3.1 v6 keeps stalling (cont. from Personal Victory)

[Chicklet]

So, Friday night my car tanked. It starts but stalls after about a min on a cold start, and stalls after 10-30 seconds after that. I can hear the fuel filter working. I replaced the fuel filter on Saturday, which seemed to help for the day. Yesterday me and Kyle did the spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, and the ignition coil. The diagnostic code reads a 12. I have no frickin' clue what the deal is and I am so frusterated it's not even funny!

Posted by Phantom/Kyle:

"Well we did a lot of checking last night before we did anything.

FLashed the SES and that came back o.k., TPS sensor is good, Fuel pressure is at 46lbs and holds pressure so the pump is good.

I have to tie up the last few things today when I get out of work and then I'm going to do more checking and I'm going to start with the MAF sensor.
Theses things can cause the car to fall flat on it's face "

Others have suggested Catalytic Converters, Mass Air Flow sensor, and Oxygen sensor. I'm leaning towards fuel injectors.

What do you think?

[Phantom409]

I think you need a bigger rebate check

[Orange Terror]

I agree its not the fuel pump, they typically either work or don't. If there is very much of a drop in pressure the computer just won't let the car run at all. Plus, as Kyle confirmed, there's plenty of pressure.

I'm 90% sure its the Catalytic converter, and if it isn't the entire problem I'd bet its part of it. Start the car, get under and check the exhaust pipe temp ahead of the Cat and behind it. If there is a significant difference in temp, its the cat. I'd then take the Cat off and get a flexible test pipe and put it in there, start it up and see if it makes a difference. If it does there's your confirmation, I'd knock the element out of the cat and throw it back on, never have to worry about it again.

That's a cheap and easy fix. I believe in eliminating the simple cheaper things first before you go throwing a bunch of money at it for a MAF and O2 Sensor. It will get expensive quick. As you guys found out last night, you did all that stuff and it made no difference, you just threw your money away. Not trying to be a jerk about it just trying to help, hate to see you waste your time and money. Goodluck.

[Phantom409]

NO, we improved the spark big time!!
It needed to be done.

[Chicklet]

No biggie! You're not a jerk, I believe in telling it like it is.

My car's got 117,000 miles on it, I'm sure it was good to replace some of that stuff anyway. It needed a tune-up anyway. But I do agree with you about the MAF, those are expensive! And I would rather fix the cheap and easy stuff first! We'll try knocking out the catalytic converter and see what happens.

Thanks for your help, Jasen.

[Orange Terror]

No biggie! You're not a jerk, I believe in telling it like it is.

My car's got 117,000 miles on it, I'm sure it was good to replace some of that stuff anyway. It needed a tune-up anyway. But I do agree with you about the MAF, those are expensive! And I would rather fix the cheap and easy stuff first! We'll try knocking out the catalytic converter and see what happens.

Thanks for your help, Jasen.

Your welcome, again goodluck.

NO, we improved the spark big time!!
It needed to be done.

I'm sure it did Kyle, and I'm not knocking you for doing it, I just don't think it is the problem. As Robin said, it probably did need to be replaced, especially if its never been done since she's had the car. How long have you had it Robin?

FYI while you guys are at it if you get this problem ironed out with 117k I would change the tranny fluid and filter, maybe the rear end gear lube & do a coolant flush too if you have the money and have never done that stuff. Might as well have it all tip top for summer.

[Chicklet]

I've had it for three years. When I first got it, I had the rear differential fluid changed and full transmission fluid flush and I'm pretty sure I had a coolant changed, too. I should check my records. I've driven it about 20-25K miles since I've had it.

[Orange Terror]

I've had it for three years. When I first got it, I had the rear differential fluid changed and full transmission fluid flush and I'm pretty sure I had a coolant changed, too. I should check my records. I've driven it about 20-25K miles since I've had it.

Ok, shouldn't be to bad then, probably don't need to change the stuff.

[Chicklet]

Ok, shouldn't be to bad then, probably don't need to change the stuff.

Finally, some GOOD news! HAHAHA

[Phantom409]

No MAF on the 3.1,
Car has to be a Speed Density system.

I'll keep digging!

OT, the only problem I have is that I can't keep the car running long enough to get any heat in to the exhaust.

The only way to tell if it's pluged is to tap on it to see if it's broke up on the inside.

[Chicklet]

o2 sensor?

[Phantom409]

Not sure right now

[jakes_GSXR]

i dont know much about these cars but just thought id throw some random questions out there...
does it have a cold start injector?
can you give it gas and it will run fine?
what all sensors does this car have?
*if it has a TPS sensor have you checked it with a volt meter throughout the positions?*

[Phantom409]

i dont know much about these cars but just thought id throw some random questions out there...
does it have a cold start injector?
can you give it gas and it will run fine?
what all sensors does this car have?
*if it has a TPS sensor have you checked it with a volt meter throughout the positions?*

Can't give the car gas or it just dies

Well it don't have a MAF so it's speed density, and it has all the basic stuff, TPS, IACV, MAP, and so on.

Checked it very quick like when I could get the car to run and that wasn't long but I did get the .6 -.7 when I did get it started at idle.

[Chicklet]

i dont know much about these cars but just thought id throw some random questions out there...
does it have a cold start injector?
can you give it gas and it will run fine?
what all sensors does this car have?
*if it has a TPS sensor have you checked it with a volt meter throughout the positions?*

Don't know about cold start injector.
Giving it gas makes it die.
Don't know all the sensors my car has...
TPS sensor is fine (read first post).

Thanks for the input.