idle/car problem

Well I was coming home from work on Saturday and when I first started the car up I thought it sounded a little funny, so I turned it off and started it agian, and the idle sounded steady but maybe a little lower than normal. But I was tired and just thought it was my imagination. So I drove home on the parkway (I live in NJ). I got of the exit and drove home through town. At one stop I took first gear to about 6 grand (I have a ATX) and let off about mid second. And the car was fine. But as I was about three streets away from my house the check engine light comes on and the car stalls out and I loose power. So I pull over. The car won't turn over. So I pop the hood(at night can't really see good). No smoke or steam. Check under the car nothing looks like it leaking. So after a few minutes I try to start it agian and figure I'll just try to get it home. It starts and idles wierd agian but I make it too my street and it dies agian. I push it the rest of the way.

Really sorry this is so long but I figure the more detail the better.

Call the Mech. the next day. He comes over but his Obd tool only goes back as far as 1996, my car is a 94. I guess he needs the one for the OBD I. We try to start it and the idle is just up and down ,and way too low then it stalls again. He really didn't get into the engine too much. He thinks it might be something in the throtle body, mayb its dirty. I'll see him agian today or tommorrow, and we'll really get into the motor. Nothing like this has ever happen since I've had the car. But I was wondering if this has happened to anyone b4, or if anyone has any ideas/advice.

Um a few ideas that crossed my mind:
1) idle control sensor
2) vacuum leak
3) something in throtle body or intake
4) o2 sensor problem
5) clogged fuel injectors or fuel filter

I'd suspect 1 or 2 first.

sounds like the Idle control sensor. I had the same problem but my car would turn over fine, it was the idle that would jump. Also if the fuel pump is starting to go bad, that could also affect power and sometimes not even let the car start.

im having a problem sort of similar. after slowing down and downshifting my car will sometimes just stall out. usually ill downshift into second and before i let off the clutch it'll just stall out and i usually hafta bump start it to keep movin. i was thinking it could be partially clogged fuel injectors or i dont know something in the throttle body..if anyone can lemme know what they think that'd be great..thanks

Thats funny...i'm have the same problem...sorta. I had a exhaust leak in my downpipe (i have a base tho) and it was right before the o2 senser is where the leak was...i got it fixed but my car still idles at 400-500 rpm when it idled at 1000-1500 when i first start it up for the day. Then when i back out of my drive way it dies sometimes. And if you rev it up to like 2000 rpm in park (i have a auto) it will go down to about 100 rpm and almost die then it makes a click click sound, go's up to 500 rpm then down to 100 rpm again then back but to 500 rpm. When i got the exhaust leak i was just thinking it was the o2 senser because the leak was right before the senser and it wasn't reading right. But now i have the leak fixed and it still does it. So what do you guys think my problem could be? Is there anyway that my senser could be fried? How can i check to see if its the idle control senser?

I didn't have the problem til the exhaust leak happened.

B00stCreep, i hope you dont mind me adding my question on here too. But i was just getting on here to ask that same question.

Not at all DSM maybe one of our problems will lead to the solution of the other. And my 3kgt is an auto base too. Ill let you know whats wrong with my car when i figure it out. Just a few minutes ago i took a peek inside the throtle body and it looked a little bit dirty, but I didn't expect it it too be clean. Tommorrow when its light out ill have to get into the engine more.

I found out my problem to my idle. The idle adjustment screw. If you look on the back of your intake manifold there is the shaft to the TB where the TB cable connects. If its still there, there is a little screw that go's in on the bottom of it...well...mine is not there anymore. So i think thats my problem. BOOstCreep...you may want to check that. If i could find my digital cam i would take a pic of it and show you where it is. But i cant find mine.

well after taking it over to the mechanic, we cleaned out the throtle body, and that seemed the help a little, but it still kept dying when the throtle dropped to an idle. So he just turned the idle up a little, I'm pretty sure it was screw on the front side of the throtle body, not sure if thats what you were refuring to. That solved the idle and dying problem but the car seems different than before especially the idle when you first start the car. I think the idle control sensor might have gone bad.

ECU its gonna go the same thing happen to me after about a month of the idle problem and the stalling

ECU its gonna go the same thing happen to me after about a month of the idle problem and the stalling

Well that'll be something to look foward to. :lol2: What happened when it went?