After being put into drive or reverse, the car stalls. It starts and runs, but can't be driven.

Tiny
CHRMCKAY56
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 SATURN SL1
  • 204,000 MILES
While driving the other day, the car seemed like it wanted to stall. I pulled it over, and as soon as it idled for a few seconds, it stalled. I put it in park, turned the car off, waited a few seconds, and started it up. No problems. I waited about a minute to put it in drive, no problems yet either. As soon as I put it in drive, it puttered for a few seconds and then stalled. I waited a minute or so, then tried again with the same results. I've been told it may be the O2 sensor or another sensor of some sort, and I've read that it could be the crankshaft position sensor. Since it starts, that ruled out the CPS. Any idea of what the problem could be?
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 AT 6:49 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Do you have any codes?Also if you give it a little gas in gear will it still stall?
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Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
CHRMCKAY56
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  • 3 POSTS
No codes as of yet. Sometimes when I give it gas it will prevent it from stalling for a few seconds, but sometimes it stalls right away as soon as I give it gas.
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Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 AT 3:56 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Have you checked for codes yet?Also have you checked the coolant temp sensor and connector yet?Do you have a multimeter to do some testing?If its in park will it die when giving it gas?
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Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 AT 4:11 AM
Tiny
CHRMCKAY56
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have no multimeter unfortunately. It won't die when it's in park if we give it gas. As long as it's in park, it's fine. As soon as I switch it into drive or reverse, it stalls or starts to stall.
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Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 AT 9:42 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If you have to give it gas to keep it running in park also I suspect a bad coolant temp sensor there only 11 they go bad all the time on those cars. Also I would inspect the coolant temp sensor connector if the terminals are blue or green instead of silver I would replace the connector also. Have you checked anything else like fuel pressure?They rent a fuel pressure tester with a multimeter at auto zone.
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Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 AT 10:14 PM
Tiny
RIDER160250
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  • 5 POSTS
Did you ever figure out the problem? I have the same issue with my car. 1998 saturn sw2. I have changed the fuel filter, checked the egr, changed the idle air control censor and the map sensor, no difference. Still stalls after running the engine for 5 minutes and only stalls out after put in reverse or drive. Never in park. Also no codes.
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Saturday, December 15th, 2012 AT 4:16 PM
Tiny
RIDER160250
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Nevermind it was the coolent temp sensor
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Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 AT 5:20 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Very common failure on those cars glad to hear you got it fixed.
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Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 AT 5:39 PM

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