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Car Dies!! It must hate me!

M

Myestuff

New member
Need some help,
I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3.8, last summer I was driving the car when suddenly it started to shake violently when I would accelerate. I pulled the car over and let it cool of and it worked like new until the engine would get hot again. Once the engine got hot it would shake again until I let it cool off again. Since then I have replaced, MAP-MAF-Crankshaft Position Sensor-CAT (just made 2 years). But I still have not found the source of the shaking. Last week I was driving home when suddenly the car shut off on the highway. It would start rough with the RPMs jumping and then shut off again. I cleaned the choke but had no luck. I had to have the car towed to my house. I had a mechanic check it out and he stated that I was loosing anti-freeze and that the gaskets on the intake manifold were blown. I got the car to his shop (a 36mile trip) and the car shut off once on the highway, luckily I was able to pull over and he cleared the temporary codes so the car started up again. He replaced the Intake gaskets along with the water pump along with changing the thermostat and temp sensor. He stated that I had a bad pulley and also replaces that. Finally i get to take the car home when 10 miles down the road it shuts off again. No check engine light comes on. I Unplugged the MAP sensor and the car started so i can pull into a safe area. The car no longer shakes but it sill shuts off randomly. He did check for a vacuum leak by doing the spray test but no leaks are apparent. So frustrated, does anyone have any idea?

Thanx
 


So what are the codes being thrown at this time?

It is possible that the random stalling is another crank sensor, but I'm not sure I would lean on that yet.

Its possible we may be dealing with a MAF and or MAP issue aswell.
 
How is the transmission? I remember reading on here somewhere that transmission problems would make it stall. Does it shift smoothly? Fluid full? It also sounds fuel related, have the fuel filter inspected? Fuel pump?
 
It does not show any codes. It did when it intially stalled but they would clear up in a couple of days. Since the intake gaskets were replaced, no codes come up.

I initially thought it was the trans because the shaking felt like it would cause the transmission to slip. But now thats gone too.

The fuel pump sending unit is bad therfore i dont know exactly how much fuel it has. I usually calculate the mileage. But the pump itself seems fine. No noise or strange sputtering.

I did a Tune-up on it about 4months ago..Wires-Plugs-PCV Valve-Oil and filter- Air filter--Fuel Filter
 
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When it shuts off, do you happen to notice the tach dropping to zero BEFORE it shuts down?

What brand/where did you get the new MAF from? The aftermarket ones are known to have quality issues, even out of the box. Usually a trip to the junkyard or dealer and you're good to go for an OEM one. Of course the dealer will kill you for it, but it is OEM.
 
mintygp said:
How is the transmission? I remember reading on here somewhere that transmission problems would make it stall. Does it shift smoothly? Fluid full? It also sounds fuel related, have the fuel filter inspected? Fuel pump?
Click to expand...

Trans can only make the engine stall if the TCC clutch is not unlocking. And that would throw a code.
 


I bought one from the local O'reileys, Ill have to check the brand. If it was the MAF wouldn't it show a code?

UPDATE: The good news is the shaking stopped due to the intake gasket being replaced i'm assuming. But the car still shuts off after running for a while. NO CODES
 
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I think its the maf. I bought generic one and im having this problem.
I have 3 bad sensors now.

U said urself when u disconnect maf or map it works.

For some reason i have the same problem when the car gets hot.

Get only oem maf.

Btw. Ur mechanic if he checked the code he could offer u to check the maf before replacing the gasket. Im assuming u paid almost $500.

When the car dies from coolant leak on the high way it wouldn't turn on (had that too)

Try a new maf.
 
**UPDATE**
I checked the fuel pressure and its fine! Since the car has no codes and seems to run fine when cold i decided to jump on the highway with it. It seems to run fine for 5 miles before I can feel the RPMS begin to drop. I drove all the way home and had to hold the accelerator down and RPMS between 1500-2000. When I came across the first stop light RPMS dropped and car stalled. It would not turn on unless I quickly held the accelerator down but again at the next stop it stalled. I still have NO CODES. I have cleaned the Idle Air Control with some Carb cleaner. Once the car cools off it turns back on but the minute i begin to drive, it stops idling.

I Have some ideas but not sure which one is most likely: (Order of priority)
Idle Air control Valve (Sensor)
Throttle Position Sensor
EGR
MAF

Based on the symptoms, what would anyone suggest, or am I looking in the completely wrong area? (NO CODES)
 
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