What to Do If Your Car Starts and Then Stops

Have you ever had a problem with your car starting and then stopping right away? This can be very frustrating and scary, especially if you are on the road or in a hurry. You may wonder what is wrong with your car and how to fix it.

In this article, we will explain why your car starts and then stops, what are the possible causes, and what you can do to solve the problem.

Why Does Your Car Start and Then Stop?

Your car starts and then stops because something is preventing your engine from getting enough fuel, air, or spark. These are the three things that your engine needs to run properly. When one of them is missing or not working well, your engine will not run smoothly or at all.

When you start your car, the engine uses a small amount of fuel, air, and spark to fire up. This is enough to make the engine run for a few seconds, but not enough to keep it running. If there is a problem with the fuel system, the air intake system, or the ignition system, your engine will not get enough fuel, air, or spark to keep running. This will make your car start and then stop.

What Are the Possible Causes of Your Car Starting and Then Stopping?

There are many possible causes of your car starting and then stopping. Some of them are easy to fix, while others may require professional help. Here are some of the most common causes and how to identify them:

• Empty fuel tank: This is the simplest and most obvious cause. If your fuel tank is empty, your engine will not get any fuel to run. You can check your fuel gauge or indicator on your dashboard to see if you have enough gas. If your fuel tank is empty, you need to refill it as soon as possible. 
• Bad fuel pump: This is the part that pumps the fuel from the tank to the engine. If your fuel pump is bad, your engine will not get enough fuel pressure to run. You can check your fuel pump by listening for a humming noise near the fuel tank when you turn the key to the ON position. If you do not hear any noise, your fuel pump may be bad. You need to replace your fuel pump as soon as possible. 
• Clogged fuel filter: This is the part that filters the dirt and debris from the fuel before it reaches the engine. If your fuel filter is clogged, your engine will not get enough fuel to run. You can check your fuel filter by looking for signs of dirt, rust, or damage. You need to replace your fuel filter as soon as possible.
• Faulty fuel injector: This is the part that sprays the fuel into the engine. If your fuel injector is faulty, your engine will not get enough fuel to run. You can check your fuel injector by looking for signs of leakage, corrosion, or damage. You need to replace your fuel injector as soon as possible. 
• Dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor: This is the part that measures the amount of air that enters the engine. If your mass air flow sensor is dirty or faulty, your engine will not get the right amount of air to run. You can check your mass air flow sensor by looking for signs of dirt, dust, or damage. You can also try to clean it with a special cleaner or replace it as soon as possible. 
• Vacuum leak: This is a hole or crack in the air intake system that lets extra air into the engine. If your air intake system has a vacuum leak, your engine will get too much air and not enough fuel to run. You can check your air intake system by looking for signs of damage, loose connections, or hissing noises. You can also try to find the leak with a smoke machine or a spray bottle. You need to fix the leak as soon as possible.
• Bad spark plug, wire, or coil: These are the parts that create the spark that ignites the fuel and air in the engine. If your spark plug, wire, or coil is bad, your engine will not get enough spark to run. You can check your spark plug, wire, or coil by looking for signs of wear, corrosion, or damage. You can also test them with a spark tester or a multimeter. You need to replace your spark plug, wire, or coil as soon as possible. 
• Bad ignition switch: This is the part that turns on the power to the engine and the other parts of the car. If your ignition switch is bad, your engine will not get enough power to run. You can check your ignition switch by looking for signs of damage, loose connections, or burning smells. You can also test it with a test light or a multimeter. You need to replace your ignition switch as soon as possible.

What to Do If Your Car Starts and Then Stops?

If your car starts and then stops, you need to do the following things:

• Stop your car safely: If you are on the road, you need to pull over to a safe place and turn on your hazard lights. If you are in a parking lot or a driveway, you need to park your car and turn off the engine.
• Try to start your car again: For manual transmission cars, shift into Neutral; for automatic transmission cars, shift into Park. If your car starts and you can get underway again, get to a safe location and then call a tow truck, AAA, or roadside assistance provider in case your car stalls again.
• Check for possible causes: If your car does not start or stalls again, you need to check for possible causes of the problem. You can use the list above to identify the cause and see if you can fix it yourself. You may need some tools and skills to do this, such as a wrench, a screwdriver, a code reader, a multimeter, or a smoke machine.
• Call for help: If you cannot fix the problem yourself, or if you are not sure what the problem is, you need to call for help. You can call a tow truck, AAA, or roadside assistance provider to take your car to a mechanic. You can also call a friend or a family member to pick you up or to help you out.

Conclusion

Your car starts and then stops because something is preventing your engine from getting enough fuel, air, or spark. There are many possible causes of this problem, such as an empty fuel tank, a bad fuel pump, a clogged fuel filter, a faulty fuel injector, a dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor, a vacuum leak, a bad spark plug, wire, or coil, or a bad ignition switch. You need to stop your car safely, try to start your car again, check for possible causes, and call for help if you cannot fix the problem yourself. By doing these things, you can solve the problem and prevent further damage to your car.

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