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help! car wont stay running

S

steelblueSE

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
Messages
1,737
In order to start my car when the engine is cold, I have to press my foot on the gas a bit for it to stay running. I have to continue to hold my foot down until the engine heats up for it to remain running. It used to only do this when it got above freezing. It's been doing it for a month and tonight after work, it wouldn't run at all on its own until I got home and then it was only idling at 250-300rpm. I thought it was bad gas, over the past month have used Iso-heet and Lucas fuel injector cleaner. I have begun to suspect the IAC and will take a look at it when I get up tomorrow. Car is 99 non svt v6, atx, 117k, regularly maintained. Thanks guys.
 
well I thought I found the right sensor but it was the tps, so I have no clue where it is/what it looks like.
 
I'm having the same problem on my 97 GL with the zetec and throwing no codes. I pulled the iacv on mine and it has the same ohms as the new one but its pretty dirty. Not sure if I should put the new on on or not?
 
Yes codes were thrown p1507 or something iirc, but the code didnt show up until today and would go away intermittantly. I just fixed it myself, part was 50 at autozone. MF'er is buried on the firewall side of uim. Had a blasty blast bustin up my knuckles. The bottom bolt is completely blind.
 
I replaced the IAC valver and now I have no clue what the f is up with this thing now! I got to work and its moosing/foghorning real bad now with uber bad throttle hang wtf?! Its now throwing p0122 and p1504. Please I need all the help I can get!! I'm so pissed off right now!
 
Did you replace the gasket with the IAC? Did you connect all the hoses back properly?Try resetting the PCM. The computer might have adjusted for the bad IAC. If still no good try the throttle hang fix. It sounds like you are on the right track.
 
I had to reuse the old gasket but it seemed to be in good shape. The new one flew off in the wind and down into the engine and disappeared. I looked for 15mins for it and couldn't find it. I have class in a bit so after that, I will disconnect the battery overnight for the pcm to reset. I had the battery disconnected while I was replacing the IAC, it was probably unhooked for 30-40min. The throttle hang fix and moose fix dont dont show up for me with the links from the duratec maintenance.
 
I had similar problems until it got even worse and wouldn't run at all this winter. I checked for vacuum leaks, changed the IAC and TPS and then I just started tearing into it to change the UIM gasket. After removing the throttle body (to remove the intake to clean it) I noticed that the EGR "ports" were completely clogged. After cleaning all the carbon/suite build-up it has been running fine after that. So if you can buy a cheap gasket check that out. With only 110k on it the "ports" were completely clogged and looked as though someone had filled them purposefully. The area I'm talking about was on the UIM on bottom side of where the throttle body mounts to the intake. I have a standard '98 V6. On other engine I believe it can be on the side instead of on the bottom, but I believe that this will probably be what's causing you grief. Hope this helps :)
 
if u've changed the iac sensor and tps, then the egr passages would be the next think i'd start working on. if they are open or clogged like ^^^ he said, then u'll be throwing codes all over the place. might just need a little cleaning. if u can get someone to do a 'smoke test' for u, that'd be great. i dunno how much they charge, but if theres a leak somewhere, it'll be found.
 
Well the tps is next to be replaced. I didn't get a chance to disconnect my battery so I will do that today. It sucks all this has to happen while I'm at school and its cold and snowy. The car has been pinging real bad for the past ~30k miles and has always stunk like sulphur after spirited runs and the car has 90% always had 87octane in it its entire life. All this 10% ethanol blended gas is whats doing it I bet. I cleaned the tb a few years ago when I had it off replacing the IMRC. I plan to seafoam it in the spring.
 
Phil Rohtla said:
If it stunk like sulphur after spirited runs, you might be looking at some new catalytics.....
Click to expand...

Its done that pretty much since we bought it in 02.

I had the battery disconnected for a few hours and hooked it up and let it idle and warm up then went on a drive. Everything seemed fine until about 10min into driving the cel came on again and the car moosed once. I'm gonna take it to autozone in a bit and get the code scanned.
 
It's a 5 dollar gasket for the throttle body. If you can afford that take it off the intake and check those ports. I would have saved myself 100 bucks if I would have done that first. $50 for the IAC $25 for the TPS and $25 for the UIM gasket. Now I have new parts that the car really didn't need. I had the same issue you're having and the same codes and almost the same amount of miles. Its 4 bolts and possibly a clip for throttle cable if you need to take the cables off to get it out of the way if you need to do some cleaning on the intake and also the electrical connection for the TPS. If you change the TPS read up on how to install it correctly as it has to be turned the right way when reinstalling it. I'm guessing there are some threads on here for that or if you need help with that I'm sure someone has answers for you.
 
Sooo it seems theres a special way for installing the tps, but I couldn't find info about it. Other sites say theres calibration needed, whats up with that? When I first took it off I noticed it wouldn't go back the way it mounts up, I had to open the tb a little to get the flat end to match up with the internals of the tps. Was this the correct way?

The problem is CHUGGING my gas down. I went through almost 1/2 tank in only like 50-60miles.
 
Well after the new iac and tps its still moosing. No cel. If I bump the gas pedal it goes away. We just got a break with some warmer weather so I think I'm gonna try and get to the egr passages. The tb was cleaned 10-20k mi ago.
 
steelblueSE said:
Sooo it seems theres a special way for installing the tps, but I couldn't find info about it. Other sites say theres calibration needed, whats up with that? When I first took it off I noticed it wouldn't go back the way it mounts up, I had to open the tb a little to get the flat end to match up with the internals of the tps. Was this the correct way?

The problem is CHUGGING my gas down. I went through almost 1/2 tank in only like 50-60miles.
Click to expand...

wow! thats a lotta gas! the tps sensor doesnt need any recalibrating. u simply turn it at a slight angle b4 sliding it in. turn the opposite direction to bolt down.

steelblueSE said:
Well after the new iac and tps its still moosing. No cel. If I bump the gas pedal it goes away. We just got a break with some warmer weather so I think I'm gonna try and get to the egr passages. The tb was cleaned 10-20k mi ago.
Click to expand...

is this a moosing or a whistling sound?
 
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