New guy-> 98 sport, CEL, stalls when in drive

[Phalanx7.62]

--CODES READ!!!--New guy-> 98 sport, CEL, stalls when in drive

Hello, my name is Robb. I have a 98 Sport, AT, 50,000mi, 4.0SOHC that currently is out of commission. It has a check engine light on (first time) but it will start and run great in Park or neutral. Put it into any gear, and it sputters and dies.

I replaced the throttle position sensor, still does it.

I am trying to avoid getting it towed, so any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Robb

 

[Phalanx7.62]

Bump. Need some help here.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Try cleaning the IAC. Run search for IAC Cleaning and you'll find thread with instructions.

 

[davidmmm69]

head to autozone and get the codes read...

 

[Phalanx7.62]

Ok, cleaned the IAC and TB. No dice. It loads up when you rev it, and there is lots of white smoke. Then it revs cleanly after a second. Then you drop into rev or drive, and it dies.

More ideas? I am trying to avoid getting it towed.

Thanks
Robb

 

[Phalanx7.62]

Bump, anyone?? Ideas??

 

[boominXplorer]

its the mass air flow! Check the plug and clean the sensor. This exact thing happend to me driving down the road. The plug came undone.

 

[Phalanx7.62]

I have plugged/unplugged this too. I had the airbox lid off today, and I looked in at the sensor. I did not spray any cleaner at it, as to avoid any harm. Everything looked normal. I also tried to move the truck with the MAF unplugged, no change. I don't know what else to do besides tow the damned thing to my mechanic ($100) and have him plug in the code scanner to diag what sensor puked ($50). Not cool.

Any other thoughts???

Robb

 

[boominXplorer]

personally i still think its a bad mass air. Replace it. If thats not the problem, take the part back

 

[barnieman]

It runs great in park or neutral, so no need to clean the MAF and IAC. Does it also sputter and dies when you run it in neutral, step on the gas (revs go up I suppose?) and then put in drive?

 

[boominXplorer]

go pull the plug on your maf and see what it does in park or N. It is exactly what he is discribing and when you put a load on it it will stall because it doesn't know mow much fuel to add.

 

[Phalanx7.62]

Everything looked normal. I also tried to move the truck with the MAF unplugged, no change.

I dunno. I tried this with the MAF unplugged, but it didn't change anything. Seems to be the same plugged in or unplugged.

Robb

 

[TPLYNCH]

Then it would appear the MAF is not working.

 

[boominXplorer]

change the MAF and report back

 

[Phalanx7.62]

Roger that. Thanks again for the help.


One more question: anyone heard of a speed sensor failing, causing this?

 

[boominXplorer]

nope

 

[TPLYNCH]

Any way you can get the codes read?

 

[Phalanx7.62]

Well I took it to a nearby shop (where I bought another car from a while back) and they said it was over their heads. They said it was giving all sorts of codes. SAid we needed to replace the ECM. Hmm.

I tried calling my mechanic and a fellow co worker (I used to be a mechanic in college), but he is out with a broken leg.

I still dunno and the saga continues.

I am calling the first shop tomorrow and see if they can give me the codes.

Robb

 

[boominXplorer]

so it wasn't the maf?

 

[gijoecam]

OK, start from scratch. Pull the battery cable off for 15-20 minutes. That should reset the PCM and clear out most of the codes. Then, reconnect it, start it up, and see what she does.

Now, assuming it still acts the same, if you unplug the TPS and nothing changes, it could be bad. Try that with the Mass Air Flow sensor as well.

For what you're describing, it sounds exactly like what mine did when the TPS went bad. The only other thing that comes to mind is the MAF sensor, but that gets kind of pricey. If the shop couldn't diagnose it, sounds like you need to find another shop, or someone that will at least stand behind their work should the problem be mis-diagnosed.

-Joe