# Uneven power when stopping **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 2, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/uneven-power-when-stopping/10151 "2008-02-02T18:11:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rslater30](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2acd7d/32.png) [@rslater30](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rslater30)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/uneven-power-when-stopping/10151/1 "2008-02-02T18:11:05Z")
I have a 2004 BMW 7 series. When approaching a stop sign, if I take my foot off the gas and coast, the car runs with a jerky motion, with the tach shifting from 800 to 1200 and then back to 800 about once or twice a second. Feels like the transmission is shifting back and forth, but on two occasions the car stalled, so maybe it is a fuel problem. Took it to the dealer twice and they can find nothing. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Bill\_Russell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Russell)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/uneven-power-when-stopping/10151/2 "2008-02-02T19:14:46Z")
I assume automatic transmission? So you are not coasting, it’s still in gear. What happens if you put it in neutral? or put it in a lower gear? ---
**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:** [February 2, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/uneven-power-when-stopping/10151/3 "2008-02-02T19:29:26Z")
It sounds like the torque converter is locked up and not unlocking as it should. I would start by checking the transmission fluid to assure it is at the right level and is not dark colored and smelling like it is burned.