Hi, well this if for my mothers 3.1L Firebird auto with approx. 130,000 miles. Lately she's been having the problem that her car dies once in a while when she goes from a stop or parked. It most likely does it when she has the a/c on but still does it with it off. From what she tells me it hardly dies when the car is run for a while and warmed up. I changed the plugs. The wires, visually, appear fine. We ran that STP fuel system cleaner (said to only be used every 4000 miles) and didnt help and later put a bit of that Marvel Mystery Oil in the fuel with no apparent results. Can anyone give me an idea where to start looking? I searched the messege boards (maybe not very well) and didnt really find anything relating to this problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

How many times has this problem been gone over? try the search button. Its a vacuum leak.

 

QUOTE]I searched the messege boards (maybe not very well) and didnt really find anything relating to this problem. [/QUOTE]


Thanks A$$. Please read a bit more carefully next time. Could have just said "sounds like vacuum leak" so I could have gotten an idea on what to search for more specificly.

 

Could also be EGR related. My 86 used to do the same thing and I discovered that the EGR valve base rusted away and need to be replaced.

Vacuum leaks are also a good place to start.

Dale

 

Thanks A$$. Please read a bit more carefully next time. Could have just said "sounds like vacuum leak" so I could have gotten an idea on what to search for more specificly. [/QUOTE]

well you know what I have been on the boards a $hit load longer then you. I have found many a topic cover this in the search. Its all you newbies that refuse to use the resources of the board that keep posting crap like this that have been over too many times to count.

 

Come on Camar_Hunter_c he posted it, you didn't have to answer, maybe something new could have come up about this problem, big deal he just wants personal attention.

Don't pull this crap of being on the board longer, it doesn't make you any better or smarter, LOL, we are all here to help each other.

 

Also Highwind your problem isn't a vacum leak it's the IAC (Idle Air Control) It will get worse before it gets better. It's loacated next to the butterfly passangerside (throttle body). Two torx screws hold it on and it cost $35 dollars at any auto parts store. I know because mine fell apart in my hands when I pulled it out. It won't ever set a code, thats the most frusterating part. My car would die with the A/C on when I stopped then it got to the point it would just die any time the butterfly would close. I don't think you have a vacum leck, because if you did you would have a REAL fast idle speed.

See Camar_Hunter_c thats why it's always good to post new because people like me have better answers from more experiences.

 

woops forgot to say this

When you plug in the new one it will be a few starts and stops before the computer relearns the pintal location. You will under stand it when you pull it out and see a rubber stopper on the end of a metal spring loaded shaft. the outside of the IAC looks like a small motor.

 

Adjust/clean the IAC before you buy a new one, and YES, that is most likely your problem. Also spray some carb cleaner down into the hole where the IAC goes while the car is running (it'll run like **** without the IAC, so don't worry). Also, (and i think everyone should do this considering the age of our cars) take $7 and go buy a bunch of different sized vacuum hose, and rerun it all....your car will run better after you do both of these. If it STILL dies, adjust your idle (use the search, too lazy to explain how).


And don't call someone an *** for trying to help you.