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Trust My Mechanic

Your Free Car Repair Advice and Auto Repair Help

Car Keeps Dying at Idle

Austin Davis, January 31, 2008October 24, 2014

My engine that runs fine under load. As soon as I come to an idle, the bugger dies. It restarts fine. Had a mechanic put it on the machine and they came up with a timing issue. Just replaced the timing belt and timing belt tensioner. Guess what, same darn thing. Frustrations are running very very high. Can you help?

Thanks,

Robin :)

 

Howdy Robin,

I would first clean the throttle body and idle control motor….or pay a mechanic $75-100 to clean them for you. When the throttle body gets dirty and full of carbon it will cause dying at stops or extended idling and erratic surging idle speeds. I would also look and listen for a vacuum leak somewhere under the hood. Double check all rubber vacuum lines and connections.

Here is a picture of a common throttle body…….not necessarily yours.

Blessings,

Austin Davis

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