Engine intake issues Problems with the engine intake include faulty fuel injectors, throttles, and fuel pressure regulators and sensors. If you struggle to start the car and have also noticed a whining or sputtering from the car recently, it could be a problem with the fuel system.
One of the most common causes of a sputtering engine is an issue with the vehicle's fuel system—the filter, pump, and injectors. These three critical components work together to ensure fuel flows smoothly from the fuel tank to your engine's fuel injectors, and then pumps into the engine evenly.
Dirty or bad spark plugs won't cleanly ignite the fuel causing the vehicle to misfire or sputter. You'll either need to replace or have them cleaned. Because engine sputtering is a symptom of something more serious, it's important to rely on an experienced mechanic to diagnose and repair the problem.
Do you hear a sputtering sound when you turn the key? This sound is a tell-tale sign that your battery isn't getting enough charge and, consequently, isn't sending enough power to the rest of the vehicle. This sound might be subtle at first, but as time goes on, the sputtering will get louder and longer.
The fuel system, such as a blocked fuel injector may also cause the vehicle to sputter. While a sputtering engine may not seem like a major issue, it is a symptom of a bigger problem that will not self-correct and will eventually result in a much more expensive repair.
Low engine oil can cause a misfire, and it is very likely that the cause of the misfire was indeed the low oil pressure in your vehicle. There are three common ways low oil can cause a misfire: Your oil filter is damaged, reducing oil flow, causing improper valve timing, and resulting in a misfire.
Broken or Damaged Ignition
If your headlights can turn on, but your car won't crank, that means that your battery is charged, but either the starter or ignition is the problem. If the starter or ignition is the problem, a starter engine can be jumped by using a charged battery.
The most common causes of no-start conditions are the battery, starter, battery cable, ignition switch, or the fuel pump. Any of these can be intermittent issues, which will not always act up. Given that you have had success with shaking the battery cables, this may indicate that one of the cables is failing.
A sputtering engine may just mean you need to have your fuel filter replaced. All vehicles have a series of vacuum hoses that create the fuel pressure. If one of them leaks or is damaged in any way, you will lose significant fuel pressure. The vehicle's exhaust system can greatly impact the engine's performance.
Sign #3: Sputtering Performance
If the oil is too old, it will have built up high levels of particulates that may have clogged the oil filter.
An engine will stall if there's no oil.
Your car will lag, stutter, or stall. Unfortunately, the only way to repair this damage is to replace the entire engine.
Loud popping, knocking, and stuttering noises from the hood of your vehicle are cause for concern, and could be a sign of major engine damage.
Spark Plugs
They ignite the air and gas mixture in the combustion chamber to fire up the engine and keep it running. Dirty, old, worn, or misplaced spark plugs can cause your engine to misfire – sputter – and even stall if the plugs are really bad.
Car Sputtering: One of the biggest symptoms of a bad oil filter is when your car is sputtering. Usually, when the oil filter is clogged, which in turn makes it hard for the car to release oil. This can cause problems with the speed of your car, so it's important to take your car in when you notice any sputtering.
Depending on the misfire's cause, the repair and replacement cost might range between $100 and $1,000.
Typically, the check engine light turning on (and is blinking/flashing), it indicates that your vehicle engine is misfiring. And this would explain why you're getting sputtering as an additional symptom. Probably the most common reason for engine to sputter is lack of fuel.
The most common signs of bad spark plugs include start-up trouble, rough idling, sluggish acceleration, declining fuel economy, engine misfiring, and engine knocking.
When you attempt to start the vehicle, is there a clicking sound, but it won't turn over? That may be a good sign. If a jump gets the car running, but won't turn over again once it's shut off, a dead battery is likely the cause.
Jump-Start Your Car
Providing enough amps to the starter can help it function normally, which in turn, will crank up the engine. To jump-start a car, you can either use another car's battery and jumper cables or use a portable jump starter.
How Much a Starter Replacement Costs. The cost of rebuild parts for a starter can range from as little as $50 to as much as $350. A brand-new starter can range from $80 to over $350. For a qualified mechanic to replace or rebuild your starter, you can expect to pay between $150 and over $1,100.