When your car is at a complete stop, the RPM meter should read zero, right?

Question

My car (2003 P.T. Cruiser) does not read zero on the RPM meter when I am at a complete stop. This causes it to "jump" off of complete stops and it's really annoying. The worst part is that it never does it when anyone but me drives it. Am I doing something wrong?

I would appreciate it if everyone would stop insulting me. My car is screwing up and I was trying to figure out why. If you're just going to be a jerk don't answer!

Answer 1

No.

RPM stands for revolutions per minute and tells you ENGINE speed, not vehicle speed. The engine is running even when you're stopped, and somewhere around 700 rpm is normal once the engine is warm. If cold it will be higher.

Answer 2

Quick answer to your "When your car is at a complete stop, the RPM meter should read zero, right?" question is: WRONG.

The long answer: You have to be aware of the difference between the tachometer (which reads how quickly the engine is turning in RPMs, or Revolutions Per Minute), versus the spedometer (which reads how quickly your car is moving, in Miles Per Hour or Kilometers Per Hour.)

If your car is at a complete stop, your spedometer should read 0, but your tachometer should *not* be at 0 unless you've turned your engine off.

If it is at 0, then you've either turned the engine off on purpose, or stalled it by accident. If the car is stopped and the engine's still running, you should see that the tachometer reads a value above 0, but under 1000 RPM - unless you're gunning the engine.

As to your "jump" problem: You haven't mentioned whether you're using a standard or automatic transmission (or if you're trying to use the 'autostick' option, if you've got the 2003 GT version of the PT Cruiser - which lets you manually shift the transmission by moving the shift from left to right.)

Novice drivers of standard transmissions often experience a 'hop' or 'jump' when starting out from a complete stop, which has more to do with coordination of the brake/clutch/accelerator pedal than the mechanics of the car... they're applying too much gas, too quickly, when they engage first gear and take their foot off the brake.

This is not the case with automatic transmissions - or with the 'autostick' in my experience.

Whatever the transmission version, if it's only you who has the problem of the car 'jumping' off complete stops, then it sounds like something to do with your driving technique and not the mechanics of the car. Expecially if your car does have a standard/manual transmission, if you can spend a little time with a more experienced driver who doesn't experience the problem, and watch carefully what they do differently from you, you may be able to correct your technique.

Answer 3

With qualification Yes, if the car is in complete stop with engine off. However, if it is in "idle" state the Tachometer should by in between 900 to 1000 RPM to a new car. In old car to up to 1100 RPM. I am not an expert to car, but by following ericthecarguy, I deem something wrong in many factors within the car sensors and vacuum leak might be present.

Answer 4

yea if it's reading 0 then that means your engine is shut off. a well -tuned car should be at 600-800 rpm when completely stop with a warm engine on. when you take you foot off of the brake and press the accelerator/gas, the rpm should go up depending and how hard you are tapping the accelerator/ gas. the harder it's pressed down the quicker you go. don't worry when you see the arrow hit the come close to the redline, the transmission will put it into another gear if you have and automatic, if you don't then you will have to change gears yourself

and another thing is if it only jumps when you are behind the wheel and no one else, then you should sell the car since it hates you and don't think you are acceptable to drive it. next it will prbably lock you in and trap you in with the windows up.

Answer 5

It is not suppose to be 0. i assume u never drove another car b4... 0 rpm means the Engine is completely shut off, which is not suppose to happen. the idling rev should be 800 - 1.5k rpm for regular vehicle. If you read 0 rpm in a complete stop, ur car has problem.
only car that has 0rpm in complete stops are Toyota Hybrid, like the prius.
The engine still rotates even if you are in a complete stop.

Answer 6

You are reading something into a condition that has nothing to do with it.
The RPM gauge is called a "Tachometer" or "Tach". It indicates the engine speed, noted in R*evolutions P*er M*inute. The only gauge that should read zero at a stop is the speedometer.
Look elsewhere for your problem.

Answer 7

The only way for your rpm meter to go to zero is if you shut off your engine. RPM stand for revolutions per minute. It refers to how fast the engine is idling. The speedometer should be at zero is you are not moving, but if your RPM gauge does also, you have big problems.

Answer 8

No. If it read zero, then the engine would be off.

It may need to have the idle adjusted (or you have a sensor going bad that is making it stay in fast idle) and then causing it to jump.

Though if it only does it to you, you probably need to learn to ease off the brake and then ease onto the accelerator (if you are driving with one foot on each pedal, then stop).

Answer 9

If the car is running at idle ( complete stop) it should read between 700 and 900 r.p.m depending on what Chrysler has specified as the idle speed. If the engine is off then it should read zero

Answer 10

I haven't seen an answer here that that is wrong or insulting. People are just plainly telling you what is happening. It isn't the car that is screwing up it is what you are doing that is causing the problems.
If you don't want to be told the truth then don't ask a question.