Lately I've been having a problem, usually when I've driven the car and let it sit for about 15 minutes. It doesn't always happen, and usually doesn't happen if the car is cold, or if it's warm and I start it right back up (like at a gas station).

The problem is the car will sputter (idle will go up and down like I have a fat cam. fairly erratically and I can't control it). While it's happening, the throttle pedal has almost no control over the engine. The idle will just go up and down from about 500-1800 RPM. for about 30 seconds, then die. Sometimes if I floor it, it eventually will rev up slowly, then the problem will go away without dying. But sometimes even when I'm flooring it, it dies. After it dies, I start it back up and it runs perfectly fine.

It did happen once when I started the car cold and barely let it warm up. It drove a block fine, then the next block started sputtering and died. Started it back up and it was fine.

What's weird is I was experiencing this problem a while ago (about 9 months ago), only on warm starts though, and it just ended up going away on its own. And now it's back.

Anyone know what it might be? I was thinking ignition control module but I did replace the module a little over 2 years ago. Changed fuel filter around the same time.

2 years ago did cap rotor coil icm wires and plugs. 1 year ago did iac valve and calibrated it. Battery is strong, measures 12.75V when car is off, and 14.6V when it's on.

Hard to hook up a scanner because the problem is intermittant, but I just hooked up the computer and all the sensors seem to read fine.

 

Anyone? The problem is getting worse. Sometimes happens on cold starts now. Sometimes it goes away if I keep the RPMs up long enough, but usually I just let it die, and start it right back up. After I start it back up, it always runs fine.

 

Start with the basics. Could very easily be a vacuum leak. Just because you replaced it doesn't mean they are good. I'd check or test anything I may suspect, junk under cap, junk in fuel filter, egr sticking, egr passages clogged causing the valve to stick, bad egr solenoid, bad coolant temp sensor/CTS wiring, funky MAP, test injectors...clogged? Food for thought. Hard to tell without any testing.

 

Check your TPS...doesn't seem to be responding.