'96 stalls at red lights

96 3.0 12v stalls at red lights not all the time but yestedrday it did it every time i stopped for 12 miles. the car will idle fine for a moment then surge and drop in rpm erratically for a moment and die. it wont stall it if you even touch the gas when it starts freaking out. also we had a cold front come through it got to the mid thirties for a couple of days and it would stall when shifting to gear after starting. thanks

It sounds like a vaccum leak somewhere. I just go my car fixed for the same problem.

I concur it is most likely a vaccum leak if there are no error codes.

Check Air Filter
Check the intake mounting bolts they can come loose from bumps.
Check EGR valve for leaks
Check PCV valve for pluggaged
Check for manifold gaps or showing gaskets.

I third the suggestion of checking for a vacuum leak as the primary suspect.

Also inspect the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor, connector, and associated plumbing. If the intake hose between the air filter box and MAF, or MAF to throttle body is loose, it could cause a similar stalling issue.

If you have access to a fuel pressure guage, it would be worth your time to check the fuel pressure at the fuel rail. Maybe the surge is caused by the engine going lean just before it dies. Seems a bit unlikely, but fuel pressure is easy enough to measure (if you have the guage) that it would be worth the effort.

You may also want to remove the air intake hose at the throttle body and inspect the back side of the throttle plate (at wide open throttle) for carbon build up. If there is a build up on the back side of the throttle plate and/or passages for the Idle Air Control servo, it may be snuffing the engine out when you come to an idle. However, I would expect you to have difficulty starting it if this were the problem rather than starting fine but dying when put in gear.

-Rod

thanks for the suggestions looks like i may even find time to take care of it this week will follow up

guys i must offer my appologies.when i posted this thread i had a problem with my car but didn't attempt to diagnose the problem. i had fixed a pinched vacuum line by putting a longer hose in place. too long of a hose, i had that pinched between the hood and car near windshield. i would have picked up on it right away had i even opened the hood. once again sorry, i will do my best to figure it out before asking next time

We are here to help.....and to mock sable owners................