Car hesitating · Autobedrijf Willemsbrug Rotterdam

Car hesitating or stalling while driving?

Is your car hesitating, slow to pull away or stalling while you drive? We read the fault codes and find the cause, instead of guessing. You hear the cost in advance and we only start after you approve it.

4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews | All makes | Price agreed in advance

The short answer

A car that hesitates or stalls often has a problem with the ignition, a sensor, the air supply or the fuel supply. At Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, we read the fault codes and test the components, so we find the cause before we replace anything. You hear in advance what the fault code reading and the repair cost, and we only start after you approve it.

Jump to: warning signs · causes and costs · frequently asked questions · directions

How you notice that the car is hesitating

You often notice a hesitating car by one or more of these signs:

  • The engine jerks or runs unevenly
  • The car is slow to pull away or has less power
  • The engine warning light is on or flashing
  • The engine stalls when stationary, braking or pulling away
  • The car goes into limp mode and will not go above a certain speed
  • The idle speed goes up and down

Does the engine stall while you are driving? Switch on the hazard lights and let the car roll gently to a safe place. Steering and braking then become much heavier. Is the engine warning light flashing or can you smell fuel? Then do not drive on and call your breakdown service. Read what to do after a breakdown and what an engine warning light that is on or flashing means.

Why a car hesitates or stalls

An engine needs air, fuel and a good spark, at the right moment. If something goes wrong there, the engine hesitates or stalls. Dozens of sensors tell the engine computer what is happening.

If a sensor passes on a wrong value, the engine gets too much or too little fuel. Then the car hesitates, sometimes without a warning light coming on.

That is why we do not guess. We read the fault codes, look at the live data and test the components. Only then do we know what needs replacing.

What we do

  • You tell us when the car hesitates or stalls
  • We read the fault codes
  • We look at the live sensor data
  • We test the suspect components
  • If needed, we take a test drive with diagnostic equipment
  • You hear the cause and the price of the repair

Extra work is only done with your approval.

Car hesitating or stalling: causes and what to do

This table shows what a sign often means. One sign on its own does not tell the whole story. We only know what is really going on after reading the codes and testing.

What you notice and what it can mean
What you notice What it may mean What to do
The engine hesitates and the engine warning light flashes Often an ignition coil or spark plug, the engine is misfiring on one cylinder Do not drive on. Call your breakdown service
Less power, no warning light For example the mass air flow sensor or a dirty throttle body Have the codes read soon
Diesel pulls poorly, black smoke Often the EGR valve, sometimes the diesel particulate filter (DPF) Have the codes read. Read more about an engine warning light that is on
The car goes into limp mode The engine computer limits the power to prevent damage Drive calmly to the garage or call your breakdown service
The engine stalls when stationary or braking For example a dirty throttle body, a sensor or an air leak Have the codes read and the car checked
The engine stalls when it is warm Often a sensor, such as the crankshaft sensor Have the codes read, even if it starts again
Hesitating when pulling away or on the motorway Ignition or fuel supply Have the codes read and the components tested

Fuel and DPF

Sometimes the hesitation is caused by the fuel supply. We find out whether that is the cause. We do not repair fuel leaks. We also do not work on the DPF or AdBlue. We do tell you what we find.

What does it cost?

What a repair costs depends entirely on the cause. A spark plug or a sensor is very different from a fuel pump. That is why we start with reading the codes and a first check. You hear what that costs in advance. Then you hear the cause and the price of the repair. Read more about how we work on our page about car diagnostics in Rotterdam (in Dutch).

We work on all makes and models. You are also welcome with a van or motorhome up to 3,500 kg. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems), so they can work on hybrid and electric cars.

The cause first, then the repair

With a hesitating car, parts are often replaced on a hunch. That costs a lot of money and does not necessarily solve the problem. We find the cause first. Then you hear what is going on, what it costs and how long it takes.

Worn spark plugs can also cause hesitation. We replace spark plugs according to the service schedule during a service or a major service (in Dutch). Does an automatic gearbox jerk or hesitate when changing gear? Then read more about recognising automatic gearbox problems (in Dutch), flushing the automatic gearbox and flushing a DSG gearbox.

Our repairs come with a warranty. With the quote you hear which warranty you get. Call +31 10 479 00 00 for an appointment.

Frequently asked questions about a car that hesitates or stalls

No need to click. All the answers are already open below.

Why does my car hesitate while driving?

There are many possible causes. According to the ANWB, the best known are a faulty ignition coil, a broken mass air flow sensor and, on a diesel, a sticking EGR valve. Spark plugs, a dirty throttle body, a sensor or the fuel supply can also cause hesitation. We read the fault codes and test the components. That way we find the cause, instead of guessing.

My car stalled while I was driving. What should I do?

Switch on the hazard lights and let the car roll gently to a safe place. Note: without the engine running, steering and braking become much heavier. So press the brake firmly. Do not keep trying to restart the car. Call your breakdown service and have the car brought to us. Read how that works on our page about breakdowns.

When can I keep driving if my car hesitates?

If the engine warning light is flashing, do not drive on. According to the ANWB, it can be a faulty ignition coil. Driving on can then also damage the catalytic converter. Is the light on continuously, or does the car hesitate without a light? Then drive calmly to the garage and book an appointment soon. If in doubt, call your breakdown service.

What is limp mode?

If the engine computer sees a fault that could damage the engine, it limits the power. The car then pulls poorly and will not go above a certain speed. This is called limp mode. You can usually still drive calmly to the garage. We read the fault codes to see why the car is in limp mode.

How much does it cost to find the cause?

We start by reading the fault codes and a first check. You hear what that costs in advance. If more investigation is needed, you hear the cost first. We only start after you approve it. Read more about car diagnostics (in Dutch).

The engine warning light is not on. Can you still find something?

Yes. Not every fault turns on the engine warning light. Even without a light there is often a fault code stored in the engine computer. We read it and look at the live sensor data while driving. That way we also find faults that only happen now and then. Write down when the hesitation happens: with a cold or warm engine, when pulling away, on the motorway or when stationary. That helps us find it.

Can it be the fuel?

Yes. Sometimes it is. A blocked fuel filter, a weak fuel pump or contaminated fuel can cause hesitation. We find out whether the fuel supply is the cause. Note: we do not repair fuel leaks. Can you smell petrol or diesel in or around the car? Then do not drive on and call your breakdown service.

Can spark plugs or an ignition coil be the cause?

Yes. On a petrol engine that is often the cause. A worn spark plug or a broken ignition coil means a cylinder does not fire properly. The engine then runs unevenly, hesitates when pulling away and the engine warning light can flash. Replacing spark plugs is part of servicing. Read more about the service.

Have a hesitating car checked in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 (3077 AW) in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip) and exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord on the A16. The A15 is five minutes’ drive away. There is free parking outside if there is space. The Stadion Feijenoord tram stop (line 3) is close by.

We are also easy to reach from Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Capelle aan den IJssel, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Zwijndrecht. Appointments are made by phone.

Plan your route to Boterdiep 11 or see our contact page.

Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8.00 to 17.30
Saturday: 9.00 to 15.00
Sunday: closed
We are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Is your car hesitating or stalling?

Call us during opening hours with your registration number. You drop the car off Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am, or on Saturday at 9.00 am. You will hear the cost in advance and we only start once you agree.

Our score: 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Read what our customers say (in Dutch).

See also our pages on car diagnostics (in Dutch), an engine warning light that is on, a car that will not start, a diesel that is hard to start, a car that vibrates and breakdowns.

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