Engine shuts off when the transmission is shifted into drive, but only when the engine is warmed up

KELLYMCO

MEMBER
2004 DODGE NEON
AUTOMATIC
100,000 MILES

When the car is warm, and it is turned off when restarted it stalls very suddenly when put in drive. You can back out of the space but as soon as it is put in drive it stalls. There is no sputtering or sign that it is going to stall. It is a very sudden forceful stall. It does not happen if the car is cold.

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,758 POSTS

Hi,

Do you mean it feels like the clutch on a manual transmission is being left out too quickly? If that is the case, it sounds like it could be related to the torque converter.

By chance is the check engine light staying on while the engine is running? Does this ever happen when the engine is cold?

Let me know.

Take care,

Joe

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Monday, April 11th, 2022 AT 8:57 PM

KELLYMCO

MEMBER
1 POST

Only when cold. Check engine light on.

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Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 AT 12:28 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,758 POSTS

Okay, since the light is on and there is a transmission issue, we really need to scan the can-bus. CAN stands for controller area network. Basically, all the computers/modules are tied together via a few wires.

This type of scan will retrieve codes regardless of the module storing them. Here is a link that shows how it's done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

Let me know if that is something you can have done. Also, make sure the transmission fluid is clean and full.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-and-add-transmission-fluid

Let me know.

Joe

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Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 AT 7:59 PM