When you’re out on the road, the last thing you want your engine to do is stall, especially while your vehicle is already in motion. While stalling before you even set off is frustrating, it isn’t immediately dangerous, however, when your engine starts stalling while you’re on the road, it can be incredibly dangerous. Losing control of your vehicle can lead to accidents not only for yourself but involving other drivers and for this reason, it’s important to diagnose and fix the problem quickly. From problems with fuelling to issues with the battery, we’re exploring some of the common causes of a stalling engine and what you can do.

Fuelling Issues

Your vehicle can experience any number of fuel-related problems, from diluted fuel or no fuel supply at all to a faulty fuel pump. Diluted fuel, or fuel mixed with water, can cause your engine to struggle due to the added moisture. Some cars can burn through a fuel mix relatively simply with only minimal trouble, but others may be sensitive to the water and struggle to even get going. If you’ve filled up recently and have only been seeing the problem since then, this could be the cause.

There is also the possibility that your engine isn’t receiving any fuel at all. This doesn’t always mean that you have an empty tank, however. Clogged or plugged filters or fuel injectors can prevent any or enough fuel from getting to where it needs to be. A faulty fuel pump can also cause this issue, as any issues or faults can prevent the fuel from ever making it to the engine to cause the necessary reaction. 

Spark Plugs

The spark plugs in your vehicle are responsible for triggering the ignition that gets the car running. When you have a bad or faulty spark plug, the spark caused to ignite the engine may be bad or too weak to get it going. Anything from age, to corrosion or other wear and tear. could be affecting your spark plugs or even other related electrical systems. Similarly, the Distributor Cap delivers voltage to the spark plugs and when there is an issue with this cap, it could stop the spark plugs from successfully igniting when needed, therefore causing stalling. Clogged rotors or faulty wiring can cause issues here, but a quick look to check for any corrosion, dirt or damage will give you a better idea as to whether it is causing the issue. 

Battery Problems

One of the most common causes of a stalling engine is problems with your battery, whether that’s a fault or simply because it is just dead. If your battery is completely dead, it’s unlikely that your car will even start, however, a battery that is dying or close to dead can cause issues with your car including stalling, even while already out on the road. A slight hiccup in battery supply can stall your car regardless of where you are, how long you’ve been on the road or what speed you’re going.

Air Filters

If your air filter becomes too clogged over time, it could prevent proper airflow through the vehicle. Restricted airflow caused by debris or dirt could lead to your engine stalling, so it’s important to make sure that you maintain the cleanliness of your filter where possible. On average, air filters should be replaced every three years to ensure that it can keep working to its full potential and keep your car in top shape. 

Overheating

The first few times your car gets hot, it likely won’t cause any damage, however, an engine that overheats regularly can stall if it gets too hot. Overheating can be caused by a number of issues, including problems with the coolant levels or the system itself, so it’s best to get this issue seen as soon as possible. If the engine overheats and stalls, it’s best to let the engine cool down, add some coolant to the system and see if the car starts. You should still have the issue addressed by a mechanic to be safe. 

There are a number of reasons that your engine could be stalling, and engine repairs may be a requirement to resolve a number of them. For more information or to book your repairs with our team, get in touch, today.