What to Check If the Van Starts and Then Stalls
If you have a van that is stalling out quickly after an ignition attempt, there are three areas to concentrate the troubleshooting: the gas, battery and spark plugs. These are the most common reasons for stalls or inconsistent ignition. When troubleshooting issues such as these, it is advisable to begin with the simplest solution and progress to the more difficult.
Other People Are Reading
-
Fuel
-
Look at the fuel gauge indicator and check there is sufficient fuel in the tank. Stalls after ignition are a common symptom of low to no fuel. Pour one or two gallons into the tank, press the accelerator down two or three times and try the ignition. Once started, press the pedal to increase RPMs and test the fuel. Bring the van to a filling station and fill the tank.
Battery
-
Open the van hood and inspect the battery terminals. A corroded battery causes the vehicle to stall and may inhibit ignition. A solution is to clean the battery cable ends and the battery terminals with a toothbrush and cola-based soda. The acids in the cola break down the battery corrosion. Be sure all the connections are free of the corrosion and try the ignition and see if this clears up the problem.
-
Spark Plugs
-
Use a spark plug socket remover and pull the van's park plugs to inspect the tips. Look for decayed metal at the tip of the plug or for excessive oil on the plug or in the plug holder. Clean the holder of the grease and oil and replace with a new spark plug. Try the ignition and listen for any stuttering or stalling.
Alternator
-
When stalls occur it may also be an indicator that the alternator is beginning to go. Bring the van to a tire or quick service oil-change shop and ask them to run an alternator test. A faulty alternator drains the van's battery, thus causing stalls and unreliable ignition.
-
References
- Photo Credit van fano denmark image by david harding from Fotolia.com
