# Engine stalls a few minutes after starting

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-stalls-a-few-minutes-after-starting/10446>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [February 10, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-stalls-a-few-minutes-after-starting/10446 "2008-02-10T01:20:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sfy222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@sfy222](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sfy222)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-stalls-a-few-minutes-after-starting/10446/1 "2008-02-10T01:20:52Z")

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I have a 98 outback sport. I recently changed the air filter. The next time I went to drive the car, it started fine, but after a few seconds of idling the engine just stopped and the check engine light came on. I tried this several times and the same thing happened. What could be doing this?

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-stalls-a-few-minutes-after-starting/10446/2 "2008-02-10T02:23:17Z")

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Make sure you didn’t loosen any of the wires going to the airflow sensor which, as I recall, you have to take off to change the filter. Also make sure the filter’s seated right and the housing snaps shut all the way.

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-stalls-a-few-minutes-after-starting/10446/3 "2008-02-10T02:24:22Z")

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Check the electrical connection to the MAF sensor.