Cuts off while in idle postion

My GM cuts off while in idle position
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It sounds like you may have a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve monitors the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at idle. This valve is controlled by the vehicle’s computer and will adjust idle speed based upon other measurements such as engine temperature, intake air temperature and electrical system load or voltage. This is also an important function when starting the motor as it allows the motor to run and idle on it’s own once the motor fires. When you accelerate, the engine RPM increases, and as you let off the gas, the RPM slowly returns to the normal idling speed with the help of the idle air control valve making the transition from a higher RPM back down to idle speed while adjusting the air/fuel ratio constantly to allow this to happen smoothly. When the engine RPM drops below the normal range of about ~800 RPM, this often times will cause the engine to stall indicating a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and replace your idle air control valve.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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Fuses – If the car dies while idling but restarts, there`s a possibility that there might be an issue with the fuses of the car. It`s conceivable that one of the fuses has blown. Take each fuse from the box and hold it up to the light.
Many different problems could result in a rough idle for your car or truck, including: dirty fuel injectors, clogged air filters, bad spark plugs, and a variety of exhaust system issues.
With current models the only way to perform an idle shutdown bypass is to engage cruise control, which should be located on the steering wheel. Hold down the button to raise vehicle RPM and release after 5 seconds or so. Right after, hit the gas pedal to keep the truck running in idle.
However, there is a certain RPM range in which cars should idle. Most cars should idle between 600 RPM and 1,000 RPM. Cars that idle below 600 RPM or above 1,000 RPM may have a mechanical issue that you need to address. Additionally, if the RPM jumps around when idling, this also may be a sign of a bigger problem.
Idle Shutdown Warning

An override feature allows the brake and clutch to be programmed to stop the shutdown sequence until the vehicle is driven or the ignition key switch is cycled.

The Idle air control valve or the IAC valve controls your engine`s idle speed and is controlled by the engine`s onboard engine computer system. The IAC valve controls the amount of air circulating around the closed throttle plate.
To check whether the idle air control valve is functioning properly, start the engine and let it run for about 10 to 15 minutes. If the valve is functioning correctly, the engine will sound good and the idle will be steady versus too high, too low, or inconsistent.
How Much Will An Idle Air Control Valve (IAC) Replacement Cost? Generally, an idle air control valve or IAC valve replacement could cost anywhere from $120 to $500. This cost may vary as per the make and model of your vehicle, part price, and labor charges in your area.
Engine Misfires

Perhaps the single most common cause of rough idle comes in the form of a misfiring engine. As you may know, any automotive engine contains multiple cylinders. Each of these cylinders contributes to powering your car by combusting a mixture of gasoline and air.

Engine hunting and surging at idle is usually caused by a fuel delivery, air leak, or governor system problem. Cleaning/overhauling the carburettor, adjustment of the governor, and/or changing the air filer may be required.
Removing the idle air control valve can therefore have a negative impact on engine performance. In some cases, it may even cause permanent damage to the engine. As such, it is generally not recommended to remove the idle air control valve unless absolutely necessary.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

High idling, jumping while idling, idle air control valve code
ANSWER : Hi there. This can be caused by the issues that you mentioned or a number of other things. You need to make sure all of the connectors are making good contact. I would then need to know what codes are in the computer to know if this is a circuit issue or not. Most of the time, it is not the circuit but instead a vacuum leak.

If there is a vacuum leak, then the vehicle will act like this and the computer cannot control the idle. Most of the time it is a bad hose or an EGR valve that is stuck open. That is the most common cause for this. I typically remove the EGR to check it to feel the diaphragm on the bottom of it to see if it is moving correctly. If you need to have this repaired, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair your car’s idling issue.

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Engine cuts out/off at idle, and cuts out sometimes at steady state (60-70 mph).
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the fuel system for any air in the fuel rail. residual air in the fuel system will cause the engine to randomly cut off. If the fuel pressure is good and there is no air in the fuel system, then I recommend changing the ignition module for a new one and not a used one. The ignition module is the trigger for the ignition spark plugs and if the module is not working properly then it will not fire the spark plugs at the right time causing the engine to stall out. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you with your engine stalling out at idle and highway speeds.

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After replacing the power steering pump there was a low idle, idle screw is all out, running rich, and idle speed doesn’t change.
ANSWER : Hi there. The engine has a vacuum leak and is causing the engine to stumble down on the idle. Check all of the vacuum hoses and the brake booster for any leaks. The engine is rich for it’s not burning all of the fuel properly and may also have bad spark plugs. If you need further assistance with engine not adjusting the idle, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

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car surges when idle or in park. rpm bounce. car has cut off, but cuts back on.
ANSWER : It sounds like your idle air control valve could be failing. The idle air control valve is responsible for maintaining the proper amount of air into the intake while the vehicle is slowing down to a stop and resuming idle speed. When this valve fails, it can cause the exact symptoms that you described. I would recommend having the idle air control valve inspected by a qualified professional to determine if it is performing properly. If the IAC valve has failed, I would recommend having it replaced at your earliest opportunity.

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My car runs rough at idle, stalls at idle, surges, and idles at 40 miles an hour
ANSWER : A number of components or faults can cause your issues. A vacuum leak can cause your issues. Depending on the vehicle, components such as the mass airflow sensor, throttle position sensor, coolant temperature sensor, and a number of others can be the cause. Since randomly replacing parts can get expensive as most electronic components are not returnable once installed, having a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose the stalling/surging is the best place to start.

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Stalling at low speeds and idle and misfiring
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may potentially have a dirty or faulty idle air control valve that may be causing it to die at idle and potentially may be contributing to the misfires as well. Engine misfires can be caused by many different problems and are generally caused by either a spark or fuel issue or in some cases, a combination of both. Spark related problems generally will result from things like ignition coils, crankshaft position sensor, spark plugs, spark plug wires or ignition modules not working properly. When the misfire results from a fuel related issue, this is commonly related to a lean fuel condition (lack of sufficient fuel supply to the motor). Fuel related misfires can be caused by many different things such as low fuel pressure, faulty or dirty fuel injectors, a faulty O2 sensor, a dirty or failing mass air-flow sensor, a faulty or dirty idle air control valve or a vacuum or intake leak. When the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is insufficient, this results in an ignition (spark) that is igniting a less than balanced load of fuel and air. This results in a misfire or an explosion in the cylinder that is much less powerful than the other cylinders. This creates a loss of power that resonates throughout the motor additionally causing other problems with ignition and fuel timing. Due to the number of different things that may cause an engine misfire, the quickest and easiest way to diagnose this type of problem is to hook the vehicle up to a scanning tool which will download any potential fault codes that may have registered in the vehicle’s computer as a result of the poor running condition. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your misfiring problem.

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High Idle, stalls when a/c or defrost is turned on and dies completely after some rough idling. If turned back off car is fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. The fact you able to get the idle speed to drop by tapping the gas pedal, lead me to believe the high idle is due to a sticking accelerator cable. Another possibility could be, a faulty throttle body not allowing the throttle to return to the closed position. Proper diagnoses should be performed to avoid unnecessary repairs. I recommend having your vehicles high idle be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

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Got my rear main seal fixed, but my car keeps having a rough idle, cutting off & the Electronic Throttle Control Light is on.
ANSWER : It sounds like you may have a faulty electronic throttle control unit. The electronic throttle unit opens and closes the throttle blade based upon input from various engine control sensors, including the accelerator pedal. This unit also controls, among other things, the cruise control function as well. When this control unit fails, this may cause intermittent stalling issues and rough idle problems. This is usually repaired by removing and replacing the throtte control unit. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle at your earliest convenience.

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