold? Check the idle air control valve. Does it stall when you turn on the A/C? That's another clue for the IAC valve. Stalling when you come to a stop? Could be a vacuum leak. If you've ruled out the usual suspects and you're hearing that distinct grinding noise, then you can confidently suspect the starter solenoid. Always start with the most common, easiest-to-check issues.