car dies whenever at complete stop

1994Vib.RedGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

585

0

16

Denver, CO

Feb 15, 2008

#1

• Feb 15, 2008

• #1

Recently Ive been smelling gas in the car a lot, and whenever I come to a complete stop it dies. You can roll in neutral at like 1 mph all you want but as soon as you hit a complete stop it dies. It cranks back up with no problem though. I took it to the delearship because Ive been real busy and I dont know a reputable shop in the area and the dealership said no codes were being thrown, but maybe my MAF sensor is going bad, and I should take it to a speed shop. So what do you guys think is going on?

 

Methodical

15 Year Member

Dec 1, 2003

1,192

11

59

Clinton, MD

Feb 15, 2008

#2

• Feb 15, 2008

• #2

I had that problem (not the gas smell) when I first purchased my car back in 1995 and the dealer replaced the MAF sensor under warranty and that cured the problem for me.

 

ProKiller

Founding Member

Apr 26, 2002

3,064

15

78

PA

Feb 15, 2008

#3

• Feb 15, 2008

• #3

try cleaning it first before you go buy a new one. and your smelling gas problem might be from your charcoal canister. check the lines going into that. pull off your passenger inner fender and look inside the fender, that black box should have lines going to it from the fuel system.

 

95gtdude

New Member

May 18, 2005

96

0

0

anywhere the military takes me

Feb 18, 2008

#4

• Feb 18, 2008

• #4

I agree with the gas canister theory. If you find that it isn't the MAF check your fuel pressure regulator. Check your fuel pressure at the rail and see what it's doing.

 

greenlantern

Member

Jul 11, 2004

265

1

17

St Louis Mo

Feb 19, 2008

#5

• Feb 19, 2008

• #5

Its definately mass air flow related. My car was doing the exact same thing. My problem was I had a cold air kit on the car with the 90 degree bend. For whatever reason the way the air was comming through there the mass air meter was not liking it. Rotating the mass air meter (black box to the 10'0 clock position) helped a lot. Afterwards I had to reset the computer but it cured the rich gas smell and the stalling problem.

 

SVTtripleblack

New Member

Dec 4, 2007

166

0

0

Lancaster, PA

Feb 20, 2008

#6

• Feb 20, 2008

• #6

ProKiller said:

try cleaning it first before you go buy a new one. and your smelling gas problem might be from your charcoal canister. check the lines going into that. pull off your passenger inner fender and look inside the fender, that black box should have lines going to it from the fuel system.

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+1
Do the easy/free thing first and clean the MAF sensor wires with some rubbing alcohol. I had to do this once when I had some of the same symptoms. These sensors rarely need to be replaced, but often get oil on them from a K&N type filter and need to be cleaned periodically. This causes the computer go into limp mode which causes stalling, loss of power, bucking, etc. Mine was so filthly, after I cleaned it my car felt like it picked up 30 horses and solved all my driveablility issues. You will need a torx bit that matches the tamper proof screws on top of your sensor. What I did was carefully chissel the center out of the screws and used a regular torx bit to get them off. Be very carefull!

 

sleeperstang199

New Member

Jun 21, 2007

78

0

0

harrisburg, Pa

Feb 20, 2008

#7

• Feb 20, 2008

• #7

personally sounds like the IAC( idle air control). see if after you start the car up after it dies give it a little gas and see if it will stay running. if it runs with your foot in the accelerator and dies when you take it off its most likely the IAC. im a tech so if nothing else give it a try.

 

D

dans89lx

New Member

Jan 23, 2007

46

0

0

Feb 21, 2008

#8

• Feb 21, 2008

• #8

another thing to check before you throw in the towel is the vacume lines going to the FPR. I had this problem in my 89 hci car (gas smell and no idle etc.) and it turned out that i had a loose vacume to the FPR (this means your regulator is running at max all the time). just an idea

 

SVTtripleblack

New Member

Dec 4, 2007

166

0

0

Lancaster, PA

Feb 21, 2008

#9

• Feb 21, 2008

• #9

sleeperstang199 said:

personally sounds like the IAC( idle air control). see if after you start the car up after it dies give it a little gas and see if it will stay running. if it runs with your foot in the accelerator and dies when you take it off its most likely the IAC. im a tech so if nothing else give it a try.

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The IAC can also give you problems because it gets clogged up with all sorts of nasty black carbon and can screw up your idle and make your car stall. It's attached to your throttle body with two screws. take it off, spray throttle body and carb cleaner in it, let it drain out and dry, then put it back on. I would try cleaning the MAF and the IAC first, because it's easy, quick, FREE!, and should be done at some point anyway to keep your car running its best.