The car dies when I put in gear??

[xtoyotacorex]

Here it is, my friend has a 1988 hundai excel, and when it's in park or nuteral, it idles great, but when you put in reverse or drive, it lugs down and almost dies, sometimes it does when it's cold. Why does it do that? What engages the idle change when you put an automatic in gear? Im trying to figure it out. Thanks for the help.

[Racincc85]

The engine idles at a lower rpm when it's in gear because a load has been put on it. It has to turn against the resistance of the torque converter because you are sitting still with the brakes applied. As for why it dies when its put it gear, there are several possibilities. What RPM does the engine idle at when its not in gear. If you get it into gear without stalling the engine, how does it run? Is the engine smooth with plenty of power, or does it struggle?

[ghostguy6]

Are you letting it warm up before you put it into gear?

[MagicRat]

Is this EFI or carb?
If carb, I would look for a vacuum leak in the intake manifold/gaskets or (more likely) a loose, old or leaking vacuum line.
If EFI, it might be the idle air control valve (if applicable)

[xtoyotacorex]

Originally Posted by Racincc85

The engine idles at a lower rpm when it's in gear because a load has been put on it. It has to turn against the resistance of the torque converter because you are sitting still with the brakes applied. As for why it dies when its put it gear, there are several possibilities. What RPM does the engine idle at when its not in gear. If you get it into gear without stalling the engine, how does it run? Is the engine smooth with plenty of power, or does it struggle?

I do let it warm up, ok I understand now why their is a load on the engine, I remember setting the rpm at 600-650. The info i got on alldata said 750-800 but the sticker under the hood said 650, the thing is, I have to set the timing high (bout 10 deg higher) for it to run right. I think i should lower the timing and raise the idle, ill try that, do you think that might help? When it gets going it runs great, it accelerates and has balls for a beater, it's just when im parked and i put in into reverse or drive, the idle drops, and it feels like it's going to die. As far as the engine is concerend, all the vacume lines are in place, except for 2, and the go to this little black rectangle module with 4 dual port assemblies, but I checked if their was any air vacume pull on the lines when i put in gear and their is no, so i eleminated that. The only thing missing in the engine is the HAC hose on the air cleaner, and two other air return port, going from exaust manifold to the air cleaner, but I don't think that could be it, it might, but I think they are for emissions. Thanks for the help!

[Racincc85]

600-650 should be what the RPM's are when you are in gear. when you load the engine by shifting into gear, the RPMS are going to drop by about 150-200. That would mean that your engine is trying to idle around 400 RPM, which is definitely too slow, especially since it is a 4 cylinder engine. I would try setting the timing back to factory specs, and setting the idle at around 800. That way when you shift into gear the idle will drop to around 650, which will be a much more sustainable than 400. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[xtoyotacorex]

dude thanks a million, i appreciate the good help!

[RandomTask]

I know someone with the exact same car just different year that had the same problem. She has a '94. When I looked at it the distributor is located towards the front of the motor, there is one screw holding it in place. The nut on hers was loose and it walked so far back (retarded) that it could barely keep idle. She also lost a lot of performance. Go ahead and put some advance back into it and see what happens. (provided its the same setup) Good luck!

[danny350]

He said it's already advanced 10 degrees over spec.

[RandomTask]

^^sorry, I'm retarded^^

[-Jayson-]

i had a problem just like that with my old cavalier, after about 30 mins of driving the car would stall as soon as it hit a low RPM. It would restart fine, but as soon as i put it in gear it would studder and stall out. My mechanic who i trust very much said it was the master selenoid in the transmission. He said that it was over heating and causing it not to change gears properly.

[xtoyotacorex]

I did set the idle to 800-830 and lowered the timing. It runs MUCH better! It doesn't die when you pop it in gear now. Thanks for all the help!