Simply put, the car is stalling when it's in neutral. I notice it when I switch to neutral as I'm approaching a stop, or when I finally stop and the car is in neutral.

Please, help me diagnose this problem...

Also, I was teaching my brother how to drive stick the other day. He dropped the clutch fairly hard and the car jolted. Idk if this has to do anything to do with it. And I can't remember if I started noticing the problem before or after.

 

I can't imagine that the clutch has anything to do with your problem as long as it's disengaging like it should when you press the pedal. How many miles on the car?

 

do a quick test.... while in neutral (with car turned off) with the e-brake off, can you push the car forward/back? if there's significant resistance the car's still in gear for some reason.

if the car is easy to move forward/aft then it's something to do the engine. do you have a check engine light or any codes?

a couple of clutch dumps is not going to kill the tranny but as already posted, high milage cars might be a different story...

 

yeah i'll try it out next time.

..i'm at 68k miles now

..no check lights

..also, it doesn't happen all the time

 

Sounds like loose/damaged vacuum lines, a bad Throttle Position Sensor, Idle Speed Control stepper motor or Idle Air Control solenoid.

Other things that came to mind that I have seen cause this... bad/corroded battery terminals or a bad/failing fuel pump relay or bad connection with the fuel pump. Bad/dying oxygen sensors would do this. Also collapsed exhaust flex section or clogged catalytic converter would be items to check.

Let us know what you find!

The resistance across IAC motors, like other electric motors can increase over time with oxidation and other environmental factors.

A weak IAC/ISC or a dying O2 sensor won't necessarily throw a CEL or DTC.

You may have to remove the ISC/IAC, leave it plugged in and have a friend turn the key to ON or start, and the valve should move in or out.. Any one of the above or in combination could cause stalling in neutral while moving or at a stop.