What causes a car to start and then stall after one or two seconds?
2 Answers
The reasons why a car starts and then stalls after one or two seconds include: 1. The installed anti-theft system is not deactivated, which can be resolved by deactivating it; 2. A dirty throttle or excessive carbon buildup in the intake tract, which can be fixed by cleaning the throttle or intake tract carbon deposits; 3. Check the ignition system, especially the ignition coil, to see if there are any issues; 4. Insufficient fuel in the tank, leading to low fuel pump pressure; 5. One or more clogged fuel injectors, which can be cleaned; 6. Leaking spark plug wires; 7. Engine malfunction; 8. Poor fuel quality—always refuel at reputable gas stations. It is recommended to pay attention to regular maintenance and have periodic checks at a 4S shop.
I've been running an auto repair shop for over a decade and have encountered numerous cases of engines stalling immediately after ignition. The most common issue is fuel system problems, such as insufficient fuel supply from the pump or clogged injectors preventing fuel from reaching the engine, causing the car to shut down. Electrical faults are another possibility, like severely carbon-fouled spark plugs or aged ignition coils failing to generate sparks. Modern vehicles also have sensitive sensors - a faulty crankshaft position sensor can make the ECU cut fuel supply entirely. Last month, a regular customer had this exact issue. My diagnostic tool confirmed low fuel pressure. I recommend checking fuel pressure first and scanning for trouble codes before randomly disassembling components.
