I'm baffled......

[celly]

I'm baffled...... (stalling problems)

Hopefully someone can shed some light.

Background
-----------
-had been steadily modding my '00 Sport, first with Apten chip, then Mac intake, then catback exhaust (Flowmaster SUV and 2.5" pipes).

-it was when the exhaust was put on (by a shop) where troubles seemed to begin. I test drove the new install on the highway and check engine light came on (never investigated further, car was running great). I reset the computer and the CEL went away....for about a week.

-did a road trip with my wife. Trip was over two legs, each around 100 miles (with an overnight). On second leg, CEL came back on with no noticeable problems....until later.

-we drove up a very steep fire/logging road (climbs a few thousand vertical feet). Pretty slow going over bumpy road, revs didn't get up too high. The X spontaneously stalled without warning on three occasions once on a steeper section, twice on flatter sections, all at low speed. Got to the top nervously. After each stall, the X wouldn't start right away, but would do so in a few minutes if I waited without attempting to start in the interim. The CEL actually turned off after the third stall and restart.

-No issues noted on the descent which was basically coasting and braking. Got back on the highway and X ran fine, but CEL came back on and stayed on the whole way home (all 200 mi). No performance issues noted.

-Upon returning home, reset the computer (was doing some other stuff that needed the battery disconnected). CEL didn't come back on after battery re-connected. X ran great for several days without incident until it just stopped without warning while I was idling at a light. Once again, it took a few minutes before it would start. I had noticed some moisture coming out of the exhaust pipe earlier in the day. It had been rainy and I suspected some water may have got in the lines. I dumped some of that STP moisture remover in an empty tank and filled up (using 91 these days since installing an Apten dual program).

-that was a few days ago. X had been running great...until today. I was merging onto a busy freeway and starting to accelerate to get into the fast lane, when I felt the X quit again. Luckily I had enough momentum to get over to the side of the road. Waited a few minutes and X started again no problem.

This is getting old!

I'm waiting on a code reader to be delivered to me so I'm not certain what the CEL codes may be. Don't feel like getting gouged at a garage to get codes read.

Once again, I'm baffled. As before, things were great before I got the catback installed. I know squat about what O2 sensors do, but I remember the muffler installer telling me in passing that there are O2 sensors in the area of the install. He didn't say anything was wrong with them, just pointed to where they are. Could something have been messed up during the install?

Any insight, theories, solutions etc would be greatly appreciated. The X runs superb 99.999% of the time. It's that .001% that's got me worried, especially with some road trips planned.

Thanks in advance.

 

[raginraj]

i don't have any personal experience with which to help you but i do have a couple ideas. the O2 sensors and your MAF should probably be checked. i have seen other threads where people described similar problems with random stalling and those things came up a lot. particularly the MAF... there's a lot of stuff on this site about cleaning it up with some SeaFoam and stuff like that. the only other thing i could think of was that you got your Apten chip before you did all your other mods. most people get the chip last so that when they are programmed they can take all the mods into account. since your chip came before the mods you may want to have it re-flashed with an updated program. that's all i've got for you, hopefully someone with some more knowledge/experience will be along shortly.

~RaginRaj

 

[JDraper]

I'd make sure that all the 02 sensors are connected, and that the shop didn't break a wire or disconnect one by accident. Also, go to your local Autozone. They will pull the CEL codes for free so you know what to look for.

 

[performancenut]

Possibly fuel related- ?intermittent fuel pump failure? Check some fuel pressures; you really need some codes- particularly after CEL is on. Good luck

 

[celly]

i don't have any personal experience with which to help you but i do have a couple ideas. the O2 sensors and your MAF should probably be checked. i have seen other threads where people described similar problems with random stalling and those things came up a lot. particularly the MAF... there's a lot of stuff on this site about cleaning it up with some SeaFoam and stuff like that. the only other thing i could think of was that you got your Apten chip before you did all your other mods. most people get the chip last so that when they are programmed they can take all the mods into account. since your chip came before the mods you may want to have it re-flashed with an updated program. that's all i've got for you, hopefully someone with some more knowledge/experience will be along shortly.

~RaginRaj

I've thought of cleaning the MAF anyhow. Worth a shot.

When I ordered the Apten Chip, I told them about the mods that were planned.

Thanks for the MAF idea. I had been thinking about that. re: Sea Foam, they don't sell it in most Canadian locales. I just heard from the company and they tell me they sell it in Manitoba, which is two provinces over from me. I'll probably stumble across it like I recently stumbled across VHT "Nite-Shades". I paid a lot to get it shipped from the US, waited forever because it had to be shipped Surface (hazardous, etc.). Two days after it finally arrived, I saw it at a local shop and a LOT cheaper than I see it online in the US.

 

[aldive]

We can better offer assistance after you determine what code illuminated the CEL.

Good luck.....

 

[celly]

I'd make sure that all the 02 sensors are connected, and that the shop didn't break a wire or disconnect one by accident. Also, go to your local Autozone. They will pull the CEL codes for free so you know what to look for.

I think I'll hit the shop and ask them to take a look. The installer is highly respected and does superb work. He'd definitely help me out if there was a problem they created. Highly credible shop.

We don't have Autozone up here in Canuckistan (Canada). Reader should be here any day now so I'll be able to get better info re: CEL (which is off now).

 

[celly]

We can better offer assistance after you determine what code illuminated the CEL.

I wasn't even going to post yet until the reader arrived, but the stall today made me think I should be researching some potential issues without analyzing the CEL just yet.

I'll definitely be posting again if the problem persists and I can analyze the CEL.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[celly]

Possibly fuel related- ?intermittent fuel pump failure? Check some fuel pressures; you really need some codes- particularly after CEL is on. Good luck

I guess that's a possibility too (I'm not much of a mechanic, so don't have a clue). The way it shuts off it's as if a switch was pushed and it closes down just like that. Because it stalls at different times (sometimes low speed, once at idle, and now at hard acceleration), it's frustrating and very difficult to pinpoint in the absence of a code read. That will come soon enough.

Appreciate the response.

 

[MONMIX]

well it seems you and I have near if not identical set ups.
I too recently had a code issue and through help from here and some trial and error I traced it to a chip issue. Apten has it right now for a re-burn.
Since removing the chip no CEL has appeared.

Oh, it was a bit too lean of a mix and that was throwing the CEL for me.
Get your codes, post them and consider the possibility of a reburn.

 

[spindlecone]

None of your currant mods require a re-burn, should you clean the MAF, do not use seafoam, do not use carb cleaner, use electrical contact cleaner, as you are dealing with electrical contacts, JMO

 

[celly]

well it seems you and I have near if not identical set ups.
I too recently had a code issue and through help from here and some trial and error I traced it to a chip issue. Apten has it right now for a re-burn.
Since removing the chip no CEL has appeared.

Oh, it was a bit too lean of a mix and that was throwing the CEL for me.
Get your codes, post them and consider the possibility of a reburn.

I'm not so sure it's the chip. The X was running great with the chip for a few weeks. I had a Magnaflow at that point, welded into the stock pipes. The issue really seemed to materialize when the I had the stock pipes taken out, replaced with the new 2.5" pipes and the Magnaflow with a Flowmaster. The CEL came on all of a few hours after the install. Might just be a coincidence. The X really is running great right now, but in the back of my mind I wonder when it will happen next. The code reader can't get here soon enough.

 

[celly]

None of your currant mods require a re-burn, should you clean the MAF, do not use seafoam, do not use carb cleaner, use electrical contact cleaner, as you are dealing with electrical contacts, JMO

I am going to try the MAF clean soon. I had planned on doing it anyhow. Thanks for the pointers.

 

[MONMIX]

I drove my Ex for a few weeks ( three maybe ) after instaling the chip, before the code came up. Ran like a champ the whole time. I cleared the code several times just to have it return in about seven days each time.
Some times a program goes a little funkey in a chip.

That is my story and I am sticking to it.

 

[celly]

I may have found the culprit for my mysterious stalling problems, and I'm embarassed to say it's probably something I did. I am a marginal mechanic at best, but at least I try, right?

Anyhow, when I put the Mac intake on, I only used one hose clamp on each end of the blue thingies. The seal at the MAF end was fine, but where the blue seal attached to the throttle body, it was VERY loose. It was holding onto the chrome pipe well enough, but definitely not holding on very well to the TB. I put on the two remaining hose clamps and put them where they should be and the system is all sealed up nice.

I'm no expert, but I suspect that could have caused my problems. Anyone who knows more, is that possible? I'm hoping so because I've had no performance issues in the slightest since the last one. The X definitely felt more responsive when I attached the clamp at the throttle body.

Duh........

 

[MONMIX]

Yeah that would cause more than a few problems.
Hey look on the bright side, you niped it in the bud and only lost a little pride.
Better a bit of pride than hundreds of dollars.

 

[celly]

Hey, I'm the first to admit I'm prone to mess things up. The Mac intake was pretty easy to install, but their instructions were horrible. Mind you, I should have clued in when I still had the two clamps left over.