Girl problems

I just bought my second Grand Prix and it is already giving me problems. I have a 97 Grand Prix GT, the bigger engine but not the supercharged one, 155k miles. It first started dieing when I first turned it on, then if I gave it a little gas it would run until I had to idle again and it sounded like it was choking for air or fuel im not sure. I got it home and I died as soon as I put it in park. I cleaned out the throtle body( I am sorry I cant spell for anything) and it ran better but it still tries to die when its in park wheather I have just turned it on or once i pull it in to park it. Please help me my husband normally does everything with the cars but he just went to jail. I am trying my best to learn quickly.
Thank you for all your help-
Delinia

I just bought my second Grand Prix and it is already giving me problems. I have a 97 Grand Prix GT, the bigger engine but not the supercharged one, 155k miles. It first started dieing when I first turned it on, then if I gave it a little gas it would run until I had to idle again and it sounded like it was choking for air or fuel im not sure. I got it home and I died as soon as I put it in park. I cleaned out the throtle body( I am sorry I cant spell for anything) and it ran better but it still tries to die when its in park wheather I have just turned it on or once i pull it in to park it. Please help me my husband normally does everything with the cars but he just went to jail. I am trying my best to learn quickly.
Thank you for all your help-
Delinia

On the throttle body is an idle air controller (IAC) which controls idle. It may be bad or dirty. It gets carboned up. It is located at the top left hand side of the throttle body and round in shape (black). Held down by two Torx T20 screws. It can be removed to clean all the carbon off especially at the spring loaded pintle. Also, the place where it mounts at the air orifice on the throttle body needs to be cleaned. You can use STP throttle body spray cleaner on it.

The IAC controls the idle and warmup idle via the PCM computer.

Also, the MAF sensor may need cleaning and can cause the same problem. It is located on the top of the throttle body. Small square black module. MAF sensor cleaner can be used not carb or TB cleaner.

are they a sercuity torx bit on that IAC I know the MAP is

are they a sercuity torx bit on that IAC I know the MAP is

Not that I know of Troy. None of mine are. MAF definitely yes!

Sears carries a good variety of regular Torx and safety Torx tools.

Thank you for the help I will try what you suggested.
-delinia

then if I gave it a little gas it would run until I had to idle again and it sounded like it was choking for air or fuel im not sure. I got it home and I died as soon as I put it in park.

Check the vacuum lines. One night I had the same problem with my car, if I would give it some gas, the engine would run ok but when the car idled it would die out. I pulled over and under a visual inspection I realized my vaccum line on the intake manifold had popped off. After a littly MacGuyvering with some ducktape and my trusty leatherman :grinyes: put the vacuum line back on and everything was good again.

I can't be sure of the location of the vacuum lines on your car. Mine is a 00 and yours could be different. Maybe someone else knows your year better and will post?

Cleaning all the sensors wouldn't be a bad idea either way.

:2cents: