1994 buick century stalling-please help

[bigfartter]

Could this be the throttle position sensor gone bad making it stall? It will run great at a idle, but after 1-3 min it stalls out. After it stalls I can restart the car no problem. Also the car runs just fine, but stalls intermittently-Car has a new fuel pump. I am kind of baffled and am looking for any advice. I hate to put in this sensor and that not be it. Please help

[GTP Dad]

Sounds like the crank position sensor is going bad. A bad CPS will cause the issues you indicate. The key is the fact that the car will restart and stall intermittently. The CPS will also not throw a computer code until it totally fails.

[bigfartter]

I believe it may be throwing the computer a code, for I have a check engine light but someone took out the plug in box to check the code. Is this a part that you would replace (CPS) rather than the throttle position sensor. Also can this sensor be cleaned rather than be replaced? Is the cps difficult to replace?---Thanks for your reply

[discnik]

Go to Auto Zone or any parts house that will read codes for free. If not bite the bullet and have a shop scan it.

There is no sense in throwing money at a problem through guess work when the answer could be staring you in the face i.e. the "Check Engine ", light.

[GTP Dad]

I doubt that the autoparts stores can scan the car since it is an OBD 1 car so you will either need a code reader or to take the car to the shop to have it scanned.

The CPS would be my choice over the throttle position sensor given the issues you indicate. The CPS cannot be cleaned nor can the TPS either will need replaced. You didn't indicate the engine size so I can't tell you how hard it will be to replace without that.

[discnik]

Auto Zone can't read any OBD I codes ? Sorry did not know that.

Bigfartter when you said,"took out the plug in box", do you mean the DLC
Data Link Connector , that you plug a scanner into ?

[bigfartter]

yes-there is a wire missing on the dlc--autozone cannot help--With this wire missing,can a shop still put this on a scanner? i am going to try a new fuel filter tomorrow. I bought the throttle body sensor but I am not going to put it on yet--i will update on the progress-Thanks for your help

[bigfartter]

the engine is a 3.1 v6

[richtazz]

Yes, a shop can scan the car. The wire isn't "missing", it was never there in the first place. Many 94-95 GM cars cannot be scanned using generic scan tools or the old jumper wire trick. You have to use a GM Tech-1 or Snap-on style scan tool to access codes on these cars. One of the many pleasures of owning changeover year vehicles!

[bigfartter]

Well here is the skinny-The car has a new fuel pump,sending unit and fuel filter. Today I put in a crankshaft sensor,that may have taken care of the stalling, but my fuel rail is now not pressurizing at all-no pressure at all. I took off the fuel filter to see if i was getting gas, I was, but i cannot get the rail to pressurize. When it died, the car reved real high, then shut down and will not start. Any help would be appreciated

[richtazz]

Pull the vacuum line off the fuel pressure regulator and see if there is fuel in it. If so, the fuel pressure regulator is shot and leaking fuel, that's why it's not holding pressure. Another possibility is that your new fuel pump is not producing enough pressure. I hope you didn't buy an Airtex or Master brand pump, they are junk. Lastly, you could have a couple of injectors that are leaking down, is your oil thinned out from excess fuel?

[bigfartter]

The parts store sold me a defective fuel pump---I recieved a gee,sorry--Well just though that I would update, I also replaced the crankshaft sensor. Stalling fixed!!! Thanks for all your help. Are cars wonderful????