“Help! My Car Suddenly Stalled On The Highway!”

You’re driving up I-35, heading to your New Braunfels home after an exhausting workday. Axl Rose’s nasally voice welcomes you to the jungle as you pass the familiar “Selma – Population: 5540” sign. Suddenly, without warning, your engine sputters and stalls, leaving your mind boggled and car coasting along. So, you switch on the emergency lights and call a tow truck.

But the important question remains: Why would your car engine stop abruptly? Your stalled car is probably not being caused by evil engine elves or solar flares, so what plausible reason could there be?

Low on Gas or Leaking Fuel Line

Of course, the first thing you should check after your engine stalls is your fuel gauge.

“But I just filled that sucker up on Monday!”

Your car may be leaking fuel, which would cause your engine to stall at any given notice. When a fuel tank is punctured—whether by a rock, screw, or due to rust—gas can leak out like a flash in the pan. A leak in the fuel injection line or hose will take a bit longer to stall your car. Common signs of a car fuel leak include:

Gasoline pooling underneath your vehicle
Constant smell of gasoline, even when the car is in motion
Fuel gauge is not accurate or drops steeply
Visible cracks on the fuel hoses
Not only can it result in a stalled engine, leaking fuel is also incredibly dangerous, posing great fire risks if not repaired. Thankfully, many car gas leak repairs are simple and inexpensive. Ask your auto service technician for recommendations if they suspect a loose relay, cracked gas line, or broken fuel tank.

Heavy Keychain
It may sound like an odd question to ask, but we must ask it: Is your keychain on the heavy side? If you’ve noticed your car stalling randomly, it could be because of your keys, not the vehicle itself! If your car key is being pulled down and away from the ignition contact, your engine will stop.

Bad Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are some of the most reliable car parts in your vehicle, living up to 100,000 miles between replacements. However, spark plugs can go bad if flooded or there’s a disconnect with the ignition circuit. A trembling vehicle (when idle) or lack of electrical power are two of the most common signs you may need to replace spark plugs in your car, though most spark plug problems go unnoticed until it’s too late.

A routine tune-up and maintenance check can remedy any spark plug issues before they result in a stalled engine. If you can’t remember the last time your car was thoroughly inspected, we recommend scheduling your next maintenance appointment sooner rather than later.

Cracked Distributor Cap
A faulty distributor will throw the whole ignition sequence out of whack. Cracks in the cap or distributor attachments can accumulate dirt, dust, and debris, which could eventually short the ground wires. When this happens, there isn’t adequate current to spark and ignite the engine. If your distributor cap is broken, you’ll notice the car will shake when idle, backfire at odd intervals, produce strange RPM drops, emit high-pitched squeaking noises, or not turn over at

Bad Alternator or Car Battery
When your battery voltage drops, the ignition system in your car calls it quits. Usually, an old battery or corroded battery terminals can be the culprit of a stalled engine. However, bad alternators usually produce similar symptoms. If you notice growling sounds, the smell of burning rubber, flickering headlights, or an engine that dies even after a jump start, it’s probably your alternator.

PIP Sensors Fail
Without a signal to your car’s fuel injectors, you’re left up a creek without a paddle. The job of the PIP, camshaft, and crankshaft position sensors is to ensure fuel injection lines are fully functional and able to receive signals. Diagnosing and fixing a bad crankshaft sensor—or PIP sensor, as Ford calls it—requires a code reader, steady hand, and lots of experience. A PIP sensor replacement for a Ford is inexpensive, but installing it takes precision, so always seek out help from a professional mechanic or Ford service technician.

Get a Thorough Multi-Point Inspection
If your car stalls fairly regularly, don’t dilly-dally. Get it checked immediately! You could save yourself hundreds of dollars in needless repairs by getting a replacement alternator, fuel hose, or OEM car part early. Prevention is the best medicine.

Contact our San Antonio Ford service center at (210) 525-9800 to schedule your auto inspection or get a tow to our San Antonio repair shop. As one of the most trusted auto service centers in San Antonio, we proudly work on Ford models and many other makes of vehicle. At Northside Ford, we’ll diagnose and fix your stalling engine problems, guaranteed!