# Car Won't Stay Turned On; dies when stopped (ie, stop sign)

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-stay-turned-on-dies-when-stopped-ie-stop-sign/31631>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 9, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-stay-turned-on-dies-when-stopped-ie-stop-sign/31631 "2009-06-09T14:19:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BISBEEGAL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@BISBEEGAL](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BISBEEGAL)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-stay-turned-on-dies-when-stopped-ie-stop-sign/31631/1 "2009-06-09T14:19:16Z")

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Car will not hold an idle; dies. Have recently replaced the distributor, water pump, timing belt and valve gover gasket.

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-stay-turned-on-dies-when-stopped-ie-stop-sign/31631/2 "2009-06-09T14:32:40Z")

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None of the things you replaced have a lot to do with idling. Usually, the car would either not get enough fuel or not enough air.

We don’t know what age or make your car is, but on old carbureted units there is an idle adjustment screw which allows a change in idling speed. On computer controlled cars with fuel injection, you need to see a mechanic and have him investigate what the problem is first.