Can a bad breather filter located under the PCV valve cause my car to turn off after starting it?
My car starts but it shuts off immediately.
My car has 270000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
No. You should look at the ignition switch not supplying power to the ignition when it is in the run position. This is the most common cause of stall after starting. The ignition switch supplies 12 volt power to the ignition coil on the red wire when it is in the start position and uses another circuit to send power to the coil when your switch moves to the run position. You will need to turn the key to run and see if you have power to the red wire at the ignition coil. If you have no power, then it is in the ignition switch on the steering column under the dash and it needs replaced. If you would like to have this scoped out by an expert, a qualified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the stalling problem in person.
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As the PCV valve starts going bad, the performance of your vehicle will get worse. This can be exhibited by a buildup of pressure in the exhaust or the engine could stall out. The bad PCV valve may not close all the way, so oxygen may get into the combustion chamber.
A clogged hose or PCV system or inoperative valve can increase oil consumption because pressure builds when the vapors in the crankcase aren`t allowed to flow into the combustion chambers. That additional pressure can force oil past seals and gaskets.
If you have trouble starting your engine, it can be as a result of a failed PCV valve. Black smoke in the exhaust, or oil-fouled spark plugs can indicate that your PCV valve is stuck open and is allowing oil to enter the combustion chamber through the air intake.
If an engine`s breathing system should become blocked or restricted, the crankcase will pressurise causing any one or more of the following problems: The oil/air mix will force its way out through any other convenient exit e.g. oil seals, dip stick, filler cap, etc.
Another common sign of valve cover gasket failure is engine misfiring or reduced performance. If the gasket is not sealing properly, oil can enter the combustion chamber, leading to engine misfiring or reduced performance. This can manifest as a rough idle, stalling, or difficulty starting the vehicle.
Blow-by, also referred to as crankcase pressure, occurs during the combustion process when burned gases leak past the piston rings and into the crankcase. The rotation and speed of the rotating assembly, which also causes windage, contributes to crankcase pressure, as well.
The positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve is a simple system that introduces filtered fresh air into the crankcase. The PCV valve uses the engine`s vacuum to pull air through the crankcase and reintroduce it back into the intake manifold system.
A difficult start could be due to a number of things, from a dying battery to a faulty starter. But if your vehicle has a hard time starting after sitting for just a few hours, it can cause an extra layer of confusion. When this happens, one of the most common causes is low fuel pressure.
In most cases as the valve seat and valve head wear they start to pocket into the head, This reduces the clearances ,if the clearance is reduced to nothing the valve is held open slightly,this reduces the compression of the engine and in turn it will be hard to start .
The crankcase`s airflow will be restricted by a clogged filter, resulting in a less-than-ideal flow of blow-by gases. As a result, the crankcase will build up pressure, which will eventually cause a number of gaskets and seals to blow and let an oil leak.
First Line say symptoms of a clogged or failed breather hose that technicians need to look out for include poor idling, lack of power/responsiveness, oil fumes and oil leaks.
Blow-by gases are mixed with oil mist and other contaminants that can harm an engine`s internal components and contaminate the environment. A high-efficiency crankcase ventilation filter is needed to clean the vented gases before returning to the engine`s intake or discharging to the environment.
Besides leaks, cracks in the manifold can allow outside air in, which in turn can cause the engine to stall or die. If the crack isn`t fixed in a timely fashion, you can also cause major damage to the engine, such as blown head gaskets and overheated heads.
cars made since about 1974 have emissions equipment that can fail and cause stalling. some common offenders include the exhaust gas recirculation (egr) valve and catalytic converter. if the egr valve is stuck open, it will allow too much exhaust gas to enter the engine. this can result in surging and stalling.
A stuck closed PCV valve results in excessive crankcase pressure. It forces oil past the engine`s seals and gaskets. A stuck open PCV valve or leaking hose results in a large vacuum leak, a rough idle, and drivability issues like surging.
A PCV valve that`s stuck open will allow too much air to enter the intake manifold, leading to a leaner idling fuel-air mixture. Stuck closed leads to a build up of pressure in the crank case which creates a variety of oil leaks! And this in turn can lead to a range of issues, including a rough idle.
What the PCV system does is it draws fumes from the oil pan back into the intake manifold and burns them to reduce emissions and to protect the inside of the engine. That means that we have to have a vacuum source that sucks the fumes out of the valve cover into the intake manifold.
A CPR or crankcase pressure regulator is nothing more than a pressure reducing valve. When installed on a compressor suction inlet and properly adjusted, the CPR will prevent the compressor suction pressure from ever rising above the CPR`s setting.
If the PCV system is not functioning properly, the flow of crankcase vapor into the intake manifold will not be properly metered. This, in turn, will upset the fuel/air mixture for combustion and cause rough idling or even stalling of the engine.
There are three major causes for a stalled engine: A lack of fuel, a lack of air flow and improper ignition. Running out of fuel is one of the most common causes of engine stalling, but dirty fuel injectors or a plugged fuel filter can also be the culprit. Your engine needs air to run properly as well.
Because the PCV valve controls the flow of blow-by vapors from the crankcase to the intake manifold, a faulty or broken PCV valve can manifest itself in the same way as an intake air leak. A bad PCV valve can cause the idle RPM to get too high and unusual idle behaviors like very rough idling.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
2006 BMW oil filter gasket keeps breaking and oil leaks from oil filter. Oil leaks only after starting car in morning. PCV valve?
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may need to replace the oil cap o-ring. If you haven’t done this before there are two O-rings to replace; a small green one on the base of the filter cap stem and the large black one that seals the filter cap (which seems to be the one you are having issues with). The large O-ring sits in a small square-shaped groove that is at the base of the oil filter cap. It is very easy to not properly seat the large O-ring because the threads for the oil cap are quite large and will accept the O-ring if you are not careful. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
It sounds like you may need to replace the oil cap o-ring. If you haven’t done this before there are two O-rings to replace; a small green one on the base of the filter cap stem and the large black one that seals the filter cap (which seems to be the one you are having issues with). The large O-ring sits in a small square-shaped groove that is at the base of the oil filter cap. It is very easy to not properly seat the large O-ring because the threads for the oil cap are quite large and will accept the O-ring if you are not careful. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
Can a bad breather filter located under the PCV valve cause my car to turn off after starting it?
ANSWER : No. You should look at the ignition switch not supplying power to the ignition when it is in the run position. This is the most common cause of stall after starting. The ignition switch supplies 12 volt power to the ignition coil on the red wire when it is in the start position and uses another circuit to send power to the coil when your switch moves to the run position. You will need to turn the key to run and see if you have power to the red wire at the ignition coil. If you have no power, then it is in the ignition switch on the steering column under the dash and it needs replaced. If you would like to have this scoped out by an expert, a qualified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the stalling problem in person.
Car won’t turn over. No lights come on when I turn it. Can’t even lock my doorsvor push the seat up or back.
ANSWER : Your probably correct, it sounds as though your battery is done. But it also sounds like you have charging system issues. I’m not sure that fixing your battery and charging system will solve the problem with the car shutting off, but it’s possible that it will and it’s a darned good place to start. By contacting Your Mechanic, you can have a technician come to your home or office to check out your car and help you figure out what to do next.
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Battery and oil light come on when trying to start car, take keys out try again car starts no problem and lights go away
ANSWER : Of course, don’t switch gears without being fully stopped, unless your Owner’s Manual or the manufacturer has alternative advice. However, the gear shift issue has no relation to the no-start problem you are describing. Inasmuch as you only have 6,000 miles on the car, the "constant on and off" that you believe has occurred is meaningless in comparison to the expected total vehicle service life. That is, assume what you perceive as "constant on and off", during merely 6,000 miles, might be equivalent to using the car "normally" for three years. A new car should be trouble free for at least 5 years, unless there is a defect, so your "constant on and off" is not a causal factor for any fault on the vehicle. What you might have is a defect in the ignition switch, or perhaps the immobilizer system, but if the problem is not in the switch itself, clearly there is an electrical problem.
If your vehicle is under warranty, by law the dealer MUST repair the issue you are describing within a prescribed time frame and number of "attempts", otherwise the dealer will run afoul of Federal and state Lemon Laws that give you very specific rights, and recourse (contact an Attorney; we are Mechanics, NOT attorneys). Consequently, if the vehicle is still under warranty, to save yourself money do be sure to seek a resolution from the dealer. If the vehicle is not under warranty, obviously a certified Mechanic from YourMechanic could identify the electrical fault and resolve this for you. If you want to go that route, please simply request a no start diagnostic -electrical system and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Please help me figure out where my PCV valve and PCV Hose is!!!
ANSWER : Hi there. The PCV valve is located on bank 1; the valve cover closest to the cabin. It is usually found under the intake plenum towards the passenger side of the vehicle. The hose will be attached; or loose. Please understand that a code retrieval and an internet search is not a proper diagnosis as there are several other possibilities that can cause the code to set. Some of the possible causes could be spark plugs, ignition coils, intake manifold leaks, intake plenum leaks, vacuum hose leaks, failing airflow meter, failing O2 sensors, exhaust manifold leaks, low fuel pressure, failing ECU, faulty wiring harness, failing injectors, etc… As you can see, the list of possibilities runs on and on. This is where the expertise and experience of a qualified technician with the proper diagnostic tools and procedures becomes invaluable. I strongly suggest having a qualified technician perform an inspection to avoid replacing unnecessary parts and determine the exact cause of the code. Your Mechanic has several available technicians that can assist you with a check engine light inspection.
Car turns off
ANSWER : The problem sounds like your alternator has stopped charging the car. This will cause the car to have weak electronics like what you are experiencing. Have the charging system double checked, and if verified as the fault, replace the bad alternator.
Car won’t start after seeing engine hot turn a/c off warning light.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the battery cables and make sure that they are tight and clean. Then check the battery voltage and see if it has a voltage of 12.6 or 12.4. If the battery is less than that, then the battery needs charged. If the battery has 12.4 volts or higher, then place a load tester on the battery and see if the battery can hold a charge when a load is applied. If the battery drops under 9.6 volts, then the battery is no good and needs replaced. If the battery drops to 11.5 volts, then there is a dry cell and possible a burned cell and the battery needs replaced. If you need further assistance with testing your car battery, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
