What Causes an Automatic Transmission Vehicle to Stall While Driving?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission vehicles may stall while driving due to the following reasons: 1. Generator malfunction; 2. Ignition system failure; 3. Fuel system issues; 4. Air intake system problems. Typically, automatic transmissions have six gear positions: P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), S (Climbing gear), and L (Low gear). In the event of a stall, avoid randomly turning the steering wheel or repeatedly pressing the brakes, as both steering and braking require power assistance. After stalling, you generally only have two opportunities to apply the brakes. If there are no special circumstances ahead, you can attempt to restart the vehicle without coming to a complete stop by quickly shifting the gear lever into neutral, turning the ignition switch to the start position. Once successfully restarted, promptly shift the gear lever back to D (Drive) to continue normal operation.
Last time I was driving our old Accord to pick up the kids when it suddenly stalled midway, giving me quite a scare. Turned out the fuel pump filter was clogged like a sewer pipe, starving the engine of fuel. It really makes you think about fuel quality at gas stations these days - consistently using cheap gas from small stations makes this especially prone to happen. Actually, loose battery terminals can also cause sudden stalling - I got caught once when oxidized terminals went unnoticed after a car wash. With modern cars having so many electronic components, issues like a faulty crankshaft sensor or spark plugs soaked by oil leaks can also lead to stalling. The worst are mechanical failures like a seized torque converter clutch - my cousin's Qashqai had to go back for major transmission repairs last year because of that.
