engine shutting off.....help

[lilvtboigotrice]

I looked around but couldn't find many answers. When I start up my engine, it runs and idles fine while going straight. Now whenever I brake at a red light, the RPMs go down to like 300-600 rpms but I'm pretty sure thats normal for the car. But when ever I brake and make a U-turn or 2 consectutive turns the car automatically shuts off and I have to wait about 10 seconds and then turn the car on and it works again. Can this problem be solved by turning the idle higher or maybe its a brake problem? Any input or solutions would be really helpful as this is my only car and daily driver. thanks

[DAEDALUS]

If you hit the brakes when idling and in Neutral or Park, do the RPMs change? What RPMs does the engine idle at? What engine/transmission?

[lilvtboigotrice]

If you hit the brakes when idling and in Neutral or Park, do the RPMs change? What RPMs does the engine idle at? What engine/transmission?

It's a KA24DE with an auto transmission. At park it idles fine at around 800-1000 rpm area and in drive its at pretty close to 700 rpms but when I'm braking at a stop light from braking point to when the car actually stops, making U-turns, and consectutive turns the RPMs go way down into 200-300 rpms and occasionally shuts off. When I hit the brakes in idle, the rpms don't really change much enough to be noticable but the gauge lights dim a little bit if that helps.

[DAEDALUS]

That's pretty odd. Power steering pump does add extra load to the engine, but it should have no problem compensating. Maybe an electrical issue? Hook up a voltmeter and have someone watch the car's voltage while its acting up. Also, check the fuel pressure.

[Hijacker]

sounds like a vacuum leak in the manifold? It would explain the brake dip and the compensation dip of pressure. Hook up a vac gauge to your TB and see what the vacuum is at idle. It should be around -17 in/hg. If it's lower than that, like say -11 or so, that could be indicative of an intake manifold leak.

[TravisD]

Mine did that. The idle was also unstable. I cleaned the AIV and it was much better. Go to 240sx.org, there's an article about how to clean it, very simle process, so it's a good place to start. Also, see the thread about removing the aiv entirely. If that doesn't work, do what tenkawa_akito said and check for a loss of vacuum. Normal idle speed is 700-800, 1000 with the a/c on.

[lilvtboigotrice]

Thanks guys i'll be sure to try all three of those things and hope everything works out. Only problem is I'm not really mechanically inclined and I don't want to mess anything up so do you guys know if stores like autozone and napa would do a free vacuum leak and voltage check? so they do ill be stopping by them tomorrow