Q: Highway driving or when stopped, minivan stalls and quits

asked by on September 22, 2016

There have been many times while driving when my minivan’s engine stalled or totally stopped running. It has also happened while sitting at red lights. The engine would cut out or stall upon acceleration and the transmission would feel as if it wanted to start slipping. When this would happen, both the brakes and the steering would become inoperable. There have been many times that this has happened on the interstate and also while driving in the city. There was one incident where the engine completely stalled and then would not start. I took the van to the dealership for a maintenance check and they told me that moisture coming from down behind the cowling/deflector on the lower part of the windshield had caused the computer to get wet. Now I will have to have the computer replaced. I would appreciate your assessment of my car’s condition and any suggestions or advice. Thank you.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

A/C blows warm air
Hello. It sounds like you may have a weak compressor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-ac-compressor). The compressor is a pump for the A/C system and when it gets weak, it does not pump as well as it should. When this happens the air won’t...
Interior driver's side door latch is broken
Hello, thanks for writing in. In order to give you a proper information you will need to supply the vehicle year, make, and model to us. Otherwise we cannot give you a procedure or quote. Feel free to resubmit another...
Engine overheating, coolant is not circulating.
Hello. If coolant is not flowing through your cooling system I would try to determine if there is some sort of blockage, and where it may be. Draining the cooling system and removing the suspect radiator hose could determine if...
Will leaking fuel from fuel pressure regulator wet spark plugs and have car not starting?
Hello, yes, a leaking fuel pressure regulator will cause no and hard start, and fuel flooding condition (wet spark plugs). The regulator uses intake manifold to sense the load of the engine, if the regulator leaks internally it adds...
When I try to start my truck, the lights work but no crank.
First, we need to make sure the signal wire to the starter is properly connected and the power cables are attached properly. I have seen many situations where the signal wire is loose or the connector is broken and the...
Engine chirp chirp chrip
Most likely the noise is coming from the drive belt. You can try to spray some wd40 on the belt and see if the noise goes away since the belt may be dried out. If the noise does not go...
Idle drops when pushing the clutch IN
You should first have the computer scanned for any codes that may contribute to the problem like the idle control valve or mass air flow sensor. Check all the intake hoses for any cracks between the therottle body and the...
New battery but my car just stalled and doesn't start now.
You may have a failing voltage regulator that could be allowing the alternator to supply too much or too little amperage to the battery resulting in the battery never maintaining a consistent charge as it is designed to. The voltage...
my volvo s70 check engine light and abs light are on
The fact that the check engine light is on, as well as the ABS warning light, means that diagnostic trouble code(s) have been registered and stored in the engine computer. Although the vehicle may be functioning normally now, you may...

Related articles

How to Buy a Good Quality Emergency/Parking Brake Cable
The The emergency brake is one of those car parts we often overlook and forget to use. Technically, you should engage the parking brake any time you leave your car sitting – especially on a hill. The problem with neglecting...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Vacuum Booster
Common signs include a stiff brake pedal, intermittent power to the brakes, and a brake pedal that sinks all the way to the floor when applied.
How to Replace an Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Fuse or Relay on Most Cars
Anti-lock brake systems have a fuse that fails if the ABS brake light is on or when the fuse is blown. The wheels may lock up if the ABS fuse is bad.