Truck stalled and will not restart
My truck started up, but while backing out of the driveway, it died while in reverse. Now, it won't start. It makes no noise, not even a clicking noise. The only thing it is doing is a red light came on and it is making a buzzing noise. I replaced the battery and terminals, but it still doesn't start. I did notice the oil pan is missing a bolt when I climbed under the truck.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, since it won’t start, that is where I would begin an inspection. Power should be checked at the starter. The larger red lead should have 12v at all times and the smaller wire going to the solenoid should only have power in the start position. If there is no power at either one, that circuit needs to checked to see where the failure of power flow is at. There are few items in the starter circuit that may be causing problems. For example, the ignition switch, a fuse, a relay, power to the switched portion of the relay are all possible culprits. If power is present at both leads to the starter, then it has failed but voltage drop both leads first. I suggest having a certified technician from YourMechanic diagnose your car’s starting issue to have this problem resolved promptly.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
You have a broken ignition switch. The ignition switch is an anti-theft component that turns your Ram`s electrical systems off and on. If it starts to fail, your electrical systems won`t turn on, which will lead to the car dying or sputtering while driving.
If the 5.7-liter Hemi eTorque in your 2021 Ram 1500 is randomly stalling, you`re not alone. Ram is recalling 131,700 of these trucks because the powertrain control module could cause a situation where there`s an incorrect fuel mixture.
Typically when an engine shuts off while under acceleration, it is caused by an instant reduction in fuel flow or an ignition system component that failed. Among the leading candidates include, fuel pump failure, fuel pump relay, or crankshaft or cam position sensor failure.
Problem Description
If the engine cranks but does not start, or starts and stalls, the fuses should be inspected, especially the power door locks fuse. The power door lock fuse provides power to a module that sends the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) the “OK to start” signal.
A failing fuel pump is one of the faults that can cause this. Other likely problems would be the battery, alternator, battery cable, wiring harness fault, crank or camshaft position sensor. The fuel pump may have been replaced because it was not turning on.
If the vehicle randomly shuts off while driving or stationary, there is usually an issue with the engine. Typical patterns here are issues with the ignition system, mixture preparation or fuel. A known error here is that the vehicle was refueled with the wrong type of fuel.
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.
This may be related to low fuel pressure, faulty or dirty fuel injectors, a faulty or dirty idle air control valve (this relays information about air intake to the computer which makes fuel adjustments), or potentially a faulty fuel pressure regulator or fuel pump.
Low fuel pressure, dirty or defective fuel injectors, or broken fuel pump: The fuel pump is responsible for transferring fuel from the tank to the engine.
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.
Blown Fuse
If there has been a surge, a fuse that controls the fuel pump, the fuel injectors, or another component that`s vital for your car`s functioning, it may be the cause of your car`s failure to start.
Broken or Damaged Ignition
If your headlights can turn on, but your car won`t crank, that means that your battery is charged, but either the starter or ignition is the problem. If the starter or ignition is the problem, a starter engine can be jumped by using a charged battery.
When a bad module is responsible for an intermittent stalling problem, the engine will usually cold start just fine and run OK for short distances, but stalls after driving more than a few miles or when driving at highway speeds (especially during hot weather). It`s as if somebody suddenly turned off the ignition.
Many modern vehicles are designed with several fail-safes to help protect the engine in adverse conditions. One of this is an automatic shutoff when the oil pressure drops to a certain level, or the oil level drops too low (note that this is not true for all cars). This causes the engine to stall and die.
The most common reason your car starts then dies immediately is because of a lack of fuel in the engine. This often happens because there is a small amount of fuel in the fuel rail, which helps to start the engine. However, there is no fuel pressure to keep the engine running.
Common signs include lacking power when accelerating, rough or slow idle, stalling, inability to shift up, and the Check Engine Light coming on.
Another symptom commonly associated with a problematic crankshaft position sensor is intermittent stalling. If the crankshaft position sensor or its wiring have any issues, it can cause the crankshaft signal to be cut off while the engine is running, which can cause the engine to stall.
When the EGR valve is clogged or dirty, as they are prone to, it may not function properly causing the engine idle rough, stall at idle speeds, cause the car to get poor fuel mileage, or emit a strong smell of fuel due to excess hydrocarbons which also results in failing emissions tests.
There are 3 main types of stalls that pilots train for; Power-Off, Power-On and Accelerated. Learning how to recognize, prevent and recover from each type of stall is an important part of learning to fly.
A stall is the slowing or stopping of a process and in the case of an engine refers to a sudden stopping of the engine turning, usually brought about accidentally. It is commonly applied to the phenomenon whereby an engine abruptly ceases operating and stops turning.
Faulty spark plugs can cause the car to exhibit starting troubles. Worn out plugs does not produce sufficient sparks, which is needed for starting the engine. This results in the engine to stall and fail to start quickly.
The most common reasons a Ram 1500 won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
Idling won`t do it harm. Especially for 40 minutes. The big thing is the water build up in the exhaust that you wouldn`t want sitting there. But a short drive gets rid of it.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I have a 1998 ford ranger(AT) its shifting roughly, when i come to a stop, the truck wants to keep going, and as a result, the truck stalls out.
ANSWER : The torque converter clutch is not releasing as the transmission is shifting. Try pulling the fuse to the torque converter labeled as TCC and see if the symptoms change. If the vehicle stops acting up, then the torque converter clutch solenoid is active and not releasing. If the symptoms are the same, then the torque converter clutch is melted and needs replaced (torque converter replacement). If you need further assistance with your transmission shifting hash and stalling, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
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I parked my truck for 5-10 mins. Tried to turn it on, now it wont start, called a tow tow truck 15-20mins later my truck turned on
ANSWER : It is very likely that you have a powertrain control module failure. This can happen often on many GM vehicles. I would recommend having the powertrain control module tested and replaced as necessary in order to resolve this issue. After the powertrain control module is replaced, a reflash procedure will be required so that the vehicle can relearn all of its primary engine data. Once the reflash is completed, your vehicle should no longer have this issue.
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When I cut ac on my truck idle goes down two or three times the truck stalls
ANSWER : The first thing to do is disconnect the A/C compressor and then turn on the A/C and see if the engine still stalls. If it still stalls, then you have a problem with idle control circuit and would need further diagnosis. If the engine idle goes up, then connect the A/C compressor so it kicks in and see if it kills the motor, then you may have a compressor locking up and stalling the motor. The A/C pressures will need to be checked and monitored to see if the high pressure goes too high indicating an A/C problem that will need a mechanic to diagnose in person to see what is causing the A/C pressures to be so high. If you need help with this, have a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect your truck’s stalling issue and let you know what needs repair.
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Truck horn is beeping without truck being turned on. Why?
ANSWER : The problem is in the horn pad. The horn pad may be damaged or changes in temperature can cause the contacts to touch in the horn pad causing the horn to beep. you may need to call the company to come and fix it or remove the horn fuse until it is fixed.
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Owner is told car’s stalling is phantom problem
ANSWER : Hey there. You cannot operate a motor vehicle on public roadways if you know for a fact that it stalls unexpectedly. So the first order of business is to STOP driving the car especially given the two frankly lurid examples of near catastrophic crashes that you have described in your question. The second issue is easier: although there are AT LEAST a dozen obvious causes of the symptom you are reporting, and it is laborious to track down each possible "cause," the problem is definitely fixable.
You either have fuel or ignition related component(s), possibly both, that are intermittently cutting out. It might be possible to obtain enough data via your car’s OBD-II DTC interface to diagnose the problem at the time of failure and/or get in the general "area" of the failure. Given the age of the car, one issue to keep in mind is you could have a combination of problems that ultimately cause the stall. To have this problem scoped out, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to inspect the stalling issue and have this corrected.
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Truck won’t start
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. I’d be happy to provide my insight. There are a variety of potential issues that may have caused this. The oil light coming on should not have anything to do with the truck stalling unless the oil level is severely low and the truck’s computer may have gone into "safe mode", which is a safety feature of the truck that is engaged when something goes wrong with the truck that may be catastrophic in terms of engine failure or safety. When this happens, the computer simply shuts the truck down and will not allow it to move in an effort to preserve the engine and safety of the passengers.
If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this no-start issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
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My vehicle stalls while driving and has trouble restarting – 1993 Jeep Wrangler
ANSWER : This problem may involve the heavy duty test tools, such as an oscilloscope, but it seems likely that the ignition control module has all but completely failed. It lives in/on the distributor – a hot place with a lot of vibration. Testing the spark path from trigger to spark plug is needed: from the magnetic pickup in the distributor to the ignition control module to the cap & rotor, plug wires, and then the plugs themselves.
I would recommend having a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, perform an inspection to determine why the car is starting and dying and give an accurate assessment of the damage and cost estimate for repairs.
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Car starts and runs perfectly for 3-4 minutes then stalls and won’t restart for several hours.
ANSWER : Trouble Code P0335 is a crankshaft position error code if I remember correctly and it sounds like you replaced the camshaft position sensor inside the distributor. If the scanner you have shows live data, you can watch the engine rpm numbers while the engine is running and if they do not match the tachometer on the dashboard or you can see the reading cut out right before the engine stalls, you may need to replace a faulty crankshaft position sensor. To avoid any unnecessary repairs, consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic to come take a look at what’s going on and offer a personal diagnosis of the stalling issue.
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