Car Engine Starts and Stops Immediately

Introduction

When you turn the key in your car’s ignition and the engine starts, you expect it to stay running. However, there are times when the engine will start and then stop immediately. This can be a frustrating and inconvenient problem, but it is usually not a serious one. In most cases, it can be fixed with a simple repair.

Causes of Engine Starting and Stopping Immediately

There are a number of different things that can cause an engine to start and then stop immediately. Some of the most common causes include:

Fuel problems: If the engine is not getting enough fuel, it will not be able to run. This can be caused by a clogged fuel filter, a faulty fuel pump, or a leak in the fuel line.
Air problems: If the engine is not getting enough air, it will not be able to run. This can be caused by a clogged air filter, a faulty mass air flow sensor, or a leak in the intake manifold.
Ignition problems: If the engine is not getting enough spark, it will not be able to run. This can be caused by a faulty spark plug, a faulty ignition coil, or a faulty distributor.
Electrical problems: If the engine is not getting enough electricity, it will not be able to run. This can be caused by a faulty battery, a faulty alternator, or a faulty wiring harness.

Diagnosing the Problem

If your car’s engine starts and then stops immediately, the first step is to diagnose the problem. You can do this by checking the following things:

Fuel pressure: The fuel pressure should be between 40 and 60 psi. You can check the fuel pressure by using a fuel pressure gauge.
Air flow: The air flow should be between 10 and 15 cfm. You can check the air flow by using an air flow meter.
Spark strength: The spark strength should be between 10 and 15 kV. You can check the spark strength by using a spark tester.
Electrical system: The electrical system should be providing 12 volts of power to the engine. You can check the electrical system by using a voltmeter.

Once you have diagnosed the problem, you can then repair it.

Repairing the Problem

The repair for an engine that starts and then stops immediately will depend on the cause of the problem. Some of the most common repairs include:

Replacing the fuel filter: A clogged fuel filter can prevent the engine from getting enough fuel. Replacing the fuel filter is a simple and inexpensive repair.
Replacing the fuel pump: A faulty fuel pump can prevent the engine from getting enough fuel. Replacing the fuel pump is a more expensive repair, but it is usually not difficult to do.
Fixing a leak in the fuel line: A leak in the fuel line can prevent the engine from getting enough fuel. Fixing a leak in the fuel line is a simple repair, but it can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing.
Replacing the air filter: A clogged air filter can prevent the engine from getting enough air. Replacing the air filter is a simple and inexpensive repair.
Replacing the mass air flow sensor: A faulty mass air flow sensor can prevent the engine from getting enough air. Replacing the mass air flow sensor is a more expensive repair, but it is usually not difficult to do.
Fixing a leak in the intake manifold: A leak in the intake manifold can prevent the engine from getting enough air. Fixing a leak in the intake manifold is a more difficult repair, but it is usually not expensive.
Replacing the spark plugs: Faulty spark plugs can prevent the engine from getting enough spark. Replacing the spark plugs is a simple and inexpensive repair.
Replacing the ignition coil: A faulty ignition coil can prevent the engine from getting enough spark. Replacing the ignition coil is a more expensive repair, but it is usually not difficult to do.
Replacing the distributor: A faulty distributor can prevent the engine from getting enough spark. Replacing the distributor is a more difficult repair, but it is usually not expensive.
Replacing the battery: A faulty battery can prevent the engine from getting enough electricity. Replacing the battery is a simple and inexpensive repair.
Replacing the alternator: A faulty alternator can prevent the engine from getting enough electricity. Replacing the alternator is a more expensive repair, but it is usually not difficult to do.
Fixing a fault in the wiring harness: A fault in the wiring harness can prevent the engine from getting enough electricity. Fixing a fault in the wiring harness can be a difficult and expensive repair.

Conclusion

An engine that starts and then stops immediately is a frustrating problem, but it is usually not a serious one. In most cases, it can be fixed with a simple repair. If you are having this problem, do not hesitate to take your car to a mechanic to have it diagnosed and repaired.