# 2000 subaru outback stalls when braking **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** stalls, outback, stall, electrical-wiring, subaru, lights\ **Created:** [September 5, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-subaru-outback-stalls-when-braking/54686 "2010-09-05T13:32:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psus08](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@psus08](https://community.cartalk.com/u/psus08)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-subaru-outback-stalls-when-braking/54686/1 "2010-09-05T13:32:12Z")
hi all, mine is an outback, which yesterday when having to brake suddenly in a store parking lot, it caused the car to stall. i have noticed in times past that during night time driving, when applying the brakes, the lights will momentarily dim. any ideas ? ---
**Author:** ![kizwiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@kizwiki](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kizwiki)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-subaru-outback-stalls-when-braking/54686/2 "2010-09-06T01:49:35Z")
If the battery is more than four years old, buy a new one. Otherwise, maybe a weak alternator, and otherwise, how’s your car’s idle in drive? Is it at about at least 1,000 rpm’s and is it consistent? If not, you have some other problem. ---
**Author:** ![psus08](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@psus08](https://community.cartalk.com/u/psus08)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-subaru-outback-stalls-when-braking/54686/3 "2010-09-06T02:50:04Z")
thanks for your response. the battery is only 2 yrs old. while idling in drive, its a little less than 1000rpm at first, then it will slowly drop to around 750 & stay there. it also does not shake or sputter while idling, but is rather smooth. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 10:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-subaru-outback-stalls-when-braking/54686/4 "2010-09-06T10:28:10Z")
Once you stop, what happens if you apply the parking brake, take you foot off the brake and then put your foot back on. What I am trying to do is to determine if it is the slowing down or the foot on the brake that is causing the problem. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-subaru-outback-stalls-when-braking/54686/5 "2010-09-06T12:17:06Z")
"Is it at about at least 1,000 rpm’s?" Hopefully not! The correct idle speed for a warmed-up Subaru 4-cylinder engine is between 600-700 RPMs. If the engine is idling at 1,000 RPMs after it is warmed-up, then that is an indication of problems–possibly with the IAC. For the OP’s situation, I would explore possibilities of a problem with the power brake booster. This could be a vacuum problem that is stalling the engine when the brake is applied. ---
**Author:** ![psus08](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@psus08](https://community.cartalk.com/u/psus08)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-subaru-outback-stalls-when-braking/54686/6 "2010-09-06T13:41:01Z")
thanks. the idle speed after the warm up is around 660 in park, & a little less than that in drive. when applying the (foot) brake when the emergency brake is on, whether in park-neutral-or drive, the rpm needle will shoot up about 100 more rpm, then go back down.