While driving to school I was sitting in the turn lane to go into the parking lot and my car shut off for the first time since I have owned it! I was freaking out but went ahead and started it back up. Then out of nowhere it started surging from 750-1500 RPMs and after doing that 10 times it shut off again. All of this happened while I was sitting there in that one minute period. People kept looking at me wierd and at one point a cop drove by. So after that I just kept the car off for another 20 seconds and waited for the light to turn green and started it back up. Then it just drove up into the lot and I threw it in park and checked the engine. At this point the car just idled fine! Even when I drove back home I had no problems. Do any red flags pop up to you guys? I was planning on replacing plugs and the O2 sensor this weekend. Would these things help fix it? Also yesterday my friend was working with me on my car and against my will pulled out a spark plug, could this cause it. Also would putting the tubing, that is between the MAF sensor and the throttle body, on too tight cause this because of too much of a vaccum being formed. Please help I dont want to end up grenading my car.

 

Hey guys I really need help dont be discouraged by the stories length.

 

Any ideas?

 

Check wiring to the MAF sensor. it sounds like you may have lost MAF signal momentarily. Make sure there are no air leaks in the inlet air tube you menioned. There must be no air getting in between the MAF and the throttle body.

 

Yeah, I know it's an old thread.
Hey '87IROC, I'm having a similar issue. When the engine gets good and hot, I get the surging and cutting out. Like you, I had a single plug out of the engine a few weeks back. I'm thinking I may have sliced a plug wire. When you replaced the plugs and wires, did the surging issue go away?

 

My surging ended up just being bad gas going through the engine after it was parked all winter. Also my car was running on 6 cylinders when I got it so when I replaced the plugs and wires pretty much everything after that started working well for me.

So i'm not sure if it will work out like that for you but good luck to ya!

 

Take the MAF off and clean it with CRC MAF cleaner ($7). Clean the throttle body with throttle body cleaner.

 

i have been having a similar problem and its been driving me absolutly nuts for the past 3 weeks, i have an 86 z28 350 tpi i recently put edelbrock shorties on and after that it just seems like everything that was wrong with the car got worse, when at idle, it will surge from 1000rpms to 500rpms and then will stop then start then stop on and on, when i put my car into gear (drive or reverse) the car will die unless acted upon with a little thrust of the gas pedal. and then the other day i was sitting on a hill in nuetral and when i rolled out put it in drive and pulled to the stop sign i went to go and the car basically died, it was so weird i hit the gas and it just kinda sputtered across the road and it continued to do this for a while and then about a mile down the road there was no problems at all i am so confused with this car and i am so out of money because of this car, i love this car so much but i just cant get it to run right please some one help!!

 

I had a similar problem. Take the MAF off and spray it inside with CRC MAF cleaner. While you have the MAF off, clean the throttle body with throttle body cleaner. You will be amazed at how much better it runs. No more engine dying and check engine lights.

 

yep sounds like a MAF issue

 

MAF did you cut the screen out? I did that on my first thirdgen and had the same problem hunting for idle.

 

Thanks for your input. I replaced all 8 plugs and wires, cap and rotor. There was a wire that was sliced, I think I did it this winter when I removed my A.I.R. lines, so I was probably getting arching from that. Runs like a champ now. I'll probably take it for a longer ride tomorrow, but I think my issue is solved.

 

Another follow-up. The surging/stalling problem returned a day or so later. Threw in the towel, took it to a mechanic. Issue was a worn distributor. All seems to run well now. Fingers crossed.