Q & A #7 With The Auto Specialist
It’s time for another installment of the Auto Specialist. From the emails I’ve received recently, there seems to be a lot of confusion among drivers about how car engines work. Specifically, some of you have questions regarding why they stall and what factors can cause a loss of power. Today, I’m going to address both problems. We’ll also take a look at an issue that one reader is having with his squealing brakes after recently having a brake job done. There’s a lot to cover today, so let’s get started.
Question: The battery in my Ford 150 died a couple of days ago. I finally found time to replace it with a new battery. Now, my engine keeps stalling when I let my truck idle. Everything was working fine before my battery died. Any idea what’s happening?
Answer: This is more common than most drivers realize and the root cause is a bit complicated. When your truck (or, any vehicle) idles, it emits the lowest level of emissions possible for that vehicle. When you take your key out of the ignition, there is still an electrical charge circulating, though it is extremely small. Your emissions control system (ECM) uses that charge to create a memory of your truck’s idle speed. In effect, it “learns” the speed.
When you removed the battery from your truck, you severed the connection and eliminated the charge. As a result, the ECM’s memory was wiped clean. Now that the new battery is in place, the ECM will need to learn the proper idle speed again. It doesn’t take long. Start your truck and let it idle. If it starts stalling, step on the gas. Eventually, the ECM will compensate.
Question: I have a 2001 Toyota Sequoia with about 140,000 miles (a little bit under) on it. Over the past couple of weeks, there’s been a loss of power in the engine. When I’m getting on the freeway, I try to speed up to merge, but the engine sputters and I can’t accelerate. It only lasts a few seconds, but it’s frustrating. It’s also dangerous when I’m merging. The confusing thing is that it doesn’t happen every time. Just sporadically. What’s going on?
Answer: My guess is that your Sequoia’s fuel pump is bad. With 140,000 miles, it’s common for it to start failing. The bad news is that replacing it can be expensive. I’m not sure what the part and labor will cost for a Sequoia, but you can expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars.
We haven’t addressed the squealing brakes that one reader asked about, but we’re running out of space. We’ll address that problem in the next installment. We’ll also discuss a reader’s issue with her car’s exhaust system as well as another reader’s bumpy riding experience with his car’s new struts. In the meantime, drive safe and keep learning.
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