car starting problem

[KahunaHube]

Hey guys,

Was wondering if anyone could suggest what the problem might be with a car that starts but then the rpms drop and the car stalls each time. If i start the car and give it some gas and keep the gas down it will stay alive.. but hte minute i drop the pedal the rpms fall and it stalls again.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated
-Hubert

 

[Heisenberg]

Sounds like maybe an idle air control or throttle position sensor problem.

 

[Pepsi90919]

i was going to say the same thing.

 

[KahunaHube]

have any idea how much such a thing should cost to get repaired?

 

[Heisenberg]

I would guess a couple hundred dollars. Either one of the those problems aren't that hard to fix usually because the throttle body's fairly accessable, but parts can be expensive. It would help to know what kind of car.

 

[imported_Phil]

I had pretty much the same thing on my 1991 Citroen AX here in the UK.
After 5-10 minutes, it was fine for the rest of the day.

I was told that it was carb icing, or water in the carb (jets need cleaning). After fixing the warm/cold air selector vaccuum switch (doh), the problem remained.

What fixed it, was some fuel additive for older cars. See, I had been using that stuff for about a year every time I filled up, and it turns out that some older cars can get addicted to the stuff- the ether in the mixture, that is.
Started using it again, and bang! All problems solved.

Give it a try, nothing to lose

Failing that, if it's cold where you are, try and wrap some foil around the carb (if you have one). That should help if it's carb icing. Also, the fuel lines should be checked over, it's not a hugely expensive or difficult job to do yourself if you want to.

 

[shekondar]

Bad gas?
My car does the same thing if I buy gas from this one station...

 

[KahunaHube]

hmm well we drive it here in southern california, so it cant be the cold. Its a 1997 Rav4

 

[imported_Phil]

Yeah definitely try some fuel additive. If it doesn't solve the problem, then it'll at least make the engine run a little smoother, and it's supposed to help fuel economy, too. I forget the name of the stuff I use, but it's red goopy liquid