Q: Engine stalls in gear at stop light

asked by on March 07, 2017

My 350 tbi engine will stall and die when at operating temperature. ..checked for any vacuum leaks but do not find any...and no check engine light

My car has 145000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

This can happen for a few different reasons and is usually related to things like the idle control valve or the MAP sensor. I would suggest checking the MAP sensor as this would seem to have more impact on this kind of behavior due to the fact that it only happens when in gear which indicates an adverse response to the load put on the motor (i.e. being in gear). If you need further help with this, please reach out to us here at YourMechanic as we are always here to help.

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

Engine making whining noise
Hi there. The most common cause of this on your engine is the water pump. It can be a number of other things also. I typically remove the belt and run the engine to verify that the noise goes away....
Why does my wheel cylinder keep breaking?
Without specifying exactly what keeps happening, it's hard to tell exactly what problem you are having. The replacement of the wheel cylinder should be straight forward by removing the brake shoes on one side only. Remove and replace the wheel...
central locking system, locks, actuator, motor assembly, door
The ones that aren't working, you've got to push or pull. The actuator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-door-lock-actuator) on those doors probably went out. It is a little motor assembly. When you find out how much those stupid little electronic motor assemblies cost, you'll...
My oil and engine light are flickering on and off after about 15 minutes of driving
The oil light is coming on after it warms up due to once the oil is warmed up it thins out and oil will leak past worn parts like the main crankshaft bearings and crankshaft rod bearings. Your oil pump...
My '98 expedition drives fine for a while, then after a few hours, when sitting still, it idles rough then shuts off.
After some testing done to verify the EGR valve flow to see if the valve is intermittently sticking open causing the stall. This can be done using a scanner with the capability to open and close the EGR valve and...
Leaking coolant, dripping off engine block near oil filter. 2006 Dodge Ram 1500
Hi - yes, almost certainly this is the water pump bearing seal leaking (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-water-pump). I would replace the water pump immediately. Modern water pumps have a remarkable ability to hold water right up to the instant they fail completely -...
How do I remove the gear shifter to replace the neutral safety switch
Hello. In order to remove the shifter you will have to remove the vehicle's shift knob and disassemble the vehicle's interior. From the symptoms you describe, however, it would appear that your vehicle may be experiencing a different issue, perhaps...
driver side power lock doesnt work.
Thank you for writing in. There are several reasons you may be having these issues with the locks. However, without knowing what model of Chevy you are driving it is difficult to know what exact components you are working with....
20k schedule maintenance
Hello, thank you for writing in. The scheduled maintenance for the vehicle should be located in your owner's manual, and you should compare that list to the quote. Without knowing what issues they may have found, its hard to tell...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
The The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox stands out in the small SUV class for its affordable price, its high-powered engine, and its plethora of features. While the Honda CR-V has led this class for years, the Chevrolet Equinox is positioned to...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Dog Trainer
If If you are a dog trainer, you expect a lot from your vehicle. You want a ride that is safe, roomy, and of course, dog friendly, since your training operation will often mean that you need to transport the...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Personal Assistant
As As a personal assistant, you have a lot of demands placed on your time. Often it’s important that you be able to get around town quickly, running a ton of errands, picking things up here, dropping them off there,...