2001 Grand Am drives itself

Hi,

I am having a problem with my 2001 grand am gt. When I come back from a long highway drive (not every time though) when I put my car in park it revs high then when I dirve again (not shutting off engine) I don't have to put my foot on the accelerator as the car will move on its own - I drove from one end of town to the other up to 50km without every putting my foot on the gas. I can stop the car with the brakes. When I shut the car off and restart the car the car returns to normal (most times). The problem usually happens when on long trips on the highway and usually in wet road conditions. It does not do this on short trips around town (only once the other day - no rain - no long trips). Anyone know what is doing this?

Welcome to the forum. My first guess would be your throttle position sensor, followed by your MAF. I would get a new TPS (25-ish $), and if that doesn't fix it, try swapping out your MAF with a different one. Do you have any engine codes?

i wish i did know because my 97 grand am does the same thing, but only as soon as i put in drive ,sometimes it will just take off going

Welcome to the forum. My first guess would be your throttle position sensor, followed by your MAF. I would get a new TPS (25-ish $), and if that doesn't fix it, try swapping out your MAF with a different one. Do you have any engine codes?


Thanks for your reply. What is a MAF? Sorry but I don't know all the short forms for automotive.
There are no codes showing.
I talked to a mechanic and he doesn't want to look at it until it is actually doing it - which would be hard as it will correct itself when I turn off the car. He was thinking idle control, vacuum leak or a bad ground. I don't want to get ripped off or jerked around by mechanics as I have in the past with my previous car. I am a woman so they like to take advantage. My fiance is a little more savvy with vehicles but he is put over a few times too.

Thanks for your reply. What is a MAF? Sorry but I don't know all the short forms for automotive.
There are no codes showing.
I talked to a mechanic and he doesn't want to look at it until it is actually doing it - which would be hard as it will correct itself when I turn off the car. He was thinking idle control, vacuum leak or a bad ground. I don't want to get ripped off or jerked around by mechanics as I have in the past with my previous car. I am a woman so they like to take advantage. My fiance is a little more savvy with vehicles but he is put over a few times too.

Mass Air Flow sensor MAF its on the air duct that measures the amount of air entering the engine. No codes ahey, well thats typical. The idle control, vacuum leak or a bad ground can all be tested to see if they are bad/culprit, your mechanic should know this. :banghead:

Oh ya, hav him test the idle air control or clean it, to see if that clears it up. Next tthing I'd check is the TPS, then the MAF, not likly since its a newr car, but nothings impossible.

Even the Throtle Possition Sensor(TPS) can be tested, if you mechanic isnt able to find out what it is definitivly, you may want to try a better mechanic, one whos not going to replace parts unnessarily at your expenss and still not fix the prob. I hate that mechanics that dont know what the prob is, so instead of demeaning them selves, they just start replacing parts hoping to figure it out. Good Luck

99' grand am se.
Mine does this at times,

Not as bad as your problem though, I could be pulling out of a parking lot and suddenly Ill get a quick rev and it'll accel forward... even happens when in reverse. But in your case I guess it should be checked out.