9 Reasons Why Your Car Does start But Will Not Stay Running

By Author: Many Autos
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“My car starts but does not run for long. What am I supposed to do? You've most likely been in a similar situation. A vehicle may run for a few seconds before shutting down on its own, or it may die while driving and refuse to start.
If your car starts and then dies after a few minutes, or even seconds, you'll find the solution in this article. A proper diagnosis is the key to resolving this issue from the ground up. As a result, I recommend that you use the car-supported diagnostic tool to perform a full sensor scan, complete programming, and calibration.
This could be due to a variety of failures in the vehicle's components. When you don't understand the car's systems, determining the exact cause of this failure can be difficult. Hence it is recommended to search online for car service in Reading and let a car mechanic find and fix the issue.
What are the Causes of a Car That Starts but Doesn't Stay Running?
As previously stated, this failure has many components. Several checks and fixes are required to determine the exact causes ...
... of the faults and how to deal with them correctly:
Ignition System Issues - Fuel, spark, and air are the three essential components for the car to start and run. If these three elements are present in the proper proportions, the car will run smoothly and will not stop. If one of the three elements fails to decrease or slightly increases, the ratio changes and the car does not run smoothly. It will eventually shut down due to a bad spark or because the fuel support is insufficient to sustain the engine and keep it running. This is what causes the car to start but then die when it is cold.
Canister Vent Valve Failure - The canister vent valve is a component of the evaporative emission control system (EVAP). Its function is to transport the vapours produced by the fuel back to the canister and from the canister to the intake manifold. The fuel then enters the combustion chambers and is ignited by the spark plugs. This system has the advantage of lowering fuel consumption. If this system fails, the vehicle becomes unstable while idling and shuts down immediately after starting.
PCV Valve Failure - A PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve is a valve that is designed to purge blow-by gases in the engine caused by oil heating. It is redirected to the intake manifold for lubrication and re-burning. To accomplish this, PCV systems employ a very small valve. When the overloaded pressure is relieved, this valve opens. When this valve fails and remains open, an overflow of air streams into the intake manifold occurs during idle or acceleration, causing the car to stall.
TPS Fault - The TPS (throttle position sensor) is the sensor that sends the throttle position to the ECU (engine control module). The significance of this signal is that the ECU calculates the amount of fuel to be delivered to the injectors in order to maintain the proper air-fuel ratio in the mixture. When the throttle position sends the incorrect signal to the ECU, the amount of fuel delivered to the injector's rail is incorrect, and the car may stall on idle. And you'll notice that the car starts but won't run unless your foot is on the accelerator pedal.
ECT Sensor - This component assists the engine in protecting itself and preventing its performance from being influenced by engine temperature. The ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature) sensor sends information about the engine's temperature to the ECU, which allows the ECU to adjust the air-fuel mixture. When the ECT sensor fails, it sends incorrect or false information about the temperature of the mixture, making it difficult for the ECU to provide the correct amount of fuel. The combustion will be incorrect, resulting in roughness while driving and, in some cases, stalling. The worst part about this type of failure is that if the engine overheats, the fans do not run at full speed because they do not receive temperature signals. To prevent this from happening, look online for full car service near me and request a trained technician to resolve this issue before total engine failure.
EGR Valve Defect - EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) is a system that recirculates a portion of exhaust gases back into the engine to reduce the temperature of the combustion chamber by reintroducing a small portion of the exhaust gas into the intake manifold. Carbon build-ups are known to clog and obstruct the EGR valve passages. This prevents the valve from closing, resulting in an extra air stream inside the engine, which causes stalling and instability while idle.
Catalytic Converter - The catalytic converter in a car revises, corrects, and evaluates the engine's performance. It ensures that the combustion process is running smoothly. Typically, the catalytic converter is linked to an oxygen sensor. This sensor's job is to analyse the exhaust from the combustion chambers and detect the percentage of oxygen in it. Based on this information, it adjusts the air-fuel mixture to ensure proper combustion. The combustion is just right, neither lean nor rich. As a result, if the catalytic converter is defective or of poor quality, the sensor will not provide accurate readings, and the air-fuel mixture will suffer. Get to the nearest car service near me garage and let the professionals repair or replace any faulty parts.
Wrong Injector Pulses - If your car always starts, then sputters and dies, it could be due to faulty injector pulses. As previously stated, three elements must be present in specific quantities for combustion to occur. They are the spark through the spark plugs, the air entering the engine through the air ducts and passing through the air filter, and the fuel supplied into the engine via injectors. This process is carried out by injectors using pulses. When the ECU sends a signal to the injector, it magnetises the plunger and sprays fuel into the intake manifold or directly into the cylinder in some GDI systems. As a result, if these injectors fail to provide the correct pulses, provide pulses at the incorrect timing, or have a defect such as over bleeding fuel, perfect combustion of this unsmooth running is prevented.
CMPCKP - It is also known as the Camshaft Position Sensor or the Crankshaft Position Sensor. If your car has a faulty camshaft position sensor or crankshaft position sensor, it will never perform properly. The sensors' job is to define the timing and location of the crankshaft and camshaft. They also specify the amount of valve opening required to supply the air and fuel mixture to the combustion chambers. All of this data is sent to the ECU to be processed and analysed. It then decides when to light the spark and when to spray the appropriate amount of fuel. It also determines the depth of the valve opening to be adjusted based on the data.
Finally, if you are completely perplexed by the problem, it is always a good idea to seek advice from an expert. You will save time and money, and your car will be recovered quickly and easily.