Car dies/stalls immediately after starting

2000 Lincoln Town car runs very smoothly. Now upon starting, the engine immediately dies unless I hold the accelerator down. After allowing it to run by holding the accelerator down, in about 15 seconds you can hear a solenoid click open or a valve click open or something click on and the car will idle normally and smoothly.

Is there a way I can get the trouble codes without a scanner (like I used to could do with my cars in the 80s and 90s?

What is the likely cause of the problem. I even have the Ford shop manuals (but not the emissions manual), I can't find anything in these to help.

eBay has CD or DVD versions of the manuals that cover all aspects, including emissions for around $20. I got a CD version for $12.
You can get a cheapie code reader for around $30~$40 at any WallMart, AutoZone, etc. Speaking of AutoZone, they may allow you to borrow one for free.

As for the problem, it may just be a dirty sensor feeding bad information... if the "check engine" is lit you'd be wise to read the code(s).

Thanks, Steven, for the advice. I intend to pick up a cheap scanning tool on eBay and I may find the manual also. Who is the publisher of the manual? I have the Ford shop manuals for most of the systems, but the emission system is in a separate volume.

The ones I got are duplicates of the OEM Shop Manual, I have that one too. I got two CD's one with year specific data and one general data. The emissions stuff is on the 2nd one. Their (mine) are official shop CD's made by FoMoCo. For yours (it's newer) you might only find the DVD editions.

I have the same identical problem. No code or service engine light shows. Has a solution been found yet? I have 34000 miles on 2000 Cartier L and problem just started. Just ran out of warranty four days ago,
My dealer did not find any problem. However, I removed the Intake Air Assembly, pumped the throttle about 20 times, sprayed the throat and inside surfaces with carburetor choke cleaner and the problem has not resurfaced. I have been getting excellent starting with no problems for three consecutive days. Thanks again for all the help

2000 Lincoln Town car runs very smoothly. Now upon starting, the engine immediately dies unless I hold the accelerator down. After allowing it to run by holding the accelerator down, in about 15 seconds you can hear a solenoid click open or a valve click open or something click on and the car will idle normally and smoothly.

Is there a way I can get the trouble codes without a scanner (like I used to could do with my cars in the 80s and 90s?

What is the likely cause of the problem. I even have the Ford shop manuals (but not the emissions manual), I can't find anything in these to help.


Your problem sounds like the IAC valve. It controls the amount of air and engine idles and when is fails it tends to stall the engine.

And the only way to scan for troble codes would be with a OBD-II diagnostic scanner.

[QUOTE=ltdltc]Your problem sounds like the IAC valve. It controls the amount of air and engine idles and when is fails it tends to stall the engine.

I had always suspected something like this. I have a 1990 Dodge Caravan that has similar problems about every 9-12 months. The "Idle Speed Motor" gets gummed up and simply needs to be cleaned. It looks like a cone-shapped, spring loaded valve that controls airflow, and I suspect is the equivalent to the Lincoln IAC.

I needed to hear another opinion on this before I plunged under the hood and started disconnecting parts.

I'll report back on what I find, but the problem mysteriously disappeared three days ago and hasn't returned. Still, I'll check out the IAC.

I had always suspected something like this. I have a 1990 Dodge Caravan that has similar problems about every 9-12 months. The "Idle Speed Motor" gets gummed up and simply needs to be cleaned. It looks like a cone-shapped, spring loaded valve that controls airflow, and I suspect is the equivalent to the Lincoln IAC.

I needed to hear another opinion on this before I plunged under the hood and started disconnecting parts.

I'll report back on what I find, but the problem mysteriously disappeared three days ago and hasn't returned. Still, I'll check out the IAC.


Yup every car has something similar but on Fords they tend to go every now and then.

My 1990 Crown Victoria that I had the IAC would gum up every 4 months :eek:, but that car was a pile of crap.

Good Luck.

try looking at the carbon buid uo in the idle air controller motor if you have scan tool acess try looking at the duty cycle of the IAC

Well, my immediate stalling problem finally reappeared after almost three months of no problem. I had concluded--see thread above--that it was likely the Idle Air Control (IAC) motor, so I tackled getting this part off. It wasn't easy. Just to barely get to it, I removed the air intake tube and mounting bracket, the throttle body, and a couple of vacuum and air supply tubes. I was barely able to get a socket wrench on the lower bolt. It was a typically difficult access with lots of knuckle scraping, bolt droppin, and mandatory prayer involved.

I finally got the part off, and there was LOTS of carbon inside. I wasn't really able to get a the insides as well as I would like, but I used kerosene, a toothbrush, and a rag to clean it up as best I could. Lots of carbon came out, but there were some areas I couldn't reach.

I also cleaned the throttle body, which has quite gummy.

Incidentally, there are only 60,000 miles on this 2000 Town Car.

I finally got the part reinstalled, again with much knuckle scraping, bolt dropping, blind screwing, and prayer; and the car started up and idled nicely.

I'll let you all know if the problem reappears soon.