So my 2004 Kia Rio decides that it will stall every few minutes one morning. Seems to do it at when idling or coasting at <20mph when I have the clutch pressed down. So at every stop sign or when stuck behind someone in traffic. My usual lowest RPM is ~760 rpm but it's now dropping to 600, 500 or 400 and promtly stalls.
It stalled ~10 times during a 30 min drive across the city in the morning. Took it to a mechanic that morning, they couldn't tell what was wrong but did other maintenance work. I took it home and it stalled another ~10 times on the way. On the way home the check engine light came on and stayed on afterwards and it stopped stalling?? The mechanic checked it again and this time they could get an error code from the car and they checked my TPS and the mass airflow sensor (MAF) MAF and tell me its the MAF and that it will be $600 to fix.
It's a $4,000 / 8 year old car that I just need to last me ~2 more years, so I have a hard time justifying $600. Another mechanic said he could do it for $400 with an aftermarket part and another guy said he could do it for $300 with a used part. While cheking out these places the check engine light has dissapeared and the stalling stopped so the last mechanic told me to wait. Last couple of days it has been running mostly fine, stalling once or twice only. Or if I keep tapping the gas pedal to never let the rpm come down too much I can avoid it as well.
Can I fix this myself for much cheaper? I barely drive this thing and I just need to make it last 2 more years.
Thanks
UPDATE 1:
Just came back from installing the $75 used MAF and a test drive and she seems to be running really well! Hopefully this lasts!
UPDATE 2:
Well my car is still stalling even after replacing the MAF. However now she only stalls AFTER having been at highway speeds for a while. So when I start her up in the morning she's completely fine, idle's fine, coasting or at stop lights she's fine. After being like an hour or more on the highway the next stop light or car I stop behind: she stalls, or just pressing the clutch in: she stalls or even just taking my foot off the gas at highway speeds: she hesitates a bit. After being parked for a while she will be completely fine again.
So I take apart and clean the idle air control valve (IACV) and replace the gasket as well but still have the same problem (car feels a bit smoother from doing that though).
Thoughts?
UPDATE 3: I'll try these fixes but if it starts to become really expensive I'll have a hard time justifying the costs on this vehicle.
Since she still runs, could I theoretically just keep driving it like this? Would I be causing serious damage to other critical components? I would just like to see this car last like 2 more years.
It stalled ~10 times during a 30 min drive across the city in the morning. Took it to a mechanic that morning, they couldn't tell what was wrong but did other maintenance work. I took it home and it stalled another ~10 times on the way. On the way home the check engine light came on and stayed on afterwards and it stopped stalling?? The mechanic checked it again and this time they could get an error code from the car and they checked my TPS and the mass airflow sensor (MAF) MAF and tell me its the MAF and that it will be $600 to fix.
It's a $4,000 / 8 year old car that I just need to last me ~2 more years, so I have a hard time justifying $600. Another mechanic said he could do it for $400 with an aftermarket part and another guy said he could do it for $300 with a used part. While cheking out these places the check engine light has dissapeared and the stalling stopped so the last mechanic told me to wait. Last couple of days it has been running mostly fine, stalling once or twice only. Or if I keep tapping the gas pedal to never let the rpm come down too much I can avoid it as well.
Can I fix this myself for much cheaper? I barely drive this thing and I just need to make it last 2 more years.
Thanks
UPDATE 1:
Just came back from installing the $75 used MAF and a test drive and she seems to be running really well! Hopefully this lasts!
UPDATE 2:
Well my car is still stalling even after replacing the MAF. However now she only stalls AFTER having been at highway speeds for a while. So when I start her up in the morning she's completely fine, idle's fine, coasting or at stop lights she's fine. After being like an hour or more on the highway the next stop light or car I stop behind: she stalls, or just pressing the clutch in: she stalls or even just taking my foot off the gas at highway speeds: she hesitates a bit. After being parked for a while she will be completely fine again.
So I take apart and clean the idle air control valve (IACV) and replace the gasket as well but still have the same problem (car feels a bit smoother from doing that though).
Thoughts?
UPDATE 3: I'll try these fixes but if it starts to become really expensive I'll have a hard time justifying the costs on this vehicle.
Since she still runs, could I theoretically just keep driving it like this? Would I be causing serious damage to other critical components? I would just like to see this car last like 2 more years.
Last edited: