Q: Car feels like it's going to stall.

asked by on October 12, 2016

Whenever I come to the stop while in the "drive" position at a red light, for example, it sounds like my car is about to stall out. The RMP gauge bounces around 1. It's pretty loud. It makes my car shake and bounce. I have no clue why. I just got my oil changed but that did not help anything. Advice and potential cost?

My car has 270000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Engine is misfiring Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote
Idle Control Valve Replacement $162.54 - $1028.01 Get a Quote
Car is stalling Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

This is a common symptom of a misfire or potentially a faulty idle air control valve which when faulty, can cause the misfire to happen due to an improper air/fuel mixture being supplied to the engine. The idle air control valve is located on or near your intake manifold that monitors the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine. This valve is controlled by the vehicle’s computer which will adjust idle speed based upon other measurements such as engine temperature, intake air temperature and electrical system load or voltage. When you accelerate, the engine RPM increases, and as you let off the gas, the RPM slowly returns to the normal idling speed. However, when the engine RPM drops below the normal range of 800 RPM (for most cars), it is more than likely that you are dealing with an IAC valve problem. In cases where this valve is clogged or is nearing its replacement age, your vehicle will stall instead of idling after the release of the throttle. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to replace your idle air control valve.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Vibration at low speeds in first and second
Vibrations at low speeds or when the clutch initially engages are usually caused by hot spots on the flywheel. These hot spots are hardened areas of the flywheel that are caused by heat. When the clutch tries to engage on...
Power steering leak
Power steering leaks are not uncommon. There are a few places the power steering fluid can leak from: hoses, steering rack, and power steering pump. Getting the power steering leak diagnosed and repaired quickly would be in your best interest....
Engine and steering making a weird noise
It sounds like you may be having a power steering system fault. The most common cause of this is a power steering fluid leak or a power steering pump failure. With the power steering causing the vehicle to be hard...
Keep getting multiple misfire codes, normally different cylinders except on cylinder (0307), can this one be throwing off the rest
This may be a problem with the exhaust catalyst partly clogged causing excessive back pressure. There is a test where the O2 sensor is removed and the back pressure tester is put in the hole to see if the catalyst...
I am swapping transmissions
You may need to look at how the 1996 bolted up and how the 1988 bolted up. If the 1996 bolts up the same as the 1988 did then use the newer design. You may find they are close to...
Rattling Noise from somewhere around engine top when idle, goes away with little acceleration
This is difficult to pinpoint without having the vehicle inspected. Given that the sound goes away upon acceleration, it sounds like it may be something that is loose since the vibration from higher RPM's makes it go away, however I...
temp gauge in normal range, turn off car and electric fans are running. Open hood and coolant overflow tank is overflowing
The cooling fans running on a 90 degree day is fairly normal for most cars. The coolant overflow full with pressure is also normal. As the heat of the coolant heats up and cools down this causes an expanding and...
Can I use regular oil instead of synthetic?
If synthetic oil is specified by Hyundai and you've used it with your Genesis, then you should continue to use synthetic oil. If conventional oil is specified, then you can use regular or synthetic (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/can-you-switch-between-regular-and-synthetic-motor-oil). If you need to have...
Car turns on, runs about 30 miles, and then starts shaking and turns off - 2007 Toyota Sienna
Hi there. What will help you the most is determining the nature of the failing behavior when the car shuts off. Does it have spark after it shuts off? After it shuts off (immediately after), if you spritz some starter...

Related articles

2012 Honda Civic vs. 2012 Ford Focus: Which One Should I Buy?
One of the best ways to cope with pain at the gas pump is to look at downsizing your vehicle, and today’s compact cars are a great option that allow you to keep the space that you need to move...
The Best Used Cars to Buy for Dog Owners
Dog Dog owners are a special breed of drivers. When they shop for a used car they have a list of requirements that can be quite different from other drivers, which tends to make the process a bit of a...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If Your Kid's On the Soccer Team
If If you are a soccer mom (or dad), you know that you need a lot of space to transport your budding World Cup contenders, along with their gear. From time to time, you can also expect to be bringing...