Taking Car Care Seriously

If you're having problems keeping your car running when it's idling, you want some answers as to why it's happening. Here, you'll find the three most common causes of the problem so you can do your best to fix the issue before you find yourself blocking traffic at the busiest light in your community.

1. Moisture in the Gas

Moisture in the gas can cause the car to stall when it's idling. If you're lucky, this is the best problem because it is the easiest to resolve. Head to your local auto parts store and pick up a bottle of fuel additive. The additive works to remove the moisture from the fuel in the tank. You may even benefit from choosing the additive mixture that contains ingredients that clean the fuel injectors and fuel lines while you're at it.

Add the additive to the gas tank and let the car run for a while. If this was the problem, it will eventually clear up and you'll be good to go.

2. Automatic Transmission Fluid

Your car will stall when it's idling if the automatic transmission fluid is low or is very old. Park the car on a flat surface and check the fluid. Always pull the dip stick once, wipe it and reinsert it. Pull it once more and get your reading – do you need to add fluid? Is the fluid brown? If you're low, add some – if the fluid is brown, make an appointment to have the transmission flushed and refilled.

3. Failing O2 Sensor

If the car seems to run fine when you first start it up but then starts giving you trouble as it warms up, the O2 sensor may be the problem. In some cases, the check engine light will come on when the O2 sensor fails, but there is always the chance that the computer is not generating the warning.

If the check engine light is on, take your car to a shop or part supply store that offers free testing and find out what the code error means. If it's the O2 sensor, you'll need to get it replaced to fix the problem.

You don't have to continue stressing out each time you have to let your foot off the gas when you come to a stop. Find the issue, make the repairs and get yourself back to driving in a confident, less-fearful manner – until the next issue happens to arise. To learn more, contact a company like 422 Auto Wrecking.