Honda Civic Stalls When Coming To A Stop [Fixed!]

Honda Civic is one of Honda’s most elegant and premium-looking cars. However, there have been reports of it stalling when the car is about to stop. We understand if you are facing similar issues with your Honda Civic. 

There could be many reasons why your Honda Civic is acting this way. Your sensors could be defective. Or maybe, your EGR valve is clogged. There could be other culprits like worn-out spark plugs or faulty air control actuators. Among other reasons, there could be faulty transmission or a blown fuse.

That’s not all. There’s much more about these issues that you need to know before you attempt to fix them. This article will guide you through how you can do so!

So, what’s the hold-up? Let’s begin!

Why Does It Happen? [7 reasons & Solutions!]

Just like the honda civic stalls when put in gear, there’ve been cases where it stalls when stopping. Let’s learn about 7 common reasons why a car shuts off when stopped or slowing down!

Reason 1: Defective Sensors

Various sensors are installed throughout your Honda Civic. Each one sends specialized data to the Engine Control Module. 

The ECM then uses this information to control the engine’s operation. It works in order to keep the engine working at its best.

Two sensors are crucial in determining why an automobile engine shuts down when idling. The oxygen sensor that is positioned in the exhaust manifold, is the first one.

The second one is the mass airflow sensor. It is located within the intake air duct to the left side of your engine. 

There’ve been cases where any one of those sensors or both is giving you false information. It will result in your engine not getting enough air to power itself if this happens. 

When there isn’t enough air, there isn’t enough power. This might cause your automobile to stop while it’s idling.

Solution

It’s best to replace these sensors once they start faltering. You can get an oxygen sensor for around $200. And, you can purchase a mass airflow sensor for as much as $300. 

Reason 2: Jammed EGR Valve

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is a term that many people are unfamiliar with. The aim is to recirculate a tiny portion of emissions right into the combustion chambers. This is done to reduce the heat within.

Most exhaust gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), an undetectable, colorless, and non-combustible gas.  And that’s why it works.  It efficiently decreases the temperature within the combustion chambers because it won’t burn like oxygen.

Whenever the EGR valve becomes blocked, it could get stuck both ways. That’ll allow exhaust gas to flow freely or not at all.

When this occurs, the air-to-fuel ratios within the combustion chambers are impacted. This can most definitely result in a power loss. And with insufficient power, your Civic can very well stall when you’re stopping.

Solution

Check properly if it’s still functional. If it is, you can simply clean it at home. If not, it’s gonna cost you around $400 to $500 to get a new one.

Reason 3: Worn out Spark Plugs

In most cases where honda shuts off while idling, it’s a spark plug.

The air/fuel combination within the combustion chamber is lit by spark plugs. They’re less powerful at completing their function if they’re old and worn. It is pretty normal with all spark plugs.

This means your engine will have less power, which might cause your car to stall at idle.  Presently, there are different types of spark plugs available out there. Copper, silver, and other metals are among them.

While copper is the cheapest, it only puts optimal performance up to 10,000 to 20,000 miles. Iridium,  platinum, and all others have a 100,000-mile lifespan, although they are more expensive.

Here we are mentioning some quality spark plugs for you!

Hopefully, you will love these!

Solution

We recommend that you go for single platinum or double platinum. They might be a touch expensive but they’ll perform and sustain much longer.

Reason 4: Faulty Air Control Actuator

It’s the idle air control actuator’s job to keep the engine’s RPMs in a decent range when it’s idling. It accomplishes this depending on the information obtained from the ECM from sensors that we talked about earlier.

If your idle air control actuator is malfunctioning, your engine’s rotational speed may drop too low. This, as you might expect, can lead your Civic to stall while it is stopping somewhere.

Solution

Replace it on the first instance of problems. The cost of replacing this component varies significantly. It costs anything from only about $100 to $500, including components and labor.

Reason 5: Malfunctioning Fuel Delivery System

As previously stated, there are typically three major factors that cause an automobile to stall down when idling. One of which is a shortage of gasoline. It means that a fault with your fuel distribution system might cause your automobile to die.

This might be triggered by any part of the gasoline delivery system. Consider the fuel pump, which is responsible for transporting gasoline from the tank to your engine.

The fuel filter keeps hazardous particles out of your engine before it gets there. It could be the cause of this issue as well.  If it becomes blocked, insufficient fuel will reach the combustion chamber.

These last for about 1.5 to 2 years in general. So, if they are older than that, you could look into this as a probable cause.

Solution

If you’re lucky, it’ll only be the gasoline filter. It might cost anywhere from $50 to $150 to repair. 

Reason 6: Faulty Transmission

The mere idea of a gearbox failure is enough to send shivers down any automobile owner’s spine. Why?

The reason is that they’re exceedingly expensive to repair. We’re referring to the torque converter when it comes to engine stalling issues. It’s essentially a clutch with an automated transmission.

Its function is to transfer engine power to the remainder of the drivetrain. If it’s aged or torn, it won’t be able to do so efficiently. It will eventually cause your automobile to stall when you slow down.

If you’re lucky enough, the solenoid that senses and regulates fluid pressure might be the culprit. If this is discovered to be the problem, the fix will only cost a few hundred bucks.

Solution

Check the transmission if it’s faulty or not. If it is, it’s better to call for help. A mechanic would be the best option for you. 

If it’s the solenoid, just replace it!

Reason 7: Fuse Issues

If a blown fuse interrupts the flow of power to where it is needed can cause severe problems. It might cause difficulties with the fuel system and sometimes even the air intake. 

If a  fuel pump fuse is blown, for example, it implies that a full functioning fuel pump will cease working. And you’ll have the same problem as we already mentioned in the 5th reason earlier.

It’s simple to replace a blown fuse. However, if the fuse blew due to an electrical short in the system, you might require an expert to examine your Civic’s wiring to determine the source of the problem.

Solution

You will need to identify the fuse that has blown up. This is the only tough part of this job. You can very easily get a new one and replace it.

Hopefully, now you understand why your Honda Civic could be facing this stalling problem. Now, time to get down to work!

What If Your Honda Civic Stalls When You’re Driving?

Many have reported that the 2007 honda civic shuts off while driving.  Even a 2012 honda civic stalls while driving.

If your Honda Civic dies while you’re driving, the first thing you should do is stay cool. Though panicking seems somewhat normal in such a scenario, maintaining your cool is essential for putting a mishap to a safe conclusion.

You really should seek a safe area to pull over. It will most likely be on the road’s shoulder.

After ensuring that it’s really safe to do just that, slowly move onto the road’s shoulder. Do not forget to utilize your vehicle’s turn signal.  Keep braking unless your Honda Civic completely stops after you reach the shoulder.

Once you’ve reached a stop, put your car in park since it’s an automatic car. Then, apply the handbrake. There’s a chance that the origin of your Civic’s stalling situation cannot be recognized easily. Hence, you can’t fix it on the road.

If that’s the case, contact a wrecker to get your car taken to a serving area.

FAQs 

Why does your Honda’s RPM fluctuate when braking?

Be at ease if you notice an increase in your engine’s revolutions per minute (RPM) when you slow down or brake. Braking slows down your automobile to a complete halt. Your RPM may arise when your car’s automatic gearbox tries to compensate for the shift in speed. This is why this fluctuation happens.

Can clicking noises come from your Civic’s transmission?

If you have broken gear teeth, ticking noise might arise. However, for a car, the ticking noise is unusual. Any problem or defect in your transmission system would arise when you ride it. But in usual cases, a few broken gear teeth is the reason behind the ticking noise in a car.

Should you wait for more than a few minutes before shutting your car off?

Idle your CIvic for no more than a few minutes before moving it or shutting it off. This is done to prevent running it for an extended period of time. People sometimes know when to expect constant stopping of their CIvic several times. They prefer to let it rest for more than just a few minutes.

End Words

Hopefully, now you know why is your honda civic stalls when coming to a stop. Follow the information we provided thoroughly and you’ll be able to solve this issue easily.

If you are not experienced in fixing cars, it’s better to call for a mechanic.

Till next time, adios!

Rob Dahm

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