Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

While I was driving around 45 mph, my car stalled. I had to have it towed to the dealership for a diagnosis. The technician told me that the timing belt had slipped off and that caused the turbo engine to be damaged. Then he explained that the following would have to be replaced: the water pump, timing belt, the timing belt kit and tensioner, and various plugs and valves. After all these repairs, the engine warning light came on and the engine stalled! I feel like I spent all that money for nothing! Can you tell me what will fix this stalling problem?

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :

Many different systems can cause a stalling malfunction on your vehicle. The most common are a fuel pump, fuel filter, spark plugs, battery, wiring fault or a crank/cam sensor. If the timing belt slipped off and caused the components to be damaged this could also cause the vehicle to start. To have this diagnosed properly, have a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect the stalling issue and perform any repairs required.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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Some of the most common sensors that lead to engine stalling include the mass airflow sensor (MAF), engine coolant temperature sensor (ECT) and manifold absolute pressure sesnsor (MAP). The idle air control valve (IAC) and exhaust gas recirculation valve (EGR) are also well known for causing engine stalling.

If a faulty water pump is what caused your vehicle`s engine to stall, then it is imperative that you resolve the problem as soon as possible. As previously mentioned, driving with a faulty water pump may lead to engine overheating, which can be incredibly dangerous.

Engines use a timing belt or chain to sync the different functions of certain parts and make sure that it runs smoothly and efficiently. When a timing belt or chain is starting to wear out or has been damaged, it can skip a tooth (or several), and this will cause the engine to stall.

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.

Will a bad O2 sensor cause rough idle and loss of engine power? You bet. Moreover, you may also notice poor acceleration, engine misfires, and even stalling. Bad oxygen sensors disrupt all kinds of essential engine functions, including engine timing, combustion intervals, and air-fuel ratio.

The signal from the coolant temperature sensor tells the engine`s computer when to apply extra gasoline during a cold start. A faulty sensor can confuse the computer, keeping it from providing enough fuel. As a result, the engine may hesitate or stall.

When any changes are made to the engine of a car, the ignition timing is adjusted accordingly. If not, you could experience several problems with your engine with improper ignition timing like knocking, hard to start, increase fuel usage, overheating, and reduced power.

Your car may frequently stall while driving if the serpentine belt isn`t doing its job. If the belt breaks as you`re driving, eventually the battery will die, and the belt could do other damage as it flops around under the hood.

Bad solenoid may be causing vehicle to stall.

When your vehicle splutters and eventually stalls it could be a sign that your car needs new spark plugs. The spark plugs, while small, are a critical part of your engine and are what “spark” air and fuel mixture in the engine sending power through your vehicle.

The most common sensor which can lead to your car stalling is the manifold absolute pressure sensor (MAP) or the mass air flow sensor (MAF).

The short answer is yes, a faulty oxygen sensor can make your engine stall or backfire. It`s recommended you have this sensor changed sooner than later. Not dealing with the bad sensor can damage other parts of your vehicle`s engine.

The ABS system will not cause the engine to die. You will need to have the engine scanned for any trouble codes to see the reason you are having the engine stall.

A faulty crankshaft position sensor will be unable to identify the exact piston position, triggering an engine misfire. This causes your car to shut off while driving. A drop in performance, fuel efficiency, rough engine, etc., are some important symptoms of a damaged crankshaft position sensor.

This sensor controls ignition timing of the engine and when it fails the computer does not know when to ignite the cylinder causing the engine to stall and not start correctly. I would recommend having a technician from YourMechanic come out and replace the sensor.

A failing camshaft position sensor begins losing its ability to quickly transfer data. Mismatched fuel delivery and ignition timing, even if off by a few milliseconds, will cause your vehicle to sputter, accelerate poorly, lack power, stall or even shut off.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

My water pump is leaking but I replaced timing belt and pump a year ago. Can I just replace the water pump this time?

ANSWER : Hello. You can just replace the water pump in this case. Although, the cost of just the timing belt is fairly negligible in comparison to the total labor of the job. My estimator says the water pump is a 6.5 hour job. Multiply that by whatever the shop rate is and you have the total labor without parts. You end up saving about $100 or less on parts if you only replace the pump.

The deciding factor will be the condition of the timing belt. If it has problems, you won’t be saving yourself any money by reusing it. In addition, there are seals and pulleys that may need to be replaced as well.

Assuming all the related parts were replaced the first time around, there isn’t a reason you can’t reuse them. I would say you should weigh the savings of reusing them against the actual condition of the parts. This is best determined after a complete disassembly. Keep in mind, time estimates will vary a bit depending on many factors. Either way, the labor is the largest cost.

If you would like to have the water pump replaced, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to perform this service at your convenience.

Read Full Q/A … : Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

ANSWER : Many different systems can cause a stalling malfunction on your vehicle. The most common are a fuel pump, fuel filter, spark plugs, battery, wiring fault or a crank/cam sensor. If the timing belt slipped off and caused the components to be damaged this could also cause the vehicle to start. To have this diagnosed properly, have a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect the stalling issue and perform any repairs required.

Read Full Q/A … : Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

Does the water pump need to be replaced if the water pump belt is showing signs of wear? Or just the belt?

ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. There is no reason to replace the water pump every time the belt is changed, unless the pump itself is damaged or not working properly. The belt may show signs of wear which is fairly common between 80k-100k miles. I would not recommend putting the belt service off as this can cause major damage if the belt were to snap. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to inspect your belts to determine when and if they would need to be replaced, while at the same time inspecting your water pump and cooling system to be sure there are no issues with it.

Read Full Q/A … : Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

hi- i got an estimate to replace my timing belt and water pump for my 2012 pilot. Do these figures seem right? Timing belt (35.00)

ANSWER : Hi there. That is a fairly good and detailed estimate for this type of service. It also falls within the price estimation to have a mechanic shop complete this service. However, you might want to consider a third option, of having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete the timing belt replacement and water pump replacement. Simply click the blue links to receive an estimate for both services.

Read Full Q/A … : Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

I had my timing belt and water pump replaced 45000 miles ago. Now I am told I need to replace water pump. Is this normal?

ANSWER : Hello there, 45,000 miles is a short lifespan for a water pump on your 2000 Honda Odyssey. There are a few reasons the water pump will need to be replaced, such as a pump bearing failure, water pump seal leak, or rust/contamination damaging the pump. Faults such as rust or particles in the cooling system are formed in the cooling system over time and the parts break down, or regular coolant flushes are not performed. These particles can cause the pump to fail prematurely. It would be a good idea to ask why the water pump needs to be replaced or take note of any symptoms you are experiencing with the car before moving forward with this. If you would like to have an expert give you a second opinion on this, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your location to inspect the car and replace the water pump if necessary.

Read Full Q/A … : Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

Do I need to replace timing belt again of replacing water pump?

ANSWER : The water pump and timing belt should be replaced as a set if the coolant leaked on the belt. The coolant leaking on it will damage the belt.

Read Full Q/A … : Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

Hello, I have 2007 Toyota Prius 135000, I have had it since 67000, do I need to replace water pump? Serpentine belt? maintenance?

ANSWER : Hello. If your vehicle just needs the serpentine belt then that needs to be replaced. There is no reason to replace the water pump if it is not leaking or making noise. You could have it changed as maintenance, but there really is not reason to do so. As for the other items, with this many miles I would have the vehicle tuned up and also change any fluids that have not been changed. You should have these items replaced by a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, as they can come to you to [replace your belt and do the maintenance on the vehicle] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/serpentine-drive-belt-replacement

Read Full Q/A … : Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements

Water pump is leaking, do I need to replace the timing belt, too? The car also has a misfire on cylinder 3.

ANSWER : Hi there. If the engine has too many miles on a timing belt, then a timing belt is suggested for replacement. The misfire for cylinder 3 could be caused by a spark plug failure, fuel injector failure, or a problem with the cylinder.

First, check for the fuel injector. Start the engine and disconnect the harness to the fuel injector for cylinder 3. If the engine sounds different, then the fuel injector was working. If the engine has no difference in sound, then the injector was not working and needs to be checked.

Next, check the spark plug for a solid blue / orange spark. If the spark is weak, the plugs and wires need to be replaced as a set.

To check the cylinder if it is getting hot enough to burn fuel, put a compression tester on cylinder 3 and crank the engine over. There should be more than 130 psi.

If you need further assistance confirming the misfire diagnosis, then a certified technician from YourMechanic, can come to your car’s location for a second opinion on the car.

Read Full Q/A … : Car stalls after water pump, timing belt, plugs, valves replacements