Engine shuts off when braking

Hi everyone,

Maybe someone has experienced the same problem or know of any thread talking about it.

Not all the time but often when about to reduce speed at almost breaking point, my engine shuts off. It's a '99 Lincoln Continental.

A first, Ford concluded nothing wrong with the engine idle level. So I started to break with left foot and simultinuously pressing on the gas tp avoid that engine shutting off.

I wondered what part or fuse conditions the engine not to shut off completly if it's not switched off.

Thanks in advance for any clue as to where I should look for a solution.

Best regards,

Can you idle in a drive gear with the brake pedal appllied?

My initial thought is toward vacuum loss at the brake booster however, If I'm reading you correctly you don't apply the brakes, and the engine dies. :?

Can you idle in a drive gear with the brake pedal appllied?

My initial thought is toward vacuum loss at the brake booster however, If I'm reading you correctly you don't apply the brakes, and the engine dies. :?


Thank you Steven for your quick reply.

In fact I do START using my breaks and all of sudden the WHOLE engine/power system shuts off.

If what you're saying is still confirmed can you please expand a bit on how the vacuum loss at the brake booster can Bypass the engine idle PRE-determined level and instead send the wrong signal to switch OFF the whole engine and not having on top of that the ability to use the brakes (the scary part of it)

Isn't weird the engine control system could not detect anything wrong at the dealer shop.

Again thank you for your input.

Well, here's my train of thought on this subject --

IF there were any engine controls not working properly, there would be OBDii codes thrown causing the CEL (check engine light) to illuminate.

Since you havn't mentioned that as a problem, the CEL -- and the problem only exists when the brake is applied, there can only be one assumption, all engine vacuum is exhausted when the brake is appllied. This won't throw OBDii codes, and will kill the engine instantly.

You never answered my question, does the engine die when sitting idle and the brake is applied? Again, this would show a bad brake booster, NO other symptoms will show in fact, with the brake pedal not applied it will be running 100%.

You won't necessarilly be able to hear the vacuum leak from the booster due to the fact that the can will act as a muffler.

One test that must be done to isolate the problem;


Find the main vacuum line entering the brake booster.
Disconnect the vacuum line at the brake booster.
Plug the end of the vacuum line, at the brake booster end, so that the engine will not lose any vacuum during this test.
Run the engine, depress the brake pedal, notice if the "engine dies" problem has occured.
Stop the engine, re-connect the vacuum line, re-run the above testing scanerio.
w/Engine running, brake booster conneted to engine vacuum, depress brake pedal --


I'm sure you get the picture by now...

WARNING !!
Driving the vehicle with a disconnected vacuum line to the brake booster will cause the brake system to be fully manual, NOT power assisted. It will be very difficult (not impossible) to stop a vehicle in this condition. Drive at your own risk.

There's another post on this very subject with no final outcome -- please reply with your findings.

Well, here's my train of thought on this subject --

IF there were any engine controls not working properly, there would be OBDii codes thrown causing the CEL (check engine light) to illuminate.

Since you havn't mentioned that as a problem, the CEL -- and the problem only exists when the brake is applied, there can only be one assumption, all engine vacuum is exhausted when the brake is appllied. This won't throw OBDii codes, and will kill the engine instantly.

You never answered my question, does the engine die when sitting idle and the brake is applied? Again, this would show a bad brake booster, NO other symptoms will show in fact, with the brake pedal not applied it will be running 100%.

You won't necessarilly be able to hear the vacuum leak from the booster due to the fact that the can will act as a muffler.

One test that must be done to isolate the problem;


Find the main vacuum line entering the brake booster.
Disconnect the vacuum line at the brake booster.
Plug the end of the vacuum line, at the brake booster end, so that the engine will not lose any vacuum during this test.
Run the engine, depress the brake pedal, notice if the "engine dies" problem has occured.
Stop the engine, re-connect the vacuum line, re-run the above testing scanerio.
w/Engine running, brake booster conneted to engine vacuum, depress brake pedal --


I'm sure you get the picture by now...

WARNING !!
Driving the vehicle with a disconnected vacuum line to the brake booster will cause the brake system to be fully manual, NOT power assisted. It will be very difficult (not impossible) to stop a vehicle in this condition. Drive at your own risk.

There's another post on this very subject with no final outcome -- please reply with your findings.



in response to:>>>
You never answered my question, does the engine die when sitting idle and the brake is applied?>>>

Sorry i forgot to answer that issue. NO it doesn't go off.

Steven, please take a look at the following link. I found last night that website and it's fascinating to see so many issues that went on and some of them Ford refuse to take responsability for the defects.

The car is not yet brought to me BUT yes I 'll update this forum on the results of the repair/solution brought to that issue of 'engine stalling when coming to a stop'.

I had looked at many sites giving for MOST of them your diagnostic, having said that though, i found also some threads talking about defects in "gear". I'll wait for you to dig throu the website articles for a confirmation or different suggestion you might supplement with your first finding.

in response to:>>>
You never answered my question, does the engine die when sitting idle and the brake is applied?>>>

Sorry i forgot to answer that issue. NO it doesn't go off.

Steven, please take a look at the following link. I found last night that website and it's fascinating to see so many issues that went on and some of them Ford refuse to take responsability for the defects.

The car is not yet brought to me BUT yes I 'll update this forum on the results of the repair/solution brought to that issue of 'engine stalling when coming to a stop'.

I had looked at many sites giving for MOST of them your diagnostic, having said that though, i found also some threads talking about defects in "gear". I'll wait for you to dig throu the website articles for a confirmation or different suggestion you might supplement with your first finding.

How about if I give you the link I'm talking about? Here it is>>

http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?did=104&scid=58