Throwing Parts At My Son's Car

[Ornery]

We put a remote start on it a couple years ago for Christmas, and it was around that time that we started getting this issue with it starting, idling for about 5 seconds, then stalling. After the second start it always stayed running, and runs smooth as silk. Threw an idle air adjusment valve at it then, but it didn't fix the problem. Couple days later I found a massive leak in the elbow of a thick vacuum hose. Replaced that and it was good to go for a long time.

It later started to do the same thing, where it would have to be started twice. 😕 I think it was Quixfire who suggested cleaning the throttle body, which I did, and that cured it... for a few more months. 😕

It started doing it again so I put a coolant temperature sensor on it. That little trick worked wonders for my old Lincoln when it was running sluggishly when cold, but didn't help in this case. I put some EXPENSIVE OEM plugs in it, but that didn't help either. I cleaned the wires in the MAF sensor today, and I'll see if that helps. I have to wait till it's cold to test it, because that's the only time it acts up. Next step is going to be the throttle position sensor I guess. That's a $40.00 part, so I'm in no hurry to do it.

Autozone is having a special rewards program. If you spend over twenty dollars on five occasions before the 11-30-05, they give you $20.00 credit. I've gotten two visits so far, for the coolant sensor and plugs. What should be next? Fuel filter? Injector cleaner? MAS sensor for $100.00? :Q

Oh yeah, it's a '95 Grand Marquis with about 75,000 miles on it.

 

[Random Variable]

Be a good father and get him an '06 Corvette Z06.

 

[aplefka]

I wish you were my dad.

 

Throttle position sensor, oxygen sensor, spark plugs, tune up + ignition timing adjustment.
I don't think a fuel filter would cause it to stall on the first start, but it's such a cheap part it should be replaced anyway.

 

[Ornery]

Bah, when he gets done with school, he's on his own. In the mean time, I'm happy to help him out, because he NEVER asks for anything, NEVER talks back, and always does his best in school. God knows where he gets it from, because it ain't from me!

 

[aplefka]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Bah, when he gets done with school, he's on his own. In the mean time, I'm happy to help him out, because he NEVER asks for anything, NEVER talks back, and always does his best in school. God knows where he gets it from, because it ain't from me!

Hahaha sounds about like me except I'll talk back when I feel I'm being wronged. But I've got a job now that helps me out a lot. Sucks though, because this past week I've put $70 in gas into the car I drive.

 

[Ornery]

Ooh, thanks I forgot about the oxygen sensor. I will grab the fuel filter for sure. Gotta make one purchase total twenty dollars, so I'll get the fuel filter, injector cleaner and some other misc. thing like wiper blades or something. That oxygen sensor must be close to twenty also. It's not throwing any codes, so that makes it tough...

Holy crap, that oxygen sensor is like $90.00... DAMN!

 

[Shawn]

Sounds like my car. I can keep it from stalling by tapping the gas until it warms up. I just learned to live with it.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Bah, when he gets done with school, he's on his own. In the mean time, I'm happy to help him out, because he NEVER asks for anything, NEVER talks back, and always does his best in school. God knows where he gets it from, because it ain't from me!

Does he like milk?

 

[shadduphoe]

yeps you had to get ur son a full size sedan

 

[Ornery]

Maybe that's what it is. Since he left for school, we've had a gallon of milk spoil on us. We were going through a gallon every couple days! He's a wholesome kid alright. This fvcked up world could use a few more milk drinkers!

yeps you had to get ur son a full size sedan

That's because I'm the one who works on 'em, and the safety issue of course...

 

I would definitely get the timing checked out.

 

[Ornery]

HTF is the timing controlled? I'm wondering if I ought to just unplug the battery for about 15 minutes, and see if that resets it. I also wonder how many damn modules and/or computers are running the show anyway? I'll tolerate this computer controlled complexity, because it does get great mileage and performance. It's probably some damn pollution control crap anyway...

 

Timing is computer and belt controlled in conjuction with the oxygen and MAF/MAP sensors. The sensors read the oxygen flow and exhaust levels and then report to the computer to either advance or retard the timing.
You could unplug the battery to reset the computer, but eventually the sensors will report bad data and make the timing go back improperly.

 

[Ornery]

Well, it's using a timing chain, and I doubt that's skipped, but it could be stretched. Just disconnected the battery. I'll reconnect it and try it in a few minutes. I wonder why that resets the computer, but doesn't dump the keyless entry codes or remote control? It also doesn't dump the remote start info, thank God.

Edit: Just hooked it back up and started it. Ran perfectly. Either cleaning the MAF sensor wires or resetiing the Engine Control Module did it, I hope. Or, it's because it was started for a few minutes at about noon. Last time it was run before that was a few minutes at 1:30AM. Fingers crossed...