If your engine stalls while driving, it can be a startling and dangerous situation, but staying calm and knowing what to do can help you manage the situation safely. So, in this article, I will explaining the first thing to do should your engine stalls while you’re driving.
If Your Engine Stalls What is the First Thing You Should Do?
- Open your hood.
- Use the emergency brake to brake slowly.
- Shift the gear into neutral (N)
- Press on the accelerator.
The answer is shift the gear into neutral (N) to allow you to maintain control of the steering and braking.
If Your Engine Stalls What is the First Thing You Should Do?
Here are the list of things to do if your engine stalls while driving:
1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
The first and most important thing to do when your engine stalls while driving is to remain calm. Panicking can lead to rash decisions that might worsen the situation. Take a deep breath and focus on safely getting your vehicle under control.
2. Shift the Transmission to Neutral (N)
If the engine stalls, you will likely lose power steering and braking assistance. To help regain some control, quickly shift the transmission into neutral (N) to help disconnect the engine from the wheels, hence, allowing you to maintain better control over steering and braking.
If you’re driving a manual transmission vehicle, press the clutch pedal to disengage the engine from the wheels.
3. Steer to Safety
Use the vehicle’s remaining momentum to guide it safely out of traffic. Ideally, steer towards the shoulder of the road or the nearest safe area. If you’re on a highway, try to get off the main lanes as quickly and safely as possible.
Remember that your steering may be heavier and brakes less responsive, so use gentle, deliberate movements. Avoid sharp turns or abrupt braking to prevent losing control.
4. Activate Hazard Lights
Once you’re safely off the road, immediately turn on your hazard lights. This signals to other drivers that you’re experiencing an issue, hence, making your vehicle more visible, especially if you’re in a precarious location.
5. Attempt to Restart the Engine
Once you stop in a safe location, try to restart the car. Sometimes, the stall may be due to a temporary glitch, and the engine might start right up.
If the engine restarts successfully, you can carefully re-enter traffic, keeping an eye on the vehicle’s behavior to ensure everything is functioning normally.
6. Assess the Situation if the Engine Doesn’t Restart
If the engine doesn’t restart, it’s important to check the situation further. You can check the following:
- Check Fuel Level: Make sure you haven’t run out of fuel, as this is a common cause of stalling.
- Electrical Issues: Look for any warning lights on the dashboard that could indicate an electrical problem.
- Call for Help: If you’re unable to diagnose the problem, it’s best to call for roadside assistance or a tow truck to tow your car to a mechanic. Don’t attempt to fix the issue yourself on a busy road, as this can be dangerous.
7. Stay Safe While Waiting for Assistance
If you’re waiting for help, stay inside your vehicle with your seatbelt on, especially if you’re on a busy road. Exiting the vehicle could put you in danger of being hit by passing traffic. If you’re in a safe area and it’s safe to do so, you may exit the vehicle and wait away from traffic.
8. Prevent Future Stalls
After the situation is resolved, it’s a good idea to have your vehicle thoroughly inspected by a mechanic to determine the cause of the stall.
Moreover, regular maintenance can help to prevent future stalling and ensure your vehicle remains in good working condition.
Key Points to Remember:
- Safety First: Your primary concern should be getting yourself and any passengers out of harm’s way.
- Avoid Panic: Panicking can impair your judgment and ability to control the vehicle.
- Get Off the Road: Steer to a safe location as quickly as possible without abrupt movements.
Signal to Others: Use your hazard lights to alert other drivers that you’re having trouble.
How Do You Start an Engine After Stalling?
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start an engine after stalling:
Manual Transmission:
- Depress the Clutch: Push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor to disengage the engine from the transmission.
- Shift to Neutral: If the car is still in gear, shift to neutral.
- Start the Engine: Turn the key in the ignition or press the start button to start the engine.
- Shift into Gear: Once the engine is running, shift into first gear.
- Slowly Release the Clutch: While gently pressing the accelerator, slowly release the clutch pedal to get the car moving again. Be careful not to stall again.
Nonetheless, for manual cars, practice balancing the clutch and throttle to avoid stalling. Also, while in traffic, if you’re unsure, you can keep the clutch partially engaged (slipping) to prevent stalling.
Automatic Transmission:
- Shift to Park (P) or Neutral (N): If your car stalled while in Drive (D), shift to either Park or Neutral.
- Start the Engine: Turn the key in the ignition or press the start button to restart the engine.
- Shift to Drive (D): Once the engine is running, shift back into Drive and resume driving.
These are ways you can recover from an engine stall.
Conclusion
If you experience an engine stall while driving, it can be an unsettling event, but knowing how to respond effectively is important for your safety.
Therefore, once the engine stalls, try and stay calm, carefully steer your vehicle to a safe location, and signal to other drivers, you can manage the situation without panic.
Restarting the engine might resolve the issue, but if it doesn’t, then you should call for professional help rather than trying to fix the problem yourself in a hazardous environment.
