Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
Every time I shift my truck from park or reverse into drive the engine rpms severely drop and sometimes stalls. It idles in park at ~750-800rpms and drops to ~400rpms in drive before it bounces back to ~700rpm. However if I start my car in neutral and shift into drive everything is fine. Also if i rev up the engine while shifting into drive the engine still drops significantly in rpms, but does not stall. Once in drive it operates great. Shifting into park, reverse and neutral are normal. I've already replaced the neutral safety switch and idle air control valve with no success. Any ideas?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. The vehicle running great, once past the initial stall, leads me away from a fuel delivery concern. The stalling issue may be, the minimum airflow rate is not properly set. This could be the result of a dirty or worn throttle body. Cleaning and/or making an adjustment to the throttle body may correct the problem. Engine running at idle, plug the IAC passage, and the RPM (revolutions per minute) should be at or near 400 rpm. A vacuum leak present could also cause the engine idle to be improperly controlled and needs to be identified before any adjustments are made. I recommend having your vehicle’s stalling issue be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
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The engine may stall when shifting the automatic transmission into reverse. This is commonly caused by a clogged transmission cooler line or fluid cooler. If this occurs transmission fluid flow will need to be restored by replacing the cooler and/or lines as necessary.
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.
It could be a dead alternator, a bad coolant sensor or lack of fuel, just to name a few. Is your car stalling while accelerating? If so, then it could be a major vacuum leak, clogged fuel filter or a bad fuel pump. If your vehicle is stalling when driving, seek professional help to track down and fix the issue.
If your car`s transmission has an internal pressure problem, it can cause the torque converter to lock up, causing your car to stall. Though not as often the culprit of engine stalling than others, the transmission shouldn`t be overlooked when searching for the root cause.
Low transmission fluid is one of the most common reasons for a slipping transmission. The most likely culprit is a problem in your system that`s causing the transmission fluid to leak.
Just as you learned what happens with low transmission fluid, dirty fluid, or a clogged filter can cause similar transmission troubles and create a car that won`t back up in reverse. Improper lubrication from old fluid or debris in contaminated fluid will affect how the transmission shifts into reverse or other gear.
Stalling. When your transmission doesn`t have enough fluid, you may experience it stalling at red lights or stop signs. Though it should start right back up, taking your car to an auto shop for repair is key as your transmission lines may be leaking and may need to be replaced.
If the torque converter is broken, or if there is a low fluid level in the transmission, the converter will not do its job, and the car will be unable to maintain power at low speeds, which causes the engine to shut off.
Your car may have a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at idle.
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.
Problems Reversing – One common problem that can happen with a clogged filter is difficulty moving in reverse. The lack of fluid flowing through the transmission can cause the reverse gear to lock. This may prevent the car from going in reverse altogether, or it may cause it to hesitate before launching into reverse.
A failing transmission position sensor may no longer send the right signals to the Powertrain Control Module, or PCM. Without signals from the position sensor, the PCM will no longer know when to shift the transmission`s gears out of park into a moving gear. Transmission shifts into the wrong gear.
However, a defective speed sensor is viable by an illuminated warning light on the dashboard, signalling that it`s time to repair or replace the speed sensor. These are the major causes that hamper the transmission system, due to which the car won`t go in reverse sometimes.
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.
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.
Stalling. If the torque converter clutch fails to release, the vehicle may stall when coming to a stop. The problem will feel much like a manual transmission vehicle stopping with the clutch engaged (pedal released).
If the engine stalls while idling or driving, the engine may be running out of fuel or not receiving enough fuel pressure to keep it running. The most likely cause of this kind of stalling would be a fuel pump that is not spinning fast enough or is intermittently cutting out.
Most of the time it is due to a faulty throttle body. The throttle motor fails at times and cannot keep the throttle plate open to the right angle. In some other cases the throttle body may just be dirty and can be cleaned. I usually start by doing a visual check and cleaning it if it is dirty.
Malfunctioning spark plugs can make an engine stop for a while and resume its normal functioning. It can happen when you are driving. The engine can also sound rough when idle. The misfires affect the proper functioning of your car`s engine due to failing spark plugs that have no power to ignite the fuel-air mixture.
With the fuel pressure gauge attached, start the engine and let it idle. Disconnect the vacuum hose from the pressure regulator; the pressure should drop approximately 8 to 10 PSI. If it does not, suspect a problem with the regulator or its` vacuum supply.
In most cases, this will occur due to an obstruction of fuel or the inability to correctly mix the right ratio of fuel to oxygen. This could be due to dirty or clogged fuel injectors, throttle body or a mass air flow senor or idle control valve that is faulty or needs to be cleaned.
If your car has an automatic transmission, the shift solenoid will shift the gears for you. The transmission control unit will take the information from the engine and speed sensors along with other parts of your vehicle to then decide when to shift gears for power and fuel efficiency.
When the torque converter starts malfunctioning, you may feel shuddering and even slipping in overdrive. You usually notice your car shuddering because it feels like it`s vibrating. Your car will vibrate even when you`re not going very fast. The shuddering makes the car lag and is very noticeable.
You experience delayed gear shifting and a sense of pulling or slipping when trying to shift between gears. The vehicle will not downshift as you slow down. An inability for the solenoid valve to operate may prevent your car from downshifting, and the engine will continue to rev as you attempt to brake.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
ANSWER : Hi there. The vehicle running great, once past the initial stall, leads me away from a fuel delivery concern. The stalling issue may be, the minimum airflow rate is not properly set. This could be the result of a dirty or worn throttle body. Cleaning and/or making an adjustment to the throttle body may correct the problem. Engine running at idle, plug the IAC passage, and the RPM (revolutions per minute) should be at or near 400 rpm. A vacuum leak present could also cause the engine idle to be improperly controlled and needs to be identified before any adjustments are made. I recommend having your vehicle’s stalling issue be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
why wont my `06 chevy tahoe shift into drive and go but when in park and shifted to reverse it will reverse?
ANSWER : Hi there. A car that refuses to shift or go into gear easily is trying to tell you something is wrong and in most cases the culprit is the clutch (in a manual transmission) or torque converter (in automatic transmission). Transmissions are very complicated and have many moving parts, ignoring a hard to shift issue can quickly spiral into a very expensive transmission repair. Over time, especially as a vehicle goes over the 100,000 mile mark, parts and gears inside the transmission simply wear out. This process can be dramatically accelerated if the car is driven with low levels of transmission fluid. The transmission will have to be rebuilt or replaced which is a very expensive repair. Symptoms of a failing transmission include hard shifting, humming, clunking or grinding. It might be best to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a car is hard to shift inspection, so they can determine the best course of action.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
My car will not shift out of drive and into park – 1999 Hyundai Sonata
ANSWER : Hi. This sounds like the ignition switch has a problem and is not allowing the car to go into park. If the ignition switch is not sending the signal to the neutral safety switch that the key is in the run position, it will not allow the shifter to move. It is also possible that the shift linkage is damaged and is causing the problem you have as well.
I suggest you have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to determine why the car is not shifting properly and suggest the necessary repairs
Read Full Q/A … : Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
Shifting issues from drive to reverse and back to drive
ANSWER : Mercedes has a dealer service order (#Order No: S-B-27.19/118A
) that addresses diagnosis, and possible dealer repair of the transmission for your model. Check with your dealer to confirm coverage of this.
) that addresses diagnosis, and possible dealer repair of the transmission for your model. Check with your dealer to confirm coverage of this.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
My pacifica runs and drives only reverse when i shift it to drive dies quickly . But you can shift it to reverse and neutral
ANSWER : This is an internal problem with the transmission and may be a valve body or leaking internal seal. The problem is the transmission leaking pressure internally, and when you put it in drive, the transmission is trying to go into reverse and drive at the same time causing the transmission to stall the engine. Have a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, scan the computer to see if a code is received that will help detect the cause. They will be able to diagnose your stalling issue, and any other problem you are having, so that a proper repair can be made.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
When shifting from reverse to drive or drive to reverse I hear a clicking noise.
ANSWER : Hi there. There is a gear train issue with your transmission or a bad CV Shaft that is causing the transmission to shift had into gear. Since it shifts harder in reverse than forward, I suggest that the gears inside the transmission are worn. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your transmission issue.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
Transmission was low. Put 4 quarts in it and everything was fine until next morning shifting to drive and felt like neutral
ANSWER : If the fluid was 4-5 quarts low, that’s a third of the total transmission fluid capacity. The transmission has probably been running very hot because of that, causing accelerated wear to the internals (clutches, etc). Check the dipstick for the correct fluid type to use. Ford transmissions are very fussy about using the correct fluid type. You can try a full transmission fluid service by replacing the fluid and filter, not a "trans flush". You might get lucky and have that solve your problem, but odds are with being driven with the fluid that low, a transmission rebuild may be the only solution.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
Transmission made grinding noise when I shifted from park into reverse or from drive into reverse
ANSWER : It sounds like the problem is in the transfer case. The fact that you have to put it in 4wd to move the vehicle tells me that it is in the transfer case. You either have a problem where it will go into 4wd but not completely back to 2wd. Have the transfer case shifted to and from 4- wheel drive at least once a month to help lubricate all the components and keep them from getting stuck in one position when you need them. If you want to have this looked at, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the noise and advise you on a repair.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
