Hey guys,

My car is GREAT...90% of the time. It drives awesome and never gives any problem, I've taken it on long trips across the province, and even south of the border.

However, I have a problem when I try and start it sometimes. About 10% of the time, it starts up badly, rough idle (less than 500) then when you put it in drive, it stalls, accelerates slowly, struggles to stay alive basically. And the solution to fixing this problem? Simply turning the car off for a minute, then starting it up again.

I've driven like this for the past 3 months no problem, but now that the weather is getting very cold, it's happening more and more. This morning I couldn't even leave work for 10 minutes because the engine kept shutting off...

The plugs/wires are brand new, but I'm not so sure about the distributor cap/rotor (though I believe they are).

Could it be a bad pickup coil? ECM? When this problem happens, it throws a code 33 (high voltage at the MAF sensor)

Thank you

 

Sounds like a problem I had. First thing is fix your code 33. Chances are its a bad MAF, but I would start by replacing the power and burn off relays. After that, if it still does it, I would clean/reset your IAC. I just replaced mine since it was really caked with carbon. If that doesn't do it id replace the MAF.

2 things you can try when this happens to you.
1. If it doesnt start, unplug the MAF and see if it runs better with it unplugged. If it does its your MAF.
2. Use a screwdriver, and while the car is running tap the MAF. If the car stumbles your know that is also a bad MAF. I have found that even if the maf is bad, when you do this it may not stumble. Mine didn't.

Good luck, and welcome to the code 33 and 34 club. The car will fight you while you try to fix those codes. Mine put up a hell of a fight.