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Young Lady looking for help, I can't get my husband to do!!!

L

laniebird

New member
I have a 2004 GP GT 3.8l(not supercharged) very stock! Except K&n air filter.
I have read a few of these threads about starting and stalling issues. I changed my crankshaft positioner and that didn't do the trick. Do you need to restart the computer for this to take affect? I know I sound really stupid but I don't get alot of help from my husband and so I am trying to do this on my own.
This is what happens! When my car is cold, it usually starts like a dream. No complaints there. When it gets warm, and you shut it off, then trying to start it, It starts, tack jumps and as it comes down to idle it just sputters and quits, you need to give it throttle to keep it from stalling. But like I said only when it is warm.
Also looking for detail instructions on how to find as well as how to clean maf and iac?
Can anyone help???
 


Easy part first...Welcome!

The MAF is in a grey plastic tube 3" long and 3" in diameter with a wire harnes going to it toward the corner of the engine compartment behind the drivers headlight in line with your air filter. Just take stuff apart until you can get to it really :)

As for the IAC I'm not sure. Withe the drive by wire, electronic, throttle body I'm not sure where it is in there. Usually an IAC issue is on cold startup though.

Hope that helps a little at least.
 
As for how to clean the sensors, just get electronics cleaner from wal-mart, autozone, radio shack, etc and follow the instructions on the bottle.
 


I believe the IAC is eliminated on DBW systems. It uses the throttle plate motor to control the idle from what I've learned on these. My best guess is that there is a LOT of gunk in the TB and against the butterfly, creating a blockage when the throttle is only slightly opened at idle. Take the TB off and clean the crap out of it with Throttle Body Cleaner (The stuff Autozone sells works very well).

Welcome to GPF by the way! :D
 
Welcome to the community.

What the guys have mentioned above for cleaning the MAF is spot on. I dont have any real experience with the drive by wire set ups so I cant speak as to whether or not there is an IAC. But what DanGTP stated makes sense to me.

That said, its common for a K&N filter and other such oiled type filters to have the oil on them sucked off by the force of the air flow through the filter and deposit itself onto the MAF and clog it and cause some driveability issues.
 
A good test for the MAF is to start the car and see if it tries to die. If it does, shut it off, unplug the MAF sensor, then restart the car. If the MAF is bad, it should idle just fine. If the MAF is not the problem, then the idle issues will persist.

My dad had a very similar issue on his 02 bonneville. I told him this little test. He kinda looked at me weird, but did it just to humor me. And it proved that the MAF was bad. Replaced it and all was well.

So try that first....
 
Thank you to everyone trying to help me. I really appreciate it. Hopefully, it just needs to be cleaned. I will try that today!!
 
sounds like the maf sensor. if it fails the computer will use the ve tables to calculate airflow and normally rpms will jump up and down at idle and run like crap. idle would start from 800 and jump up to 1400 and would almost die on me. good luck
 


Zef_66 said:
A good test for the MAF is to start the car and see if it tries to die. If it does, shut it off, unplug the MAF sensor, then restart the car. If the MAF is bad, it should idle just fine. If the MAF is not the problem, then the idle issues will persist.

My dad had a very similar issue on his 02 bonneville. I told him this little test. He kinda looked at me weird, but did it just to humor me. And it proved that the MAF was bad. Replaced it and all was well.

So try that first....
Click to expand...

i've seen this test work, but i have also had it not work, also.
 
I have personally fixed 2 '04's by cleaning the throttle plate. Just took the air tube off the TB and tiped the plate open. Clean the edges of the plate and the throat of the TB. I'm almost sure this will take care of it. Good luck!
 
Okay, MAF basically ruled out.
Only does it when its warmed up (translates to me, closed loop mode)

I think that would rule out the Throttle position sensor, not only that, you would have other issues such as shifting issues with the TPS out.

Im not leaning to the IAC as I would think that would cause issues whether it was warmed up or not, i.e. in closed loop or open loop mode, but I cant completely rule that out as you stated 'when its warm and you shut it off'. So I guess there is a chance that could be bad or not working as it should.

I dont know what role the EGR would play in that situation so for now I would keep that in the back of my head.

So lets ask now a few basic questions just to try and rule out any freaky stuff.

1. When was the last tune up done? Plugs, wires, fuel filter, etc.
2. Any recent work done to it?
3. When its warmed up, and you turn it off, and start it back up again, can you drive it and if so, how does it run then? Does it shift okay then?
4. Is the Service Engine Soon light on or do you see it flash on and off or anything like that when its running rough?

I cant think of anything else at the moment. Hopefully we can help you get this figured out.
 
The last tune up has been awhile. I change the oil frequently but I guess I lack a little in maintenance dept. The only thing done other than oil changes, air filter and trying to keep the throttle body cleaned out is yesterday I changed the crankshaft positioner. To try to rectify the problem. My car runs like a champ all the time. Even first thing in the morning(when it is cold), it starts with no problems. There is absolutely no other symptoms. No shifting issues, nothing. No service engine light. If you only started it when it was cold, you would never know there was an issue. It is a great car except for this, that is why it bothers me so much. Thank you for helping me. I really appreciate it!
 


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