stalling

hey, im new around here but ive been reading and looking around, and i have a problem hat i just cant get around.

a few weeks ago i was driving and all the sudden i just started loosing power, i look in my rear view mirror and red hot what ever in the hell was shooting out the back, i pull over and look under the car. my cat was bright red. i end up getting it towed.

i started working on it thinking the cat was shot, so i replaced it. next i noticed the rear exhaust manifold was dumping fuel out of it. i believe the 4th fuel injector was stuck open. none the less it ran, it just ran poorly, i replaced the injector.

now it runs great, but maybe for three seconds only, then it just cuts out, almost like an electrical problem, i tried replacing my plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and coil, still does the identical thing no matter what i do, has anyone ever had this problem or can shed light on this?

much appreciated

guys, im really stumped and this is my only car, any help would be greatly appreciated

By looking at the ammount of views I'd say you have a lot of other people stumped also, me at the very least but I don't know too much past the basics.

well i appreciated some sort of response.

i know a guy whos a dealer mechanic, i mean good too. he helped me, but hes been so busy that i did most the work myself, with some guidance for troubleshooting etc. but he had a thought to maybe some kind of onboard security or somehting along those lines, some sort of motor control thats shutting the engine down. hes bringing over a scan tool tomorow so hopefully something will pan out.

some locals even said that it could be something in the factory alarm, but i wouldnt think the engine would even turn over at that point. anyways, i hope i didn't trigger something with a voltage spike or something like that, and the worst part is i dont even have the simplest means to try to test it being that i have shaved handles and locks and no factory lock cylinders. maybe if i keep rambling i will spark somehting with someone.

again all help is appreciated, thanks

make sure the MAS wasnt accidentally unplugged when the injector was being replaced

i believe it was disconnected. is this a problem. if so is it correctable.

coincidently that was all i could narrow it down too today, what does this mean for me and the future of my car. thanks

oh by the way i had a scan tool put on the beast, the mas was reading about 106 and i think it should be at a 20, do i need a new one or again is this correctable, thanks

The mas is easily unplugged and plugged back in...it is simple...typically this is a small minor thing that people forget to replug in when they are finished their work, and when they turn the car on afterwards it runs rough for 5 or so seconds and then stalls. Here is a picture taken from the passenger side of the engine bay...the plug is circled in red...just make sure it is plugged back in.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/74532old_vr4_engine-med.jpg

oh yea, i plugged it back in, i thought the prior post was saying i shouldnt have unplugged it while replacing injectors, yes its plugged in.

thats why i think its screwed up, because the scan tool was reading some ungodly numbers off the thing, either the mas is shot, or i missed something.

has anyone had theres go bad. thanks

well judging from your scan of it being off and the symptoms being the same as if it were unplugged...i'd say it's most likely your problem....does the car stay running if you hold the RPM's above stalling?

Hmm...I'm doing some searching for other ideas...
Did you get any error codes, check engine lights, because that would help point you in the right direction.

Did you unhook any fuel lines, or the fuel filter. Perhaps it's time for a new filter or pump...
Did you change only one injector, or all of them?

A few other ideas:
1) idle control sensor or idle adjustment screw?
2) vacuum leak(it would have to be pretty big though)
3) something in throtle body or intake
4) o2 sensor problem (you mentioned your cat was red or on fire or something...possibly one is damaged)
5) clogged fuel injectors or fuel filter

Hope something points you in teh right direction.

i think the mas is my problem, due to the fact it acts the same pluged or unplugged. the damn thing was running and now that its repaired (obviously not completley) i cant get it to do shat. the car will start and i can give it throttle and the car sounds great but no matter what after a certain amount of time it just shuts off. it sounds great, it idles good, and its responsive to throttle.

well, i got another mas, same problem still. im running out of ideas.


just so everyone knows my car is for sale now and will be when its running as well

92 stealth
125k miles
all stock except
dual catback exhaust
custom molded full bomex body kit
everything shaved
door poppers
custom blue, orange, silver paint with prismatic clear cloat
jsp carbon fiber wing
7 inch motorized clarion touchscreen dvd, mp3 etc head unit
alpine components in doors and rears
2 10inch sony explodes
1 12inch audiobahn flame q
750 watt alpine digital vr12 class d (the things bad ass)

if anyones iterested let me know.
thanks