Car hesitates and slows down badly at times. It almost stalls at times. It keeps slow speed at 20-30KM.
Kia Carnival 3.8L Petrol:car hesitates at times and slows down badly at times. It almost stalls at times. It keeps slow speed at 20-30KM. more so when low on gas 1/4 or less tank. most of the time is ok. I have driven it on very low gas and may also have put bad gas in it. Need to know where the gas filters is as there is nou opening in side the van as is the case with older Kia Vans. What is the likely cause? where is the fuel filter and gas pump etc.
My car has 130000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. I would need to know the year of the vehicle to know where the fuel filter is located. If this is an older model, it is located under the vehicle. Most of the newer models only have a filter on the fuel pump.
From what you are explaining, it sounds like the fuel pump is failing. When the fuel is low, the pump will get hot and a weak pump will lose pressure causing this to occur. I would usually check the fuel pressure to see if it is low, especially when the fuel level is low. If it is, then the pump needs to be replaced. If you plan on having this done, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can come to your home or office to diagnose the hesitation problem and guide you with repairs.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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This hesitation while accelerating can be the result of a number of issues, including something like a clogged fuel filter or even a broken fuel pump. Sometimes, something could also be wrong with the transmission.
If your car hesitates when accelerating at low speed, you likely have a lean air-to-fuel mixture—meaning the gas getting to your engine doesn`t have the correct mix of fuel and air.
An engine that is hesitating to accelerate is most likely dealing with a fuel/air mixture that is too lean. Engine`s that are running inefficiently will begin to show signs like hesitation which will only become worse over time.
Hesitating cars and bucking cars often have worn out fuel filters, fuel pumps, oxygen sensors, EGR valves, spark plugs, or air filters.
If your car hesitates when you try to speed up at a low speed, it`s likely because the air and fuel ratio is too lean. A lean air-to-fuel ratio means the gas going into your engine doesn`t have the right amount of fuel and air.
This symptom often points to an issue with either your exhaust system, fuel or dirty or worn out parts. In internal combustion running vehicles, and incomplete combustion will cause a sputter. And while a sputtering engine might not seem like a serious issue, it often results in an expensive repair when ignored.
If your engine revs up as you press down on the gas but your vehicle doesn`t accelerate as much as you`d expect, you may be dealing with transmission slipping. If you`ve ever tried to accelerate on ice, where your engine revs but your vehicle goes nowhere, you know the feeling.
Trouble accelerating can come from a few different engine issues. These include, but are not limited to, dirty fuel injectors, low fuel pressure, and restricted airflow. A problem with the mass airflow sensor, throttle position sensor, or engine speed sensor can also cause a car to have difficulty picking up speed.
When you press down the accelerator pedal and get minimal output, it could mean you have a problem with your fuel system. The most probable issue is a clogged fuel filter. Your fuel filter works to ensure that dirt and debris do not get into the fuel system.
An engine that stumbles while you are driving is either misfiring, not getting enough fuel, or is getting too much air.
Many supposed carburetor-related problems like low-speed hesitation can be traced to improper ignition timing.
Hesitation. Your car hesitating when you accelerate is an issue that can be caused by transmission problems. It is possible for you to mistakenly think your gears are slipping when in fact it is your engine hesitating. It is also common to experience issues when switching from park to drive for transmission problems.
A clogged or malfunctioning EGR valve can disrupt the vehicle`s air-fuel ratio, which can cause engine performance issues such as a reduction in power and fuel efficiency. The vehicle may also stall or hesitate while accelerating.
Hesitation is when your engine misfires, stumbles or lacks power when you accelerate or step on the throttle. The problem often means the air/fuel mixture is not being properly enriched or is going lean, or the ignition system is weak and is misfiring when the engine comes under load or the air/fuel mixture goes lean.
Spark Plugs
A rough idling engine can be caused by spark plugs or spark plug wires. Spark plugs use the electrical current received from ignition coils to ignite the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber. A plug that is damaged or installed incorrectly can result in fuel being burned at an inconsistent rate.
If you press or let up on the pedal, there will be a delay before the engine responds. This is because of the time it takes the throttle motor to activate the throttle opening. Throttle response should be nearly immediate and not delayed. Gas pedal delay is a safety defect because it can cause accidents in emergencies.
There are a few reasons why your car might be struggling to accelerate. It could be due to a problem with the timing belt, the spark plugs, or the fuel injectors. It could also be because you have a dirty air filter or a clogged fuel filter. The fuel system may also be low on fuel.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Car hesitates and slows down badly at times. It almost stalls at times. It keeps slow speed at 20-30KM.
ANSWER : Hello. I would need to know the year of the vehicle to know where the fuel filter is located. If this is an older model, it is located under the vehicle. Most of the newer models only have a filter on the fuel pump.
From what you are explaining, it sounds like the fuel pump is failing. When the fuel is low, the pump will get hot and a weak pump will lose pressure causing this to occur. I would usually check the fuel pressure to see if it is low, especially when the fuel level is low. If it is, then the pump needs to be replaced. If you plan on having this done, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can come to your home or office to diagnose the hesitation problem and guide you with repairs.
Replaced alternator on car 2 times each time shows it’s charging 14v let car run for a little bit then test drive and car voltage
ANSWER : There are reports that the replacement alternators will not communicate with the engine computer and will not charge correctly. I recommend using only the manufacturer approved replacement part. It can be new or remanufactured but approved for use in the vehicle. Some lower cost alternators on the aftermarket will have charging problems since they will not communicate with the ECM on the vehicle and will stop charging.
Could this cause ur car to stall in warmer weather? My car never stalls during winter months. But from spring on its a neverendin
ANSWER : You should have the check engine light and engine scanned to see if the engine may be running lean due to low fuel pressures or clogged injectors. You should also have the mass airflow sensor cleaned and checked for proper readings and replace if not within specifications. The vehicle runs richer in colder weather and may be the reason for not stalling. You should clean injectors, clean throttle body and idle control valve then clean mass air sensor and relearn idle.
2003 Mercury sable started stalling when slowing down to stop and or once stopped. Made it home but now in driveway, dies as soon
ANSWER : You’ll have to go through a stalling diagnostic but the good news is the symptoms you are describing are fairly dramatic and so the cause is likely to be readily found. Common causes of engine stalling include a faulty mass airflow sensor, faulty engine coolant temperature switch/sensor (typically at cold start only), worn spark plugs, wires or defective ignition coil(s), inadequate fuel delivery or pressure (clogged fuel filter, injectors), contaminated or old gasoline, defective throttle position sensor, faulty idle air control valve, leaks in the EGR system, intake vacuum leaks, and so forth. If you request an engine stalling/rough idle diagnostic the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
My car is slow to start
ANSWER : Hi there. Typically what you are describing is an indication that a tune up service is due. As the vehicle’s ignition and fuel system components age, they will collect excessive levels of carbon deposits, which makes it more difficult to ignite the fuel / air mixture in the cylinder. This is why it takes a few seconds of cranking to actually fire up. A traditional tune up includes replacing the spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor and coil packs. It also includes cleaning the fuel injectors, the throttle body, and possibly replacing mass air flow sensor. However, there could be other components that are damaged that are causing this issue; so before you replace any parts, I would recommend having one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a car is hard to start inspection; so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and ensure the right repairs are made.
Owner is told car’s stalling is phantom problem
ANSWER : Hey there. You cannot operate a motor vehicle on public roadways if you know for a fact that it stalls unexpectedly. So the first order of business is to STOP driving the car especially given the two frankly lurid examples of near catastrophic crashes that you have described in your question. The second issue is easier: although there are AT LEAST a dozen obvious causes of the symptom you are reporting, and it is laborious to track down each possible "cause," the problem is definitely fixable.
You either have fuel or ignition related component(s), possibly both, that are intermittently cutting out. It might be possible to obtain enough data via your car’s OBD-II DTC interface to diagnose the problem at the time of failure and/or get in the general "area" of the failure. Given the age of the car, one issue to keep in mind is you could have a combination of problems that ultimately cause the stall. To have this problem scoped out, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to inspect the stalling issue and have this corrected.
Car keeps stalling car, I think it’s the fuel pump
ANSWER : Hello – I applaud your diagnostic skills! You have certainly identified a classic failure mode of a fuel pump with extended mileage such as yours. Your fuel pump is located in the tank and is cooled by the gasoline there. With a half tank (or less) of gas, the fuel pump isn’t being cooled as well. A worn pump generates more heat and will stop working when it gets too hot. Well done! I would recommend having a professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, replace your fuel pump to repair this problem.
My picasso car stalls when I slow down and also when I’m driving then restarts no warning lights stay on been scanned no faults.
ANSWER : Hi there. The sensor in the pedal is dropping below threshold and the computer thinks that there is problem, so it makes the ignition system shut off and turn back on to reset the pedal position sensor. I recommend replacing the pedal position sensor on the gas pedal. If you need further assistance with your vehicle stalling when letting off the gas pedal and starting up when pushing on the gas pedal, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
